College Structure
As a graduate student at Cambridge, you are automatically a member of two communities: your Faculty, department or research group, and your College. While your Faculty or department provides the research or teaching environment you need to be successful in your degree, the College provides pastoral and social infrastructure. The college provides accommodation and food, but also a chance to live within a diverse group of people from all parts of the world, of all disciplines and faculties, and all academic levels of seniority, from fresh-faced undergraduates to seasoned Professors and Fellows.
The MCR
All graduate students at Robinson are automatically members of the Middle Combination Room. The day-to-day affairs of the MCR are run by the MCR Committee, who provide representation, entertainment and support to graduate members of the college. If you have any questions, queries or complaints, don’t hesitate to reach out to the relevant Committee member.
The MCR is both a group of people and a room in college.This can be confusing at first!
As a graduate member of Robinson, you have full access to the MCR room; this is located on Long Court, above the Linnett Room and adjacent to one of the two entrances to the Chapel.
The MCR is accessible via two staircases, both at the bottom of Long Court, and a lift (accessed via the automatic doors to E staircase). You are more than welcome to use the MCR for reading, relaxing and meeting with friends - but when you do, please treat it with respect. For a full list of the MCR Terms of Use, see here.
The RCSA (JCR)
The RCSA - or Robinson College Student’s Association - represents the undergraduate population of the College, often known as the ‘Junior Combination Room’ or JCR.
While separate institutions, the MCR and RCSA collaborate closely on a range of college-wide issues. To take a look at their website, click here.
Fellows
Fellows are Senior Members of the College and make up its Governing Body, which is responsible for major decision-making. Nowadays, Fellows are usually present or past members of college teaching staff, who may or may not have teaching responsibilities within their department or Faculty.
At Robinson, key members of college administration, including the College Bursars, are also Fellows.
A list of Robinson’s Fellows can be found on the main college website, here.
