Rooms are allocated in the order that an applicant meets all the conditions of their University offer. The College receives automatic notification of this from the University Postgraduate Admissions Office. Those applying through the Judge Business School (MBA and MFin) or the Faculty of Education (PGCE) are advised to contact the Fitzwilliam Postgraduate Office directly, once their University offer is confirmed. Any applicant who believes that their formal confirmation of admission will be delayed, through no fault of their own (for example, the formal transcript is not yet available, although you know your grades), can contact the College Postgraduate office to discuss their room allocation. The first allocation of rooms will be early July, and then regularly through the summer after that.

If you have membership of the College and are starting a new course as a member of Fitzwilliam College, you can Apply for College accommodation. ​You will need to complete this form to be considered for accommodation.

Non-College owned accommodation

If you wish to make your own arrangements for private accommodation, please fill in the above form in order to let the College know this. The University Accommodation Service may be able to help you find private accommodation.

Fully en suite - these rooms will have their own toilet, washbasin and shower or bath

Own shower/Semi-ensuite - these rooms have their own shower and washbasin. Toilet facilities are shared with other rooms

Standard - these room do not have their own toilets or showers.  Some rooms have their own washbasins

Kitchens - all rooms have access to a shared kitchen

Self-contained single flat - these rooms have a kitchenette, as well as an en suite bathroom

Room size - within each category, the cheaper rooms will be smaller

Fitzwilliam is usually able to provide a single room to every postgraduate student who needs one. If your course begins in the Michaelmas term but you are unable to confirm your admission by 31 July, you may still be offered accommodation if it is available. Once all rooms have been allocated, the College operates a waiting list. In recent years, rooms have been found for everyone on the list.

There is a large variation between each room in size, shape and facilities provided and each house or staircase has its own character. Some of our College houses are converted from existing family homes and others purpose built, but all have both large and much smaller rooms in the same house. Rooms on the main site also vary in size and we offer both standard and own-shower rooms.

Choice of rooms is focussed on size and facilities offered rather than exact location. The houses are described below to give an idea of what to expect. The provision of furniture and kitchen facilities is the same for all rooms.

The College has a small number of double rooms and flats. These are allocated on an individual basis and are always in high demand. For further information please contact the Postgraduate Office.

We do our best to fulfil the requests on your accommodation application form, but we cannot promise to match your requirements completely. There is very high demand for some rooms, such as those on the main College site. Rooms are allocated once we know that you have met the conditions of your University offer and admission is confirmed.

When choosing your room, please bear in mind the following:

Price: Smaller rooms are generally cheaper. Larger and en suite rooms are more expensive.

Location: Fitzwilliam College is about 1 km from the centre of Cambridge and from the West Cambridge site on Madingley Road. It is a 5-minute walk to the Mathematics Faculty. Most College rooms and houses are very near the College site. The Glisson Road house is on the south side of the city, about 3 km away.

Mixed housing: Most of the College houses and the staircases on the main College site will accommodate all genders on a mixed basis.  

Transport: Students cannot keep cars in Cambridge without permission - which is only granted in exceptional circumstances or when it is needed for the course itself. The College and the University expect most students to get around on foot, on a bicycle, or by public transport. The University Bus Service runs every 20 minutes and stops close to most departments. To discuss your need for a car in Cambridge, please contact the Postgraduate Office.  

Prices for 2024-25 will be available in May 2024

Variation in rent for rooms of the same type is usually due to size, though kitchen and other social space is also taken into account.  All prices are per week.

Rooms on the main College site

• Standard - medium - £129 to £140
• Standard - large - £147.50 to £151
   
• With own shower  - medium -  £169.50 to £176.50
• With own shower - large - £183
   
• Fully en suite - £173.00   ( 1 small room only)

Rooms at Glisson Road

• Fully en suite - small -  £169.50 to £176.50
• Fully en suite - medium - £180.50 to £183
• Fully en suite - large / extra large -  £195 - £198

Rooms in College houses near to Fitzwilliam College

• Standard - small - £140 to £144.50
• Standard - medium - £147.50 to £155
• Standard - large and extra large - £162 to £169.50
   
• With own shower - medium - £165
• With own shower - large - £180.50
   
• Fully en suite - small - £169 (1 room only)
• Fully en suite - medium - £180.50 to £183 
• Fully en suite - large and extra large - £195 to £198
   
• Self-contained single flat - £198 to £218.50

Double/family flats

• Double Rooms (Huntingdon Road) - £198 to £210.50 per week
• Canterbury Street - £239
• Halifax Road and Neale House apartments - £276
• Larger flats (Huntingdon Road) - £317.50

• Fully-furnished room, with bed, desk, chair and storage space
• En suite or shared washing and toilet facilities
• Use of shared kitchen space (self-contained flat has own kitchenette)
• Heating, power and lighting to agreed College standards
• Weekly cleaning of common areas and bedrooms
• IT services via the College network. Network use is subject to a fair use policy. More information on the Computing pages in the summer.
• Basic cover for Personal Possessions Insurance 
• The right to use shared laundry facilities (charges apply for use of these)

Postgraduate students sign a nine-month (40-week) contract for College accommodation for the period late September to the end June/early July

• 2023-24 - Sunday 24 September to  Saturday 29 June in 2024
   
• This contract is for a specific room, but transfer to another room is possible when availability permits. In most cases, contracts can be extended into September, as graduate accommodation is available throughout the summer.
• The latest date for leaving will mid September, unless a room for the new academic year has been allocated.
• Arriving early for a course that starts before 1 October, can usually be included. 
• All enquiries about contracts should be made to the College Accommodation Office.

Field studies, and other periods away from Cambridge

If the course requires field studies (or similar) away from Cambridge for a term or more, a student can usually be released from their contract without penalty. All requests must be made in advance to the College Accommodation Office.  

Kitchen Fixed Charge

In common with most Colleges, the College charges its members, in addition to the room rent, a Kitchen Fixed charge (KFC). This is a contribution to the overhead costs of the College catering operation and helps the College maintain student meal prices at affordable levels. The rates vary depending on the type of accommodation (you pay less if you do not live close to the site, and therefore are likely to make less use of facilities) and are billed termly.

Council Tax

Council tax is paid by each household to the local Council. Students are normally exempt, but in certain circumstances will need to apply for exemption.  

College Accommodation

• Single Students - most single student College accommodation is classed as 'Student Halls of Residence' and is therefore exempt from Council tax.  
• Single person self-contained accommodation - these rooms are liable for Council tax, but the College will apply for exemption on behalf of students.
• Couples - may be liable if one of the couple is not able to prove exemption from payment. [exemption is usually granted for those in the UK as a Student Visa dependent]. The City Council website provides more information and details on how to apply for exemption.  If only one person is liable for the tax, there will be a 25% reduction on the total payable.

Private accommodation in Cambridge

• Council tax will normally be liable if any adult over the age of 18 living at the property is not a student, or cannot prove exemption.  Council tax is charged per property, not per person. (25% reduction applies if there is only 1 non-exempt adult). 
• Students living in private accommodation should expect to apply to the Council for exemption. College letters are not required for Cambridge City Council.

Arriving before the official start date of a new course 

• Council tax may be liable on accommodation where the student (or their partner) arrives early. The Council will charge on a daily pro-rata rate. 
• The same may apply to privately rented accommodation. 
• This early arrival charge will not be applied to 'Student Halls of Residence'.

Contact - the Postgraduate Office for further information, to discuss an unexpected Council tax bill, or for assistance with exemption.

ANUK (Accreditation Network UK) Code of Practice

The College is a member of the ANUK Code of Practice on Student Accommodation.