What to expect as a student at CJBS
Your CJBS experience extends far beyond the academic. We are more than just another Business School. You will join one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions in the world and have access to all the benefits that come from being a part of it.
You will gain membership of one of the 31 Colleges of the University of Cambridge placing you within a stimulating, proactive community of students, academics and alumni from diverse disciplines and departments.
CJBS itself has its own Special Interest Groups you can join, each College has its own societies and clubs and there are University-wide societies and networks all of which will enrich your experience as well as your friendship groups.
You will have the opportunity to experience for yourself the famed traditions of Cambridge established over hundreds of years including the not-to-be missed Formal Halls and key social events such as the May Ball.
All these aspects combine to ensure that your time at CJBS will be transformative, fun and will help to drive your next steps and your future career success.
The College experience
CJBS is one of the only business schools in the UK able to offer the traditional College experience. When you’re accepted onto an MPhil programme, you’re guaranteed College membership; you’ll be asked to give your top two choices, and the Postgraduate Admission Office will help manage the application process. College membership is for life giving you the opportunity to maintain your association with Cambridge long after graduating.
Your teaching and MPhil cohort will mix at Cambridge Judge, at your College you will connect with talented individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds and a wide range of academic disciplines, broadening your horizons whilst providing a true ‘home from home’. Your College is a place to network, socialise, revise and play sports. College rooms can be booked for meetings and events, and you will have the opportunity to organise your own Formal Hall dining experiences.
Facilities and events
Colleges have their own facilities for you to make use of and enjoy. Facilities vary between Colleges there are libraries, common rooms, bars, sports facilities and even theatres to take advantage of. Enjoy the frequent events that take place including balls, parties or ‘bops’, live bands and the ever-popular Formal Hall dinners held in historic College chambers.
Clubs and societies
In addition to the University-wide societies on offer at Cambridge, each College has their own internal clubs and societies. These will vary from the sporting such as rowing clubs, to the more relaxing such as Wine and Cheese clubs. Colleges also have a Middle Common Rooms (MCR) a student body specifically for postgraduate students to engage with that also provide shared spaces for the use of postgrads.
Pastoral support and administration
Colleges operate as independent institutions and are responsible for arranging formal processes such as inductions, matriculation (when you start the programme) and graduation. They can also offer pastoral and academic support, as well as financial assistance and advice.
Choosing the right College
Each College has its own rich history and identity, maintaining its own social, sports and activities calendar. As a participant on an MPhil programme, you will be a fully-fledged College member, and can take advantage of these opportunities.
Your chosen College plays an important role on two key days of your Cambridge experience: matriculation and graduation. The day you matriculate is the day you ‘come up’ to Cambridge – signing the College’s matriculation registration form and becoming an official member of the College, beginning your journey as a Cambridge student.
Colleges admit students from across the University meaning a wide range of disciplines are represented at each College. This gives you the opportunity to extend your network beyond CJBS.
Your community
MPhil students come from all parts of the world and bring diversity in subject backgrounds creating a terrific cultural and discipline pool to engage with. You will find CJBS a stimulating environment to learn, network and make new friends from around the globe.
The faculty at CJBS is made up of around 70 full-time members, covering a wide range of research areas. Many are leaders in their field and combine professional experience with academic rigour to provide exceptional academic programmes designed to stimulate, inspire and foster real-world impact.
Formed and run by students of CJBS, Special Interest Groups – or SIGs – can be a beneficial part of your experience. They offer a chance to network and share ideas around a particular area; current examples range from the Cambridge Business School Club (social), to Consulting, Finance and Communications (public speaking). Many SIGs arrange their own conferences and talks and offer opportunities to take on key leadership roles.
View the types of groups we have
As well as the College clubs and Business School SIGs there are also more than 400 societies across the wider University. From sports clubs and arts groups to consulting networks and entrepreneurial societies there are plenty of opportunities to pursue interests, have fun and network. You can learn more about these at the yearly Freshers’ Fair, held at the start of the academic year.
View University of Cambridge societies
On graduation you’ll become a lifelong member of the CJBS global alumni community, a broad network of likeminded and influential individuals working across an array of industry sectors. With over 400 alumni groups in 40 countries, you will discover a supportive network that can help open new doors and explore opportunities.
Cambridge news and stories
Find out what our MPhil students have been up to recently.
Programme news
3 Gates scholars to study at Cambridge Judge this year
3 students will be joining Cambridge Judge Business School this autumn as Gates Cambridge Scholars. Aashka Tank, Sadhana Lolla and Uchechukwu Ogechulwu will start their MPhil studies at the Business School in October.
Student and alumni news
Cambridge Judge alumnus awarded Yenching Academy scholarship
Focusing on sustainability, Tom-Louis Flohrer (MPhil Technology Policy 2022) will draw on his learning at Peking University to develop circular economy solutions to global climate challenges.
Apple’s launch of the VisionPro headset highlights the 4 Ps of marketing – product, price, place and promotion – while a Cambridge Judge alumnus has taken a different approach to wearable technology.