MPhil in Historical Studies, Cambridge University 2000-01

As I sit in my room, writing these words on this bright sunny day, I am also wearing my sunglasses, trying to recover from last night's Ball. When we… *mental note* dinner jacket desperately needs a clean… The Council has asked me to comment on my Cambridge experiences thus far, so that future Chevening Scholars at this remarkable institution may get a feel for what awaits them. Let me instead write mainly about what not to expect.

Like most incoming overseas students last October, I had preconceived notions about this place: everyone must be a genius, the workload must be murderous, an old university must be incredibly stodgy, and so on. I was well off the mark in most cases. Yes, some people here are utterly brilliant, many are very intelligent, but most of us simply work hard. If the University has already accepted you, worry no longer, for you have the necessary brainpower to succeed. All you need is discipline, which leads me to the second point: the workload.

Yes, a research degree at Cambridge is a demanding proposition. If you are a postgraduate student, supervisors will not bother you with such small details as deadlines, for instance. You are ultimately responsible for ensuring that all work arrives on time. My supervisor and I met twelve times over nine months. Naturally, if you need additional assistance, supervisors will help you, but within reason, since they are here to guide your research, not to do it for you. Nevertheless, the workload is relatively easy to manage if you are consistent in your work habits: do something constructive every day and all will be well. The joys of working with world experts in exploring new topics and creating new knowledge by far outweigh the hard work that is inevitably required, but postgraduate work at Cambridge is largely a personal effort, hence the need for discipline.

Self-control is also an important asset because contrary to what I thought, at Cambridge, there is rarely a dull moment: parties, concerts, movies, formal dinners, club dinners, faculty dinners, gatherings at local pubs; you name it, they have it. The trick is being able to participate in all of this while simultaneously getting work done. When you first arrive, make an effort to join in the activities planned for newcomers at your college, for this is your opportunity to make the new friends who will support you over the coming months. Once people begin their research in earnest, they will sometimes disappear for days at a time, making it very difficult to get to know them. The first fortnight of first term was a complete blur: parties almost every night, getting home at 6 a.m., and the like. Of course, I felt somewhat guilty because I thought that I ought to have been doing more work, but everyone did this for the first two weeks of Michaelmas term, since we were all looking to meet new people. I guarantee you that some of the most incredibly interesting and intellectually challenging conversations that you will have will be in some stranger's room with five other people, at 2.30 in the morning, over (quite) a few bottles of whatever you can get your hands on. My first such discussion concerned the merits of a monarchical system versus those of a European federal structure, given the ongoing debate over the expansion of the European Union. I know exactly what you are thinking…but I was there and let me assure you that even I do not know how that topic came up! What I am trying to say is that the most unexpectedly wonderful and interesting things will happen if only you make an effort to become involved. Always remember that you are not the only one who has left behind all that is familiar and has embarked on what is a new, exciting, yet seemingly daunting journey.

No matter how self-confident everyone may seem, the truth is that almost every new student is nervous and apprehensive about the entire experience. This is a normal feeling. I have been fortunate enough to become friends with some incredible people from Great Britain, Australia, Germany, Finland, Argentina, Taiwan, Ghana, and Pakistan, to name but a few. Being Canadian, in a sense, makes it somewhat easier to strike up acquaintances, for many students have either relatives or friends living in Canada. That is one of the strengths of our country: we are a nation of many nations. The Council and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, through their generous financial support, ensure that this strengthening of international ties continues, in the exciting and vibrant setting that is the United Kingdom. Even after you are here, the Council will continue supporting you, via the Cambridge office, whose friendly and helpful staff is there to address any of your concerns. Over these past months, I have come to realise my good fortune. I remember walking back from Caius on one particularly cold winter night last December, and stopping in front of King's College chapel just as the moon emerged from behind the clouds. Trumpington Street was utterly deserted, yet when I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, for a second or two, I could almost hear the steps and banter of past students who had experienced, in centuries gone by, similar worries and joys. Your work will sometimes come to dominate every waking moment of your life, but once in a while, remember to stop, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and enjoy every single instant of your time at Cambridge.

Victor Madeira

Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge