Clare Hall

Welcome to Clare Hall

Clare Hall is one of only two wholly postgraduate colleges in Cambridge, Clare Hall is also the smallest, with total student numbers around 200. This makes it an ideal community in which to quickly feel at home and where social and intellectual mixing can take place in an informal and friendly setting.

My name is Nadiah and I’m a third year PhD candidate in Education at Clare Hall. I’m happy to be your first contact for Muslims at Clare Hall. Please do not hesitate to contact me for a chat.

Pros

  • We have an indoor swimming pool and gym, you can sign up for this, there’s some sort of fees, but at a very reasonable cost

  • We also have a music room

  • We also have an allotment society/ group, you can contribute to water the plants, there’s a rota for this. There’s also a green house which was just brought in around in 2022. Great allotment community.

  • Delicious formals, great food at very affordable price

  • Located near the University Library, 1-2 minutes by bike

  • Close to West Cambridge and university sports centre, beautiful scenic route to get there (not via the main road)

  • Do join the Graduate Student Body

  • Small college, intimate setting, many fellows and their families from all around the world

Cons

  • Serene and too quiet maybe, but its nice for me ;)

Washing Facilities

  • Laundry facility is free. You need to bring your own detergent. The laundry rooms for washing and drying are located specific at the building you live in. Its normally less busy during office hours.

Prayer Space

  • If you dont live in college or not on the mainsite, you can speak to the porters and ask for the key to the King Room to use the space for prayer. You can do ablution/ wudhu in the restroom located near the pigeon hole area, common hall. There’s a prayer mat you can use in that room. Please return the key after you use the room. You can always ask the porters regarding this.

Halal Food

  • There’s halal provision every Friday evening, dinner time, once a week during term time. You can check the menu here at this link: Clare Hall menu

  • The menu is updated weekly. It will also inform you if the dining hall is closed. If you are doubtful about whether the meal is halal, please email events@clarehall.cam.ac.uk.

  • Previously, they always state on the menu whether the meal is halal.

Fridge/Freezer Provision

  • There’s a common kitchen for each building.There are several fridges. I am not sure if there’s division between halal/ kosher meat. If there isnt, we can work towards this through the Graduate Student Body. If you are a student with families/ dependents, you will live in a flat with private kitchen and bathroom and each flat is equipped with own freezer.

Additional Information

  • Nearest place to get halal meat/ chicken/ beef is Iqbro Halal Grocers (10 mins by bike) and Midan World Food (8 mins by bike) from Clare Hall, Herschel Road. There’s also halal meat in Sainsbury downtown I was told. But I;ve never bought it from there. There’s also an option where you can order online from ASDA, with minimum order of GBP 40.00 and as low as GBP 1.50 delivery cost.

  • Get to know your tutors. Request to meet them. They can advice you on the different types of fundings available in college and advice on funding and other things related to your well being and welfare in Cambridge such as where to get travel insurance if you are going to conferences etc.

  • Cycling is the best to get to anywhere from Clare Hall. There are at least 3 schools on Grange Road, with a speed limit of 20mph. So morning time and school pick up time, Grange Road is a bit busy. Just a heads up if you are driving or ordering an Uber. Know the peak times.

  • Also its free to park on Herschel Road, therefore the roadside is very crowded on weekdays office hours, and during weekends from 10 am to 5 pm. Because the parking free. Be careful not to park on double lane, you will get fine, in case you are not from the UK. At night time, its alright.

Concluding Remark

  • Clare Hall is a college that will offer you an informal and engaging international experience especially because there college has many fellows as well as postgraduate students from all around the world.

  • Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any further questions.

  • More information about the college can be found here: https://www.clarehall.cam.ac.uk/

Signed,

Nadiah Thanthawi Jauhari

nt459@cam.ac.uk

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