Explore this page to find useful and important information for incoming Sidney postgraduate students.

Please look carefully at this material, and if you have any questions or if there are items or issues that concern you, please contact the Postgraduate Office.

Please read the forms noted in the College forms section below as soon as possible, and pay close attention to the completion deadlines.

Useful documents, links, and information

Welcome letters
Finance
Student contents insurance

By partnering with Endsleigh we’ve arranged contents insurance for all our students staying with us in our residence.

It is important all students confirm their cover to ensure you understand what is and isn’t covered.

Visit confirm your cover to see:

  • What is and what isn’t covered
  • Policy excess – the amount you pay when you make a claim 
  • How to make a claim
  • Personalise cover 

The student insurance options have been designed to cover the risks that you may encounter whilst living in student accommodation and away from home. 

Accommodation handbook and map
Freshers' handbook
Health and safety
Fire safety video

Computing
  • Getting started with IT
  • IT matters at Cambridge
  • The College Library and Computer Suite are open 24 hours a day to Members of College using their University Card. The Computer Suite is on the First Floor of the Library. Students who might experience problems with access (the first floor is accessible only by spiral staircase) are requested to contact the Librarian in advance so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
  • Internet access is provided throughout the College and its hostels with over 100 wireless access points and high-speed wired connections.
  • University IT services All students are provided with an account to use on the University's systems and services including wireless access, email, printing, and computing services.
  • Privacy We respect your privacy, see the privacy policies for network services you connect through when using the network at Sidney Sussex College.
  • Security Find out how to keep your device updated and protected against online threats. Use the University's free anti-virus solution.
  • IT FAQs See commonly asked questions about IT at Sidney.
  • IT Support The IT Team at Sidney are available to help with your IT queries. They are happy to answer any questions and are prepared to welcome new users to the College computing facilities.
University card

University cards are issued automatically by the central University using the information you have supplied on CamSIS. The College has no control over the issue of University cards and will not respond to any queries about when they will be available. Depending on your arrival date, your University card may or may not be provided in your Welcome Pack when you arrive. If not, you will be informed as soon as your University card arrives at the College Postgraduate Office and is available for you to collect.

The Judge Business School issues its students with cards at the beginning of the course.

Further information

Further details regarding your card can be obtained from the University Card Office website.

There is a replacement fee for lost cards of £10 which will be put onto your College Bill; stolen cards must be reported with a Police Crime number. Please contact the Tutorial Office for details.

Guides and maps
Accessing Sidney
Other links

College forms

Please pay attention to the completion deadline of the forms on this page.

You must complete a few forms as required by the College and Cambridge University. If you have any queries, please contact the Postgraduate Office who will be happy to help.

GP registration

Once you have arrived in Cambridge, you are advised to register with a local GP.  Information and instructions about registering with a GP can be accessed in the Registering with a General Practitioner (GP) document and in the Health and Wellbeing section of the website.

Disability disclosure

Return the disability disclosure form to the Disability Resource Centre and send a copy to the College (if you do not have a disability or you have already disclosed your disability as part of your application there is no need to complete and return the form).

Fire safety and cycle registration

At the Postgraduate Induction Meeting on Saturday 30 September you will be given a brief fire-safety talk by the Head Porter. Following this talk, you are asked to sign and return the Fire Safety Agreement to the Porters' Lodge.

If you wish to park a bike in a Sidney-owned bike park or rack, you must first register your bike with the Porters. To do so, please fill out the Cycle Registration Form and bring it with your bike to the Porters' Lodge.

Note that both of these forms will be printed in your Welcome Pack when you arrive.

Childcare support

The Joint Committee on Childcare for Students operates the Central Childcare Bursary Scheme, which offers financial assistance to EU and overseas student parents with Ofsted-registered childcare costs. There are bursaries available to help with pre-school and out-of-school childcare costs.

The University operates a Childcare Support Fund, which offers financial assistance to home student parents with Ofsted-registered childcare costs.

 

 

 Induction and Matriculation

Postgraduate induction meeting

The Michaelmas Term 2023 start postgraduate induction will take place on Saturday 30 September at 17:30 in the William Mong Hall. Invitations to attend this event have been sent out.

Matriculation photograph

Professional photographers, Gillman and Soame are expected to be at the College on Monday 2 October to take the College Matriculation Photograph. Invitations to attend this event have been sent out. You will be issued with an ID card for the photograph. It is important that you bring these with you and do not misplace them.

The Photographers will send information directly to the College with information on how you and your family can order photographs approximately one week later.

Matriculation

Matriculation marks the formal admission of a student to membership of the University. Every candidate for matriculation must subscribe to the following declaration by signing the Matriculation Registration Form on-line:

I promise to observe the Statutes and Ordinances of the University as far as they concern me, and to pay due respect and obedience to the Chancellor and other officers of the University.

To mark this occasion the college is holding a matriculation ceremony and dinner. Invitations to attend these events have been sent out.  

 

 
Pass the Port to your left!

Always a bit daunting but nobody knows what he or she are doing on their first day so just enjoy and follow these simple guidelines!

Stand when the Fellows enter and while grace is said; cutlery, "start from the outside and work your way in", #Titanic;

For Formal Halls, if you have a special dietary requirement, please make sure you request this at the time of booking and when you arrive, speak to the Buttery staff and take an appropriate diet card to your seat.

  • your bread plate is to the left and your drinks glasses are to your right. You will usually have at least three glasses, a water glass and both red and white wine glasses and occasionally a small Port glass;
  • place your napkin on your lap and start eating only when those diagonally to you have been served;
  • no mobiles on the table;
  • and finally, always pass the Port to your left!
Dress code

The dress code for the Matriculation Ceremony, photographs, and the Matriculation Dinner is formal: jacket and tie, or smart dress. 

Ede & Ravenscroft
70-72 Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RJ
www:www.gownhire.co.uk or 01223 861854
Purchase Enquiries: 01223 350048 (shop) or 01223 861854

Ryder & Amies
22 King’s Parade, Cambridge CB2 1SP
www: www.ryderamies.co.uk
Email: enquiries@ryderamies.co.uk

A.E. Clothier
WWW: www.aeclothier.co.uk
Email: sales@aeclothier.co.uk

The Cambridge Student Union also provide gowns. 3rd Floor University Centre, Granta Pl, Mill Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1RU