One of the greatest attractions of being at Cambridge is the opportunity to meet bright, creative, and passionate people who can challenge, persuade, and inspire you (of course the beautiful buildings and grounds are a pretty good reason to be here too!) In the complicated Cambridge structure, each student is based at an academic department and is part of a college. While the department might be seen as 'academic' and the college as 'social' by students, the college plays a very important role in your academic life too. Not only does it offer you the chance to meet and engage with students and faculty across a range of disciplines, you could also enrich your academic experience through travel grants and participation in academic events at Christ's. By joining Christ's, you become a part of a long list of illustrious alumni, which includes the likes of Darwin and Milton (and many more)! For 2024-25, the academic officer is Ardon Pillay (academic@christsmcr.co.uk). 

Project Databases

We maintain a database of projects that current MCR members are undertaking. These members are happy to be contacted by other members of the MCR if they would like to discuss their research or to gain advice about specific areas or techniques!

Sciences Database (please use your Cambridge account to view)
Humanities Database (please use your Cambridge account to view)

Academic Events 

There are wide-ranging academic events taking place throughout the year at Christ's. Specifically meant for graduate students, these provide great opportunities to present your own work as well as learn about the work of other graduates and fellows in the college. They will be advertised once they've been organised through the MCR bulletin and the MCR Facebook page. If you'd like to present your work at one of the following events or would like to recommend a speaker, please email Ardon (academic@christsmcr.co.uk).

• The Emerging Research Seminar Series (ERSS) 
  A termly seminar in Christ's College, where two graduate students and one fellow deliver a talk on their research. The ERSS is meant to provide an opportunity for graduate students to find out more about the research conducted by the members of our own college and also for fellows to get to know the student members of the MCR. After the talks a drinks reception and a joint MCR/SCR dinner are held in the Formal Hall. 

• Pre-Grad Hall Talks
  These are held in a very informal relaxed manner before the weekly grad hall throughout the term. You can use this slot to rehearse a presentation that's coming up, discuss something interesting that you've been reading, or just share your research with other students. We have had talks ranging from the importance of food and eating in the religious change from Catholicism to Protestantism in Elizabethan England to what modern and ancient DNA can tell us about the sex lives of the Neanderthals. We're always looking for speakers for pre-grad hall talks, please do contact us if you're interested!

• Museum visits
  If you're interested in exploring different museums with fellow students, the MCR is organizing termly museum visits in a variety of fields. From the most famous Cambridge Museum, the Fitzwilliam Museum, to more specialized ones, like the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences.

  
  

• Stipends and Bursaries
  Awards are a key part in the lives of Christ's College graduate students, and are good incentives for them to perform well in academics and extracurricular activities. The list of College awards, grants and prizes is given here.