When you join the Cambridge Master of Finance (MFin) at Cambridge Judge Business School, you also join the collegiate University of Cambridge. Every MFin student becomes a member of a College, which adds a powerful extra dimension to the year: a built-in community, historic setting and a network that reaches far beyond the Business School.
What is a Cambridge College?
Cambridge Judge is unusual among business schools in being fully embedded within a collegiate university. Colleges are independent institutions within the University and your College membership sits alongside your enrolment at Cambridge Judge.
Your College will typically provide some or all of the following: accommodation, formal and informal dining, social and study spaces, a library, sports and music facilities and access to pastoral and welfare support. It also forms the backdrop for key academic milestones such as matriculation and graduation.
For MFin students, this means that while your academic teaching, careers support and projects are driven by Cambridge Judge, your College offers an additional academic and social community that includes students and academics from across the University.
“Life at Cambridge is unique because it consists of 2 distinct parts: academic life and College life. Academic life revolves around classes, assignments and classmates at Cambridge Judge, while College life offers a separate space to unwind, socialise and enjoy the Cambridge experience.” says Sophie Feng (MFin 2024).
Life at Cambridge is unique because it consists of 2 distinct parts: academic life and College life. Academic life revolves around classes, assignments and classmates at Cambridge Judge, while College life offers a separate space to unwind, socialise and enjoy the Cambridge experience.
Joining a College as an MFin student
Once you have accepted an offer for the MFin, you are also guaranteed membership of a Cambridge College and the MFin Admissions team will manage the allocation process. You may express a preference, although specific Colleges cannot be guaranteed, especially as some fill their places early in the admissions cycle.
Colleges vary in size, atmosphere and facilities. Some are centuries old, with traditional courts, chapels and dining halls. Others are more modern, with contemporary buildings and a strong postgraduate focus. There are graduate-only Colleges, which offer an exclusively postgraduate environment and mixed Colleges which bring together undergraduates and postgraduates.
Living in College and around the city
Many MFin students live in College accommodation, either on the main College site or in College-owned houses close by. Living in College makes it easy to meet people from a wide range of disciplines and nationalities and you are usually within walking or cycling distance of both the Business School and the city centre.
Because demand is high, some students will live in private accommodation instead, supported by the University’s Accommodation Service. Even if you do not live on-site, your College remains a social and academic hub: a place to study, eat, attend events and feel part of a community.
Daily life often revolves around small routines. Breakfast in the College café before an MFin lecture, a quiet hour in the library between classes or a walk back through historic courts after a group project meeting at Cambridge Judge. Over time, these rhythms help students settle into the intensity of the MFin year.
Sharda Goolcharan (MFin 2024) says: “I’m at St Catharine’s College and for me it’s one of the things that really makes the MFin experience unique. It offers a whole new community of people and social events and one of my favourite parts is formal hall – dressed in our gowns, sitting at a beautifully set table with great food and the best company. It’s honestly a magical part of the whole Cambridge experience.”
I'm at St Catharine’s College and for me it’s one of the things that really makes the MFin experience unique… It’s honestly a magical part of the whole Cambridge experience.
Traditions, events and social life
College life gives you access to uniquely Cambridge traditions that many students highlight as a memorable part of their year. Formal dinners in College dining halls, often known as formals, are a good example. These can involve gowns, candlelit tables and in some cases, Latin grace, offering a strong sense of continuity with centuries of Cambridge history.
Social life also includes more informal occasions: talks in the Middle Combination/Common Room (MCR), quizzes, film nights or music events in the College bar. Many Colleges host their own parties and balls during the year, including the famous May Balls in late spring or early summer, when Colleges transform their courts into one-night festivals.
These College events sit alongside MFin and Cambridge Judge activities, such as Business School societies, career treks and the City Speaker series. Together, they create a rich calendar of opportunities to meet people, relax and explore new interests alongside your studies.
Wangyang Ye (MFin 2024) says: “Being part of Hughes Hall has been transformative. The College brings together individuals from disciplines as varied as medicine, law and astrophysics, leading to thought-provoking discussions over formal dinners. I’ve debated ethical AI with a tech entrepreneur and explored education equity with a non-profit leader. This interdisciplinary exposure has reinforced my belief that financial leadership should not exist in isolation but must engage with broader societal challenges.”
I’ve debated ethical AI with a tech entrepreneur and explored education equity with a non-profit leader. This interdisciplinary exposure has reinforced my belief that financial leadership should not exist in isolation but must engage with broader societal challenges.
Academic, pastoral and professional support
Colleges are an important part of the support structure at Cambridge. They offer access to Tutors, welfare officers and student-led committees who can provide advice on academic pressures and wellbeing. This support complements the MFin programme’s own academic guidance and dedicated careers service. For many students, having both the Business School’s professional focus and the College’s broader pastoral care creates a balanced environment, particularly during demanding periods such as exams or major project deadlines.
The College environment can also play a role in your professional development. Through College seminars, guest talks or simply informal conversations over dinner, you can meet researchers and students from fields as varied as engineering, law, medicine, history and computer science. These conversations often challenge assumptions, inspire new ideas and broaden your perspective on finance and its role in the wider world.
A wider Cambridge experience
Being a member of a College means the city itself becomes your campus. Cambridge Judge is a short walk from several Colleges and within easy reach of museums, libraries, theatres and the river. The University’s clubs and societies, along with College and Business School activities, provide opportunities to row, play music, act, volunteer or explore entrepreneurship, often for the first time.
Many MFin alumni reflect that their most enduring memories are a blend of classroom learning and College life: late-night discussions in the MCR, early mornings on the river, concerts in College chapels and time spent with friends from around the world.
In this sense, College life is not separate from the MFin, but an integral part of it. It shapes your networks, your wellbeing and your experience of Cambridge as a place to live and learn.
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