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	Pembroke College
	Established:	1624
	University:	University of Oxford
	Address:	Pembroke College, St Aldates, Oxford, OX1 1DW
	Telephone:	01865 276444
	Website:	www.pmb.ox.ac.uk
	Student Union/JCR website:	pembrokejcr.co.uk
	Admittance:

Contents 1 Location 2 Accommodation 3 Social Spaces 4 Library and Computing 5 Welfare 6 Atmosphere 7 Facilities 8 Student-eye view

Location

Pembroke is located on St Aldates, and is a minutes walk from the Cornmarket Street/ High Street crossroads. It is relatively central, and very close to Sainsburys. The college is a 20 minute walk from the University Science Area.

Accommodation

First years all live on site in college. Rent is slightly more expensive than many other colleges, although rooms are generally good quality. There are five bands of room:

A = small room

B = medium room

C = large room

D = medium room with ensuite

E = large room with ensuite

2007/08 annual charges per room

A =£2493.88

B = £2899.76

C = £3369.72

D = £3858.00

E = £3999.53

There is also an annual £200 utilities charge.

The college has a more modern block (The Macmillan building) which is a standard 1960's build. Usually American visiting students and second/third years are in this block, although some first years will be in there. The Macmillan only has band A, B and C rooms.

In rooms without an ensuite, toilets and showers are shared between 2 and about 6 people. There are a couple of baths in college, but they are rarely (if ever) used, and are probably best avoided.

A typical band D room in Pembroke.

Second years usually live out, although they can apply to live on site if they prefer. Most years everyone who opts to live in college can.

Finalists are guarenteed a place in the GAB (Geoffrey Arthur Building) which is a modern, but nice, building by the river, ten minutes from the main site (or sometimes on the main site if preferred.) People on a four year course without a year out can opt to live there in their third year, but if they do, they are not neccessarily guarenteed it in their final year. Those on a four year course with a year out are guarenteed college accommodation in their final year.

Japanologists (5 year course, 4th year optional year out) are guarenteed college accommodation in 3rd and 5th year if 4th year is taken out.

Social Spaces

JCR and common rooms

Despite being one of the poorer colleges in the University, Pembroke has the richest JCR (junior common room.) This is the body which represents students views to the college, organises many social events, and plays an important role in student welfare. JCR meetings are very well attended, largely because of the plentiful free beer, cider, alcopops, J2Os and fizzy drinks, as well as sweets, chocolate and 16-20 dominoes pizzas. The Junior Common Room itself, is a reasonable size and is comfortably furnished. There is a free pool table, plentiful newspapers and board games. The Ward Perkins room is a smaller communal room, with free table football, a couple of cheap arcade style games (House of the Dead 2 and virtua tennis), chocolate and drinks vending machines, lots of sofas, and most importantly a huge, huge flat screen tv with freeview channels, and during term time, a Wii on loan from a second year. The Macmillan building has its own common room with a tv and dvd player, and ping-pong table. 'The Pantry' is open morning - evening, and serves sandwiches, hot drinks, chocolate, and hot breakfasts.

Bar

The college bar "Len's" is cosy and cheap. A great place to start a night out, with a friendly bar man and an enthusiastic darts team.

Hall

All first years without very specific food requirements (severe allergies/Kosher) are required to pay for evening meals during their first year at college. These are pretty cheap (£3-4) formal hall is 3 times a week, informal is also 3 times a week, with no meal on saturday nights. The hall is quite big and impressive, and meals are one of the most sociable times of first term, so although having to pay in advance is a bit of a drag, it's very good for helping you to meet people. Second and third years living out can sign in for meals in hall on a nightly basis if they wish. Second and third years living on site are not required to pay for meals, and can sign in in the same way as those living off site. The GAB is self catered, but the kitchens are large and well equiped, and are generally much better quality than those in the student houses rented in second year.

Library and Computing

Library

The Pembroke library is open 24 hours a day. There are six computers with internet access for anyone to use, and all desks have ethernet points and power sockets for laptops. The library is pretty well supplied with core texts for all subjects, and a successful 'suggest a book' scheme is in operation for subjects where important books are missing.

Computing

There is a computer room in the Macmillan buildling, which is not hugely reliable, but useful. There are no communal printers in college. Internet connection is included in the price of the room, and is very fast and fairly reliable.

Welfare

The JCR welfare reps change every year, but because of the JCR's wealth, welfare provisions are consisently of a high standard. Free condoms, tampons and rape alarms are readily available. This year, the college has participated in the 'peer-support' scheme, training several undergraduates to counsel and advise others in an informal way. The junior deans are young, friendly and relatively approachable. Many of the other staff, such as those in the academic office are very friendly, and helpful when approached by undergraduates with problems they wish to discuss.

Atmosphere

Pembroke is generally stereotyped as 'small' - which is true physically, although undergraduate numbers are similar to most other colleges. The fact that only first years live on site means that it is easy to get to know a large proportion of your year group. The college is widely acknowledged as a friendly one, and with no strong political leanings, the college is accepting and diverse.

Pembroke is at the lower end of the %state school intake tables, the balance between state school and private school students is around 50:50. This by no means affects attitudes in college, as staff and students are keen and regular participators in Access Scheme events.

Although work is taken seriously, 'Broke seems to be a rather relaxed college in this sense, neither excelling academically, nor doing badly. The college is currently 10th in the Norrington table, which rates the academic performance of colleges.

Facilities

College facilities are pretty good, OK washing machines etc. Free pool table, free table football, table tennis table, couple of cheap arcade style games, and a massive flat screen TV with freeview in the ward Perkins room (like a mini JCR).

Student-eye view

Advantages of Pembroke

Friendly

Not full of wannabe politicians - 'hacks'

Attractive (particularly the gardens in summer)

Small physical size means you see nearly everyone all the time, easy to meet people in first year.

Active JCR, good social events, good welfare provision.

Very friendly college staff (academic office, porters etc)

Decent food

Disadvantages

Quite a walk/cycle from the science area

Slightly more expensive than some other colleges (although this is literally by a few pounds a term in many cases.)

Difficult to park nearby (more a problem for people coming to visit.)

Not having the option of not paying for food if you're just a fussy eater.

Vegetarian food can become quite repetitive.