The University of Cambridge has been around longer than many countries. Consequently it has gained quite a few strange quirks through the ages that set us apart from other institutions. We’re also just stubborn and like a good tradition! Cambridge traditions have created a whole new language that in your first week can be very confusing but soon becomes so perfectly natural that you begin to wonder why your family and friends keep asking you to explain what you’re talking about! Here are a few of the idiosyncrasies and some of the jargon that are part of Cambridge life:

Gowns: These are the black capes that you will buy during freshers’ weeks that hang off your shoulders and give Cambridge students the archaic look! No, you don’t have to wear it all the time, or to exams like Oxford! You wear it for formal dinners, matriculation and the occasional other formal event.
Matriculation: This is the formal event each fresher attends to officially join the University of Cambridge. You will have a dinner, sign the book in the President’s Lodge and then have a photo in your gowns – check your freshers’ week schedule for details of times.
Formal Swaps: During term you have the opportunity to sign up for Formal Hall on some nights. Many sports teams and societies invite a corresponding society from another College to Formal, or go to their College formal on a ‘swap’. This is a great way to meet people from outside Queens’ and also to see other Colleges.
Plodge: A contraction of ‘Porter’s Lodge’; it’s a useful place to know about when you arrive as it’s the main entrance to Queens’ and contains all the pigeon holes and the friendly porters.
Cambridge Terms: You might be used to straightforward term names, such as ‘Autumn’, ‘Spring’ and ‘Summer’. But not here! Instead they’re named ‘Michaelmas’, ‘Lent’ and ‘Easter’ respectively. It’ll make sense eventually.
Buttery: This is the name for the cafeteria in Queens’. Why? Well, it has nothing to do with butter, but apparently used to be the place where students bought their alcohol, which was stored in butts (if you trust Wikipedia!).
Punting: Since we have such a lovely river, we also need a way to float on it. ‘Punts’ are the flat-bottomed vessels you won’t be able to miss zig-zagging up the Cam. They were originally designed to shoot birds from and are propelled by the long pole used by the ‘punter’, who stands on the rear flat surface. (This is the Cambridge way. In Oxford you would stand at the front of the punt – don’t make this punting faux-pas!!)
Mathmos/NatScis: Different subjects at Cambridge have various shortened forms that will soon enter your everyday conversation. Mathematicians are ‘Mathmos’ and students taking Natural Sciences are ‘NatScis’, while Computer Scientists are ‘CompScis’.
Bops: These are the events put on by Queens’ Ents most weekends throughout the term and are great social occasions that bring students from all Colleges to Queens’. They’re also a great opportunity to get out your fancy dress, which is pretty popular in Cambridge!
Pubs/Clubs: Many pubs and clubs in Cambridge have retained their old names, which can potentially make it confusing to find your way around the nightlife! A couple of examples: Ballare nightclub will only be referred to as “Cindi’s” and you will soon find yourself at the Indian that will always be the “Mahal” (actually called the Bombay Brasserie)!
A Cambridge ‘Blue’: Sporting colours awarded by certain university clubs for playing on a Cambridge team after a match against Oxford (called a Varsity Match).
DoS: This is your Director of Studies (the person in charge of your subject within Queens’) and you will meet them in your first week.
Gyp-room: The Cambridge name for a kitchen.
Bumps: Now with all the rowing in Cambridge there’s a lot of ‘boatie’ slang to get your head around. But Bumps should be seen by all; it’s a competition that occurs at the end of the Lent and Easter terms on the river, and literally involves College boats trying to bump into each other! As a rower it’s a highlight of the year and as a non-rower it’s a great chance to get down to the river, watch a fantastic Cambridge tradition and have a picnic with Pimms!
May Week: So exams are over, the sun is out and all you have left to do is party. Confusingly May Week doesn’t actually happen until June but it’s well worth the wait! Expect garden parties, punting, all-night May Balls, loads of picnics and the chance to chill out and enjoy being in one of the most stunning places you’re likely to live.