Homerton

Welcome to Homerton College!

Homerton College is one of the newest, biggest, and most diverse college in Cambridge, and hopefully this guide will give you an insight into the culture here!

Your college representatives this year are Yusuf Khalil (2nd year, economics student) for brothers and Shukri Lloyd (3rd year, law student) for sisters; feel free to contact us if you have any inquiries as we shall be your first point of contact In sha Allah.

Pros

  • All first-year and most of the second and third year accommodation are en-suite.

  • You have the option to live in a same sex or alcohol free corridor in first year.

  • Free of charge college gym for students (bench, squat rack, barbell, smith machine, dumbbells up to 37.5kg, cable machines, leg extensions/hamstring curls machine, punching pad and cardio equipment)

  • Good sporting facilities and clubs

  • Closest college to the new Cambridge Central Mosque, Mill lane (where most of the halal shops are), and the train station.

  • Close to commercial gyms, supermarkets, and leisure centre

  • Closest college to Addenbrooke’s Hospital

  • Largest Muslim Community (around 40) with an active ISOC

  • Ethnically diverse (compared to other colleges) and a lot of state school intake

  • A pretty orchid

  • Lots of green open space

  • A 24/7 open modern library with the nicest librarians

  • No tourists

  • Away from the bustling city centre so the area can be quiet and chilled

  • Voted friendliest college in Cambridge

  • Very chilled out college (can walk on the grass which seems kind of simple but not many colleges can)

  • Cheapest undergraduate accommodation prices in Cambridge

Cons

  • The biggest con you’re most likely going to hear about Homerton College is that it is far from the city centre (but to be honest, it is an exaggeration - it is literally a 5-10 minute cycle from town depending on how fast you are, but if you’re walking… okay then perhaps I can concede).

  • Far from the sports centre (on average a 20-25 minute cycle)

  • No ovens in kitchens

  • Rooms (particularly first year) are smaller than other colleges

  • You have to pay for washing facilities

  • You cannot access the free weights section of the gym after 10pm :(

Washing Facilities

  • Washing facilities are not free, they average around £2 for wash and £1.20 per dry. 

  • There are two facilities for washing your laundry - in West House (1st year accommodation) and in the Cavendish Building (where some 2nd years and even fewer third years living in ABC and D&E are).

  • Homerton students also have the privilege of being provided clean linen every two weeks and clean towels weekly by the cleaning staff at homerton on a specific cleaning rota. 

  • Rooms at Homerton are also cleaned on a weekly rota basis.

Prayer Space

  • We have a stocked up prayer room with prayer mats, some books on Adhkar and Salah and an area to perform Wudhu.

  • It is located on the 1st floor of the ABC Accommodation in the Cavendish Building, in the corridor with rooms 101-106, and is on your left.

  • Card access is required.

Halal Food

  • Halal food in hall and formal dinners has been a recent introduction

  • Generally, all the chicken in hall should be halal except wings and the Sunday Roast Chicken is halal

  • However, it is always best to stay on the side of caution and ask on the day!

  • The nearest butchers to get your halal meat from would be NJs (<5 minute cycle away) and other butchers on Mill Road. Additionally, there is a halal meat section in Asda, situated in the Cambridge retail park (10-15 minute cycle away) or the “Mainsbury’s” (main sainsbury’s) in town, on Sidney Street (8-10 minute cycle away)

Fridge/Freezer Provision

  • You can apply to have a fridge or freezer in your room for religious reasons, but the only downside is that this is not provided for you and you will have to bring one to Cambridge.

Ensuite

  • Most of the accommodation at Homerton is ensuite (including all first years), so chances are you will get one throughout your time at Homerton (and In sha Allah definitely will be if you specifically state that you need an ensuite as part of a religious requirement when sorting out accommodation for following years).

Useful Contacts and Information

Concluding Remark

  • For most of you, this will be your first time away from home, and as scary as that may seem, it is still an incredible opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and make lasting memories in sha Allah. Most of all, you should remember you are not alone in this. Homerton College has the biggest cohort of Muslims in Cambridge with the largest and an incredibly active college-level ISOC with around 40 muslims. The muslim community at Homerton is honestly wonderful and wholesome. A home away from home for sure!

  • We look forward to welcoming you soon in sha Allah and in the meantime you can email us if you have any questions!

    Yusuf Khalil (brother’s rep) (mk2165@cam.ac.uk)

    Shukri Lloyd (sister’s rep) (sl2056@cam.ac.uk)

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