1. Origins Established 1209 after about 200 students and scholars walked 60 miles from Oxford. Formed after a dispute with townspeople of Oxford. There was much fighting at Oxford University and one day a student accidentally killed another. Three innocent students were arrested and put to death. In protest, many came to Cambridge and the university was born. Governance and The Church Originally under the authority of the local ecclesiastical authority, represented by the Bishop of Ely. During the mid-fifteenth century, the Chancellor of the university had taken over much of this authority and heard cases involving discipline and morals. Cambridge University had the right to enforce laws regulating the quality of bread and ale sold in town, and to monitor rates charged for food, fuel, and candles. Students and Nations The students of the this new university were of all different ages and came from diverse backgrounds and areas. Individuals from the same area or part of the country tended to join together and were called “Nations”. They frequently fought with other “Nations” and some even robbed those in the community. In 1284 the first college was established, Peterhouse. Life in college was very strict and the students were forbidden from many things such as singing, outside books, playing games, and even dancing. Cambridge has produced more than 80 Nobel Prize winners, 13 British Prime Ministers, and 8 Archbishops of Canterbury Traditions Academic dress is still worn, mostly on formal occasions. Gowns are worn to chapel and other formal events. The standard gown is black and knee length. Many of the colleges have different gowns, with minor variations. Cambridge and Oxford are both ancient university and have some of the same features. They have a long history of rivalry and are sometimes referred to as Oxbridge. Colleges Each College is an independent institution with its own property and income. The Colleges appoint their own staff and are responsible for selecting students, in accordance with University regulations. Teaching: The supervision system, where students receive tuition in small groups, is regarded as one of the best teaching models in the world. Accommodation: Almost all undergraduates live in College accommodation for the duration of their time at Cambridge. Enrollment Presently, Cambridge has more than 16, 500 students (roughly 11,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduates). About 17% are from overseas.Mostoverseas students already have a degree Sources: www.britainexpress.com/countires./cambridge www.newadvent.org/cathen/03211a.htm www.cam.ac.uk http://cambridgeuniversity.us Famous Alumni Most famous alumni: Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe, Lord Byron, Charles Darwin, Pavlov, and many others
