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New Hall, CambridgeTSR Wiki > University > Choosing a University > University Guides > Cambridge > New Hall, Cambridge
IntroductionMurray Edwards (formally New Hall) College is a women's college of the University of Cambridge. Characterised by its white bricks and dome, it is a modern and progressive college that admits only women. It is the only non-denominational college in Cambridge, so has no religious affiliation or chapel.  In her novel 'An Unsuitable Job For A Woman' P.D.James wrote that New Hall is "too distractingly pretty to be conducive to serious study". Now, this may be seen as quite a subjective statement by many people, but with its Fountain Court, gardens (that you can trample all over and fully enjoy!), Women's Art Collection and modern buildings it really can be beautiful.  Academically, Murray Edwards is going from strength to strength with their best ever Part II (finals) results achieved in 2011 (92% of finalists achieved a first or a 2:1). Going by the rankings, the college tends to lose out because it is a women's college - and women simply don't do as well in finals as men. However, as a woman at Murray Edwards you are likely to do better than women at most other colleges. On the Murray Edwards Website you can take a virtual tour and read the history of the college. Undergraduate Student Statistics
Source: The Reporter Special Issue: Student Numbers 07-08 New Hall/Murray Edwards Application Statistics See College applications and admissions statistics New Hall/Murray Edwards Application Statistics per subject See Appplication Statistics 56% of New Hall/Murray Edwards acceptances in 2007 and 57% in 2006 were from state school students (source). A Women's CollegeUndoubtedly the fact that Murray Edwards is a women's college is a strong part of its identity - and a part that causes some people (especially pooled students) some anxiety. There is no need to worry, however. You are very much in control of how much, or how little, contact you want with the opposite sex. Murray Edwards is one of the 'hill colleges' in a group with Fitzwilliam and Churchill in the North of the city. Both Fitzwilliam and Churchill are predominantly male colleges, and there is a strong community between the hill colleges, with joint orchestra, drama society and sports teams. Fitzwilliam come to dine at Murray Edwards when they have formal hall and the Chruchill Pav (weekly club night) is strongly attended by Murray Edwards students. Your college is purely a base where you are accommodated, and Murray Edwards in no way bans males from the college. Your supervisions, labs, lectures, classes etc will be organised centrally so you will often be studying with men. Socially, there are many university-wide societies for you to join and socialise with men should you wish to. As an all girls college, we're a very friendly, welcoming and easy going place. How much of that is the people, how much of that comes from being single sex and how much comes from being a modern college you'll have to work out yourself. Personally I'd say its the combination that works really well together. Because of the uncertainty that some applicants have, there is an event called "Offer Holders'" where prospective students holding a conditional or unconditional offer are invited to stay at the college overnight. The Offer Holder will generally be put with a student in the first year who is studying their subject. Welcome events are put on, Offer Holders are usually taken to formal and to lectures by their hosts. Many Offer Holders are reassured by the event and look forward to coming to Murray Edwards when they make the grade in the summer. LocationMurray Edwards is one of the 'hill colleges' in a group with Fitzwilliam and Churchill in the North of the city. There is a strong community between the hill colleges, and there are joint orchestra, drama society and sports teams. It's a 10-15 minute walk from the centre of town so a bit further than other colleges but really not too bad. Murray Edwards is very close to the Mathematics buildings, Vets centre, (new) Cavendish labs and observatories, but about a half hour walk or ten minute bike ride to the main arts (Sidgwick site) and science (the New Museums Site) teaching areas. The nearest shops are a 5-10 minute walk away and the Doctors Surgery on Huntingdon Road is next door. AccommodationNearly all accommodation (the only expections being one college owned house) is connected to the college network and have high-speed internet access via ethernet. (Images thanks to www.cambridge2000.com) Old BlockOld Block can be broadly split into 3 areas: A and B staircases are unrefurbished but are 39 week rent meaning that you don't have to move out in the holidays, C, D and E staircases are refurbished rooms with termly rent, and F, G and H staircases are unrefurbished termly rent. The price of the rooms vary to allow for the difference between furbished and unrefurbished, and the size of the room. All staircases have refurbished bathrooms and kitchens, there is generally 2/3 people per shower and toilet and around 8 per kitchen. Most of the second and third years will live in Old Block. Old Block is well heated but the grey brick walls in the unfurbished rooms can get depressing, howeer there are no restrictions on plastering the walls with posters, unlike it other accommodation. An unusual feature of Old Block are the 'split' rooms (split singles and split doubles) which have to be seen to be understood: they are rooms with a mezzanine floor - desk and bed (or sofa) downstairs, and bed upstairs. High speed internet access. Pearl House Rooms vary in size, the L-shaped ones being slightly smaller, but all are ensuite! There are about 16 rooms per staircase, all sharing a kitchen (which we call gyp rooms), which can get a little bit cramped if everyone decides to make a cup of tea at once. All first years live in Pearl House, which is great for fostering a sense of community and bonding in Freshers'. Also living in Pearl House is Jake, the college cat (and only resident male). All rooms have high speed internet connection. The laundry room and accommodation office are in the basement of the building. Buckingham House Because Buckingham House (Buck House) is part of the college's development portfolio, and used for conference guests outside of term, you have to move out much sooner than in any of the other accommodation in order to make way for conference guests. This means that you get a better quality accommodation for a slight reduction, but moving out right away is not always convenient - you often can't wait until the Saturday to move, for example. High speed internet access. Canning and Eliza House The newest build at Murray Edwards, this is a pricy but luxurious halls - again with ensuite rooms and large social spaces but is reserved mostly for graduate students, though this does not rule out the possibility that undergraduates can live there: though it is mostly finalists who live there. High speed internet access. College HousesMurray Edwards owns several houses on Huntingdon Road and a couple within college grounds (Hammond House and Clover House). These are slightly more run-down, but because most people opt into these houses with a group of friends this seems to matter less. Most of the college houses have high speed internet access (only the houses on Huntingdon Road don't). Social SpacesGardens One of the nicest parts of Murray Edwards is its gardens. They've recently featured in a book, and Murray Edwards made the debut appearance at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2007. You can walk on all the grass and picnic or study to your heart's content, which is a change from many colleges where there are strict instructions to stay off the lawn. The garden parties held in the gardens are often relaxed affairs, very enjoyable and are well attended with a good university-wide reputation Dome Dining
BarWe have a college bar like pretty much everywhere else. Ours is often pretty quiet when nothing specific is on, but then we have Band in the Bar nights, which are live music nights about once a fortnight when both the main bar and the upstairs section are pretty packed. In terms of facilities the bar is good for the chocolate vending machine in the middle of an essay crisis. Oh and there's a MASSIVE flat-screen TV. JCRNewly relocated to Old Block. SnugA room with TV, DVD and video that you can book in advance to watch films with friends if you want a change of scenery for your college room. Froud RoomThe TV room, and also where a selection of daily newspapers are kept. A few large brown leather sofas, purple cushions and carpets - packed to the brim during X-factor and the like. Library and Computing Rosemary Murray LibraryOpen 24 hours a day, you check your books in and out yourself. You are allowed 10 books, but the librarians are lenient if you need to go over. You can keep the books you borrow for the entire term. There is a photocopier conveniently located just outside the library. Computer SuiteAccessible with your swipe card, it's open 24 hours a day. There are a good amount of terminals and there is usually a free computer. Room ConnectionAll college rooms can be connected to the college network, which enables high speed internet access, only the houses on Huntingdon Road don't have access.. It costs about £20 a term, and you are provided with an ethernet cable and a start-up kit (with anti-virus software and a comprehensive guide to getting your computer network ready) for free. There are download restrictions and the inability to use webcam/microphone/skype can be frustrating, but this is the same for many colleges. The computer officers are on hand every week day and are very helpful - you can just pop in and they'll look into to problem almost immediately. Academic PerformanceMurray Edwards/New Hall's ranking in the Tompkins Table (which ranks colleges by their Tripos exam results): 22nd (2011), 23rd (2010), 23rd (2009), 23rd (2008), 23rd (2007), 24th (2006), 25th (2005), 23rd (2004), 24th (2003), 24th (2002), 23rd (2001), 16th (2000). SportsMurray Edwards was declared the 16th sportiest Cambridge College in Michealmas 2009 by The Tab. See The Tab article: The College Cup revealed WelfareThe welfare system at Cambridge, and Murray Edwards in particular, is personalised and your success (emotionally and academically) is their primary concern.
AtmosphereInitially strange and daunting, everyone mellows into the single-sex environment fairly swiftly. New Hall soon has a friendly and supportive atmosphere. It's very pro-female and everyone wants you to do the very very best you can. When you first start at the university, snide people from other colleges will say "Oh, were you pooled there?" But they grow out of this by the second year and Murray Edwards is very favourably viewed by those who give it a chance. EntertainmentWe have Band in the Bar nights, which are live music nights about once a fortnight when both the main bar and the upstairs section are pretty packed. We also have ents, usually called Trash once a term that are well known across the university as well as our annual sell out garden party. So social life wise there's plenty going on, and unlike some colleges it's not all college centered, Murray Edwards girls are involved with activities and social stuff all over the city and the uni. SocietiesMurray Edwards participates in the university leagues, competing against other colleges in Rugby, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Rowing, Football, Hockey, Lacrosse, Netball, Pool, Ultimate Frisbee.... The Drama Society is called 'The Madhouse'. Productions include
The drinking society is called the Harlots.... And yes, there's loads more - read about it here FacilitiesTennis Courts(£1 a go) Squash CourtArt RoomDeveloping RoomPiano RoomsNearest ShopsThe nearest shop is the Nasreen Dar shop on Histon Road (about 2 mins walk from the Porters' Lodge). Nasreen Dar sells nearly everything and is great in an emergency. At the end of Histon Road is Aldi and Iceland - excellent for cheap food deals. GymThe Gym is quite good, it only costs about £30 a year for membership. Links
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