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The University of Cambridge, located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world. As reflected in international surveys, it has a reputation as one of the world's most prestigious universities. Early records indicate that the university grew out of an association of scholars in the city of Cambridge, probably formed in 1209 by scholars escaping from Oxford after a fight with local townsmen. The universities of Oxford and Cambridge are jointly referred to by the portmanteau Oxbridge. In addition to cultural and practical associations as a historic part of English society, the two universities also have a long history of rivalry with each other. Cambridge is a member of the Russell Group, a network of research-led British universities; the Coimbra Group, an association of leading European universities; the League of European Research Universities; and the International Alliance of Research Universities. It is also considered part of the "Golden Triangle", a geographical concentration of UK university research.
General information
Reputation According to UCAS, Cambridge and Oxford are the most academically selective universities in the United Kingdom - there is a special national admissions process which sets Oxbridge apart from other UK universities. The university has often topped league tables ranking British universities - for instance, Cambridge was ranked first in the Sunday Times league table every year between 1997 and 2006. In the most recent UK government Research Assessment Exercise in 2001, Cambridge was ranked first in the country. In 2005, it was reported that Cambridge produces more PhDs per year than any other UK university (over 30% more than second placed Oxford)*. In 2006, a Thomson Scientific study showed that Cambridge has the highest research paper output of any UK university, and is also the top research producer (as assessed by total paper citation count) in 10 out of 21 major UK research fields analyzed*. Another study published the same year by Evidence showed that Cambridge won a larger proportion (6.6%) of total UK research grants and contracts than any other university (coming first in 3 out of 4 broad discipline fields)*. International league tables produced in 2006 by The Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) and Shanghai Jiao Tong University ranked Cambridge as second in the world respectively. The THES also ranked Cambridge 1st in the international academic reputation peer review, 1st in science, 1st in biomedicine, 1st in the arts & humanities, 4th in social sciences, and 6th in technology. Note that all university rankings are subject to controversy about their methodology, and that the THES and Jiao Tong tables are the only international rankings available. Historically, the university has produced a significant proportion of Britain’s prominent scientists, writers and politicians. Affiliates of Cambridge University have won a total of 81 Nobel Prizes , more than any other university in the world and more than any country in the world except the United Kingdom and the United States. Seventy of these awardees also attended Cambridge as undergraduate or graduate students. In addition to a long distinguished tradition in the humanities and the arts, the University of Cambridge is especially known for producing prominent scientists and mathematicians. This distinguished list includes Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, William Harvey, Paul Dirac, J. J. Thomson, Ernest Rutherford, James Clerk Maxwell, Francis Crick, Alan Turing, Stephen Hawking, and Fred Sanger. The university is also closely linked with the development of the high-tech business cluster in and around Cambridge, which forms the area known as Silicon Fen or sometimes the “Cambridge Phenomenon”. In 2004, it was reported that Silicon Fen was the second largest venture capital market in the world, after Silicon Valley. Estimates reported in February 2006 suggest that there were about 250 active startup companies directly linked with the university, worth around US$6 billion*. Endowment Cambridge’s endowment (including the colleges) was estimated at £3.1 billion in late 2005* and is arguably the highest in Europe. Oxford (including its colleges) was possibly ranked second in 2005 with estimates ranging from £2.4bn to £2.9bn *, and the Central European University in Budapest third with an estimated €400 million in 2005. The share of Cambridge’s endowment directly tied to the university itself exceeds £1 billion*. However, Cambridge still relies largely on funding by the UK government. If ranked on a US university table, Cambridge would rank 6th or 7th (depending on whether one includes the University of Texas System – which incorporates 9 full scale universities and 6 health institutions), or 4th in the Ivy League*. In 2005, the Cambridge 800th Anniversary Campaign was launched, aimed at raising £1 billion by 2012 - the first US-style university fundraising campaign in Europe. £300 million of funds had already been secured in the pre-launch period. Early history Roger of Wendover wrote that Cambridge University could trace its origins to a crime committed in 1209. Although not always a reliable source, the detail given in his contemporaneous writings lends them credence. Two Oxford scholars were convicted of the murder or manslaughter of a woman and were hanged by the town authorities with the assent of the King. In protest at the hanging, the University of Oxford went into voluntary suspension, and scholars migrated to a number of other locations, including the pre-existing school at Cambridge (Cambridge had been recorded as a “school” rather than University when John Grim held the office of Master there in 1201). These post-graduate researchers from Oxford started Cambridge’s life as a University in 1209. Cambridge’s status as a University is further confirmed by a decree in 1233 from Pope Gregory IX which awarded the ius non trahi extra (a form of legal protection) to the chancellor and universitas of scholars at Cambridge. After Cambridge was recognised by papal bull as a studium generale by Pope Nicholas IV in 1290, it became common for researchers from other European medieval universities to come and visit Cambridge to study or to give lecture courses. The Colleges
Mathematics From the time of Isaac Newton in the later 17th century until the mid-19th century, the university maintained a strong emphasis on mathematics. Study of this subject was compulsory for graduation, and students were required to take an exam for the Bachelor of Arts degree, the main first degree at Cambridge in both arts and science subjects. This exam is known as a Tripos. Students awarded first-class honours after completing the mathematics Tripos were named wranglers. The Cambridge Mathematical Tripos was competitive and helped produce some of the most famous names in British science, including James Clerk Maxwell, Lord Kelvin, and Lord Rayleigh. However, some famous students, such as G. H. Hardy, disliked the system, feeling that people were too interested in accumulating marks in exams and not interested in the subject itself. Although diversified in its research and teaching interests, Cambridge today maintains its strength in mathematics. The Isaac Newton Institute, part of the university, is widely regarded as the UK’s national research institute for mathematics and theoretical physics. Cambridge alumni have won eight Fields Medals and one Abel Prize for mathematics. The University also runs a special Certificate of Advanced Studies in Mathematics course. Women’s education Originally all students were male. The first colleges for women were Girton College (founded by Emily Davies) in 1869 and Newnham College in 1872. The first women students were examined in 1882 but attempts to make women full members of the university did not succeed until 1947. Although Cambridge did not give degrees to women until this date women were in fact allowed to study courses, sit examinations, and have their results recorded from the nineteenth century onwards. In the twentieth century women could be given a “titular degree”; although they were not denied recognised qualifications, without a full degree they were excluded from the governing of the university. Since students must belong to a college, and since established colleges remained closed to women, women found admissions restricted to colleges established only for women. All of the men’s colleges began to admit women between 1960 and 1988. One women’s college, Girton, also began to admit men, but the other women’s colleges did not follow suit. In the academic year 2004-5, the university’s student gender ratio, including post-graduates, was male 52%: female 48% (Source: Cambridge University Reporter, *). Research and teaching Cambridge University has research departments and teaching faculties in most academic disciplines. Cambridge tends to have a slight bias towards scientific subjects, but it also has a number of strong humanities and social science faculties. Academic staff (and often graduate students for the larger subjects) teach the undergraduates in both lectures and personal supervisions in which a ratio of one teacher to between one and three students is usually maintained. This pedagogical system is often cited as being unique to the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford (where “supervisions” are known as “tutorials”) — similar practices can be found elsewhere, though not on the Oxbridge scale. All research and lectures are conducted by University Departments. The colleges are in charge of giving or arranging most supervisions, student accommodation, and funding most extra-curricula activities. During the 1990s Cambridge added a substantial number of new specialist research laboratories on several University sites around the city, and major expansion continues on a number of sites*. See also and Departments in the University of Cambridge Admission Historically, undergraduate admissions tended to be drawn largely from the fee-paying public schools. This resulted in a student body predominantly drawn from members of the British social elite. The admission process changed in the 1960s. Successful applicants are expected to be predicted at least 3 A-grade A-level qualifications relevant to their chosen undergraduate course, or equivalent overseas qualifications. College Fellows also evaluate candidates on unexamined factors such as potential for original thinking and creativity as expressed in extra-curricular activities and at interview *. In a few cases, candidates may be offered an unconditional place. In recent years, admissions tutors in certain subjects have required applicants to sit the more difficult STEP papers in addition to achieving top grades in their A-levels or International Baccalaureate diplomas. For example, Peterhouse requires 1 and 2 or better in STEP as well as A grades at A-levels including A-level Mathematics and Further Mathematics in order to be considered for entry for the Mathematical Tripos. Between one-half and two-thirds of those who apply with the correct grades are given offers of a place. Public debate in the United Kingdom continues over whether admissions processes at Oxford and Cambridge are entirely merit based and fair, whether enough students from state schools are encouraged to apply to Cambridge, and whether these students succeed in gaining entry. Almost half of all successful applicants come from independent schools. However, the average qualifications for successful applicants from state schools are poorer than the average qualification of successful applicants from private schools. The lack of state school applicants to Cambridge and Oxford has had a negative impact on Oxbridge’s reputation for many years, and the University has encouraged pupils from state schools to apply for Cambridge to help redress the imbalance. Critics counter that excessive government pressure to increase state school admissions constitutes inappropriate social engineering * *. Graduate admission is first decided by the faculty or department relating to the applicant’s subject. This effectively guarantees admission to a college (probably but not necessarily the applicant’s preferred choice). Sports and other extracurricular activities Cambridge maintains a long tradition of student participation in sports and recreation. Rowing is a particularly popular sport at Cambridge, and there are competitions between colleges (notably the bumps races) and against Oxford (the Boat Race). There are also Varsity matches against Oxford in many other sports, ranging from rugby (see Cambridge University RUFC) and cricket, to chess and tiddlywinks. Athletes representing the university in certain sports entitle them to apply for a Cambridge Blue at the discretion of the Blues Committee, consisting of the captains of the thirteen most prestigious sports. There is also the self-described “unashamedly elite” Hawks’ Club (men only), whose membership is usually restricted to Cambridge Full Blues and Half Blues. The Cambridge Union serves as a focus for debating. Drama societies notably include the Amateur Dramatic Club (ADC) and the comedy club Footlights, which are known for producing well-known showbusiness personalities. They also host Cambridge Rev - a branch of the charity Revelation Rock-Gospel Choirs. Student newspapers include the long-established Varsity and its younger rival, The Cambridge Student. The student-run radio station, CUR1350, promotes broadcast journalism. Myths, legends and traditions
Miscellaneous
Colleges
Selected notable members See also List of University of Cambridge members (extensive list), (college lists) and (lists of academics). Fiction Non-fiction History and traditions Societies and leisure activities Organisations and institutions associated with the university See also | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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