Introduction

The College subscribes to the Code of Practice for the Management of Student Housing as issued by the Universities UK/SCOP.

Undergraduate Accommodation
Graduate Accommodation
Licence Agreements
Room Keys
Heating
Personal Belongings
Visitors & Guest Rooms

Undergraduate Accommodation

At present Murray Edwards College is able to offer college accommodation to almost all undergraduates, including fourth years, in the main buildings or nearby hostels, though a few students opt to live in privately rented accommodation. There are many categories of undergraduate rooms, from new ensuite rooms in Buckingham House and Pearl House, through split-level and single rooms in the Old Block (the larger of which are sometimes shared by pairs of students) to rooms in various college-owned or college-leased houses. Rents vary to reflect the overall attractiveness of different rooms, and are also designed to allow a measure of individual control over accommodation costs.

First-year undergraduates are normally expected to live in College, so that they have a proper opportunity to become part of the community.  They will usually be allocated ensuite rooms.

For students entering their second or later years a draw is conducted to establish the order in which you then choose a room. The overall organisation of College rooms is the responsibility of the Rooms Tutor but most matters of detail are dealt with by the Accommodation Office.

To view the current Accommodation Handbook, please follow this link. 

Graduate Accommodation

The College tries to offer single accommodation to all new graduate students in their first year. Most graduates are accommodated in Canning & Eliza Fok House, which is located within the main College grounds with some further accommodation available in nearby houses. Unfortunately, the College has no suitable accommodation for couples or families.

Graduates (except Clinical Veterinary and PGCE students) are normally expected to rent their rooms for the full period from the beginning of October until the end of their course or 15 September, whichever is the longer; no rent rebates are made in respect of periods of absence, even if they occur during University vacations.

Licence Agreements

All Murray Edwards College rooms are the subject of Licence Agreements which set out the rights and responsibilities of the student and the College. You will be asked to sign the appropriate Graduate Licence (sample pdf) or Undergraduate Licence (sample pdf) before your room key can be issued.

Room Keys

You will be supplied with a key to your own room by the Porters; you should lock your room even if leaving it only for a short time, as attempts at theft are unfortunately not uncommon. You must return your key to the Porter when vacating your room at the end of each Term (for undergraduates) or when leaving for an extended period of time or at the end of your course (for graduates); a charge of £18 is made for a key lost or not returned. You must not have any copies made of your key.

Keys to public rooms (music rooms, art room, darkroom, etc.) are borrowed from the Porters' Lodge and must be returned immediately after use. A charge of £7 is automatically levied for failure to return a key within 24 hours of issue, and this is converted into a 'lost key' penalty of £18 after a total of 48 hours, though half of this will be refunded if the key is later found and restored.

Heating

Rooms in the newer buildings have electric central heating radiators and should not need supplementary heating. Rooms in the Old Block are warmed by underfloor heating and have supplementary electric heaters. A standard charge is made in the Michaelmas and Lent Terms for heating. In most hostel rooms electricity and gas for fires are metered and charged accordingly; in hostel rooms not provided with meters, a fixed heating charge is made per term together with a token charge for electricity used.

All graduate rooms are centrally heated; please consult the Accommodation Office about supplementary heating if necessary. A standard charge is made for hot water and heating, and bills for additional use of electricity and gas are divided among the occupants of a house.

Utilities charges are outlined on the Undergrad and Graduate Rents and Charges.

Personal Belongings

Please note that the security of property in College rooms is your own responsibility and the College does not accept liability for loss or damage to such property. You may be able to insure your possessions on your parents' household policy (which may be particularly good value for cycles). Otherwise you are advised to take out your own insurance, e.g. with Endsleigh, the NUS Insurance Company, or another company.

There are very strict rules governing Storage in College. Undergraduates must remove most of their belongings from college during the vacations, though there is some lockable storage in the newer rooms, and arrangements can be made to leave some items in Bulk Store, at your own risk.

Visitors & Guest Rooms

Students may entertain visitors in their rooms at any time, and guests may stay overnight (though not for more than one or two nights at a time). However, to prevent unwanted intruders, students are asked to meet visitors who arrive between 11.00 pm and 6.00 am and accompany them to and from their rooms. The Porters have been asked to prevent unaccompanied strangers entering or leaving during these hours.

Students can book rooms for guests, via the Events Office [email: events@murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk, tel: (7)62267].

Checked and updated WK 03/12