2024/2025
A small introduction... A small introduction...
A huge congratulations from all of us at BanglaSoc on your incredible achievement of making it to Cambridge! You’ve worked so hard to get here, and you should be truly proud of yourself.
We know starting university can feel overwhelming, but don’t worry you’re not alone in this journey! We’ve put together this handbook to help make your transition to Cambridge as smooth as possible. Whether it’s navigating life here, meeting new people, or adjusting to your studies, we hope this guide gives you the support and reassurance you need.
If you have any questions, need advice, or just want to connect with someone from your college or subject, feel free to reach out to any of us. We’re always here to help!
Your co-presidents Your co-presidents
Welcome to Cambridge, and congratulations on joining this incredible journey! We are Abir, a 2nd-year Mathmo, and Elisa, a 5th-year Architect, and we’re excited to introduce you to the Cambridge Bangla Society.
As Co-Presidents, we’ve been working hard to create an inclusive, supportive, and vibrant community for all members, and we’re thrilled to share what we’ve achieved over the past year.
Despite being a relatively small society, Banglasoc has had an amazing year, hosting over 30 events ranging from an Eid Garden Party to charity bake sales, cultural celebrations, and communitybuilding initiatives like Iftar evenings and the Big Challenge.
One of our proudest achievements has been raising over £7500 for important causes like the Maternal Aid Association (MAA) and Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP).
We’ve also hosted one of the largest Banglasoc events to date, our Family Formal, which attracted over 100 attendees and even drew media coverage!
Our community efforts were recognized with two awards from the Maternal Aid Association, and we were honored to be named runner-up for the 2024 Society of the Year award!
We can’t wait for you to get involved and help make the coming year even more exciting. Whether you’re attending your first event or becoming an active part of the society, there’s a place for you here at Banglasoc!
Abir Mohammed & Elisa Rahman Co-Presidents, University of Cambridge Bangla Society
The committee... The committee...
The Banglasoc committee is devoted to creating a vibrant and welcoming Bangladeshi community at Cambridge. We host various events and meetups throughout the year and are always available to provide support, share positivity, or simply have a friendly chat!
ABIR MOHAMMED ABIR MOHAMMED Co-President Co-President
Sidney Sussex College Sidney Sussex College Mathematics Mathematics
ANIYA PRAMANIK ANIYA PRAMANIK
Events Officer Events Officer
Lucy Cavendish College Lucy Cavendish College Linguistics Linguistics
ELISA RAHMAN ELISA RAHMAN Co-President Co-President Emmanuel College Emmanuel College Architecture Architecture
RIYAAD ALI RIYAAD ALI Treasurer Treasurer St Catharine’s College St Catharine’s College Clinical Medicine Clinical Medicine
DANYAAL SATTAR DANYAAL SATTAR Events Officer Events Officer King’s College King’s College Bio NatSci Bio NatSci
SAQIB AHMED SAQIB AHMED Operations Officer Operations Officer
Selwyn College Selwyn College Law Law
SOPHIA CHOUDHURY SOPHIA CHOUDHURY
Welfare & Charity Welfare & Charity Officer Officer Fitzwilliam College Fitzwilliam College Geography Geography
YUSUF KARIM
YUSUF KARIM Sponsorship Officer Sponsorship Officer
SYNA MAJUMDER SYNA MAJUMDER
International Officer International Officer
Sidney Sussex College Sidney Sussex College
English English
Homerton College Homerton College Land Economy Land Economy ZAINUDEEN TAKOLIA ZAINUDEEN TAKOLIA Outreach Officer Outreach Officer St Catharine’s College St Catharine’s College HSPS HSPS
A recap of... A recap of...
Messages & tips from the Messages & tips from the ccommitee... ommitee...
Hey everyone! Congrats on getting into Cambridge, and welcome to Banglasoc! I’m Sophia, the Welfare & Charity offi d g I w i the same position you’re in now. It can feel daunt especially if you’re moving from an area where yo Bengalis and South Asians (like I was in Tower H At Banglasoc, you can meet people from the same home, especially during a time where you might f
My biggest piece of advice for freshers is to socialise as much as you can handle, in the first terms so you can build up your support network for those tough later months. (P.S. coming to Banglasoc events is a great way to make said friends!)
See you all soon InshaAllah!!
Hello everyone! I’m Syna, and I am the International Officer for Banglasoc.
Cambridge still manages to surprise me two years in, so I'd advise people new to its peculiarities to keep themselves open! Plans changeso do your own ambitions and wants. It's easier to say than to internalise, but you'll never serve yourself by locking yourself into a specific idea of how you want your college life to be. Term time can often seem like a slog - academicallyso it's best to seek diverse distractions as incentives. Keep electrolytes and a protein bar with you if you tend to forget your meals, and you should be fine for any impromptu expedition thrown at you!
Big congrats, and welcome to Cambridge! I’m Aniya, and I am one of the Events Officers at Banglasoc. At University you’ll come across so many sports and societies you’ve never heard of before, so taking advantage of all these opportunities will help enrich your uni experience a lot more! <3
Having said that, only do as much as you can manage - striking the right balance between societies and workload is definitely a skill, so never push yourself too hard and always make sure to have time for yourself, especially at the beginning when you’re starting to adjust. Good luck settling in, and looking forward to seeing you at some Banglasoc events this year! <3
Congratulations for getting into Cambridge! I’m Riyaad, the treasurer for BanglaSoc. I'm currently a 5th Year medic - so I'm basically a fossil! My one key piece of advice is to not be too hard on yourself. The transition to University is daunting at the best of times. You have to adapt to the challenge of living alone, balancing your own individualised workload - all whilst facing a completely new style of education.
This can be incredibly difficult - and no one gets it right straight away. So if a certain hand-in doesn't get the mark you were hoping for, or you struggle with the feeling of being overwhelmed - do not worry! It's an almost universal experience. Find solace in the fact that you are not alone in this new environment, and with time you will get used to what life at University is like!.
Common Cambridge terms... Common Cambridge terms...
BLUE
A title awarded to students and teams who play sport at the university level,
A title awarded to students and teams who play sport at the university level, particularly in ‘Varsity’ matches against Oxford. particularly in ‘Varsity’ matches against Oxford.
BRIDGEMAS
Cambridge Christmas. Cambridge Christmas.
BUTTERY/HALL/SERVERY
The college cafeteria where students can get meals. The college cafeteria where students can get meals.
COLLEGE MARRIAGE/FAMILIES
At some point in 1st year, students get ‘married’ to a friend in their college, and at the
At some point in 1st year, students get ‘married’ to a friend in their college, and at the start of second year, you’re assigned ‘children’ (freshers), for you to unofficially look start of second year, you’re assigned ‘children’ (freshers), for you to unofficially look after. This is a fun tradition which normally involves marriage formals/family after This is a fun tradition which normally involves marriage formals/family dinners dinners.
DOS (DIRECTOR OF STUDIES)
The academic advisor responsible for overseeing students’ academic welfare and The academic advisor responsible for overseeing students’ academic welfare and progress. Students meet their DoS at least twice a term to discuss academic matters. progress Students meet their DoS at least twice a term to discuss academic matters
FELLOW
A senior academic affiliated with a college. Fellows hold teaching or research
A senior academic affiliated with a college. Fellows hold teaching or research positions, and their responsibilities vary by subject and college. positions, and their responsibilities vary by subject and college.
FORMALS
A formal dinner event held in the college dining hall where students wear academic
A formal dinner event held in the college dining hall where students wear academic gowns and enjoy a candlelit, three-course meal. Also used for other special gowns and enjoy a candlelit, three-course meal Also used for other special occasions occasions.
GYP/GYP ROOM
A small kitchen in college accommodations, typically used for preparing snacks or
A small kitchen in college accommodations, typically used for preparing snacks or small meals. Mostly common for undergraduate spaces. small meals. Mostly common for undergraduate spaces.
JCR (JUNIOR COMBINATION ROOM)
Refers to the undergraduate common room and community. it also represents the Refers to the undergraduate common room and community. it also represents the committee that manages undergraduate student activities. committee that manages undergraduate student activities.
MASTER
The head of a college, responsible for overseeing academic and administrative
The head of a college, responsible for overseeing academic and administrative ffunctions unctions
MATRICULATION
The formal process of enrolling at the University of Cambridge It usually involves a
The formal process of enrolling at the University of Cambridge. It usually involves a ceremony and celebratory dinner. ceremony and celebratory dinner.
MAINSBURY’S
A nickname for the Sainsbury’s supermarket located opposite Sidney Sussex. A nickname for the Sainsbury’s supermarket located opposite Sidney Sussex.
MCR (MIDDLE COMBINATION ROOM)
Refers to the common room and the community of postgraduate students at College.
Refers to the common room and the community of postgraduate students at College It also represents the committee that manages postgraduate student activities It also represents the committee that manages postgraduate student activities.
MAY WEEK
Week after exams finish in Easter Term, and it is filled with May Balls and June Week after exams finish in Easter Term, and it is filled with May Balls and June Events. Events.
PIGEON HOLE/PIDGE
Individual mail slots where students receive physical mail and important college
Individual mail slots where students receive physical mail and important college notices. Located in the post room often near Porters’ Lodge. notices. Located in the post room often near Porters’ Lodge.
PLODGE/PORTERS’ LODGE
It is the main entrance of a College and also where you can find Porters. It is also It is the main entrance of a College and also where you can find Porters. It is also used for other services like collection of parcels, id cards and few more things and used for other services like collection of parcels, id cards and few more things and operations specific to colleges. operations specific to colleges.
SUPO/SUPERVISION
Small group teaching sessions with an academic, normally organised by your college
Small group teaching sessions with an academic, normally organised by your college or department. or department
https://www.cambridgesu.co.uk/freshers/glossary/ Check out the SU website for the whole glossary!
Food in Cambridge Food in Cambridge
If you're on the lookout for halal restaurants, need a place to buy halal meat, or are in search of spices to cook up your favorite dishes from home, don’t worry we’ve got you covered. We’ve put together a handy list of Bengali and halal restaurants and shops around Cambridge to make sure you're always well-fed and have everything you need!
Golpo Bengal Cafe
Bengali cuisine
36-38 Hills Rd, Cambridge CB2 1LA
The Grill Peri Peri
Grilled & fast food
52 Mill Rd, Petersfield, Cambridge CB1 2AS
Chaiiology
Indian cuisine 102 Mill Rd, Cambridge CB1 2BD
Bedouin
North African cuisine
98-100 Mill Rd, Cambridge CB1 2BD
Zi’s Piri Piri
Grilled & fast food 36A Mill Rd, Petersfield, Cambridge CB1 2AD
Samaan Restaurant
Turkish cuisine 74 Mill Rd, Petersfield, Cambridge CB1 2AS
Sainsbury’s (Mainsbury’s)
42-45 Sidney St, Cambridge CB2 3HX
Midan World Foods
18-20 Histon Rd, Arbury, Cambridge CB4 3LE
Notun Bangla Bazar
194 Mill Rd, Cambridge CB1 3NF
Spice Gate
14 Mill Rd, Petersfield, Cambridge CB1 2AD
Al-Amin
100a, 102A Mill Rd, Cambridge CB1 2BD
Iqbro Halal Grocers
184b Histon Rd, Arbury, Cambridge CB4 3JP
Take
https://isoc.co.uk/halal-food
Check out our new... Check out our new...
King’s College King’s College Chapel Chapel
We will send out We will send out instructions for instructions for ordering stash soon! ordering stash soon!
‘Patam’ boat ‘Patam’ boat
Waterlilies - Waterliliesnational flowers national flowers of Bangladesh of Bangladesh
‘Jatiyo Sriti ‘Jatiyo Sriti Shoudho’ Shoudho’
...Banglasoc stash! ...Banglasoc stash!
thank you! thank you!