Introduction
Each year, the University of Richmond School of Law hosts a summer program in Cambridge, England. The 2008 program will take place from July 6th through August 9th. Students may choose from among several courses taught by Cambridge and Oxford professors, as well as one taught by UR Law professors. During the 2008 program, the following courses will be offered:
- Law of the EU (Professors Barnard and Albors-Llorens)
- Legal History (Professor Ibbetson)
- Comparative Public Law of U.S. and U.K. (Professor Elliot)
- Selected Issues in Family Law (Professor Volenik)
- Selected Issues in Public International Law (Professor Hopkins)
On this page, we’ve compiled advice and suggestions from former Cambridge participants. Keep in mind that things change from year-to-year in Cambridge, and no two travel experiences are alike.
About Cambridge – the University and the City
- Cambridge University is comprised of more than thirty separate colleges, scattered throughout the city of Cambridge and protected by stone walls. You’ll be staying at Emmanuel College, a.k.a. “Emma,” but plan to visit the other campuses. Many charge a few pounds for the privilege of a tour, but you can often visit for free by mentioning that you’re a student at Emmanuel.
- Don’t miss King’s College Chapel – its choir and the Evensong service is famous. (http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel)
- The Market: Your source for inexpensive Cambridge souvenirs. On Sunday, the market is an arts & crafts show.
- Punting the Cam: think “wide gondola without the funny hats.” You may choose an experienced guide to take you on a tour of the Cam River, or put some muscle into it and captain your own rental. Add in a few bottles of wine, a few friends, and a camera, and you’ve got yourself a fun afternoon!
- If you’re lucky, you’ll be visiting while the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival is going on. The college campuses host outdoor performances of your favorite plays – take a group of friends, a big blanket, a picnic, and a jacket for when the sun sets.
Accommodations
- Laundry: Only open in the mornings, but £2.40 per load gets your clothes clean and reduces the weight of your suitcase. Caveat emptor – it’s reminiscent of a commercial laundry service.
- Dorms: Luck of the draw may bless you with spacious accommodations or a cramped bedroom. Either way, you’ll share a bathroom with about eight people. Call it “charming” and go hang out in the courtyard – everyone else will be there, too!
Choosing Classes
- Take five or six credits, but no more – even if you can get special permission. The extra hour will stress you out, and you may feel the need to be studying while your friends (new and old) are off having fun; you may be off having fun with them and feel the crunch come exam time.
- Choose Cambridge-specific courses – you won’t have this opportunity again! But don’t hesitate to pick up the UR course if it’s something in which you have an interest or plan to take back home. It’s a great way to take a small class with a UR professor (or two) and get to know them.
- Professor Hopkins (International Law) comes highly recommended. “After a year of the Socratic method, you’ll love his straightforward style, his Winnie-the-Pooh stories and his unbelievable knowledge,” says 2005 participant Joanna Suyes. Hopkins is smart, witty, and welcoming; International Law is a “must” on your list of classes to take.
- With Dr. Elliot (Comparative Public Law), you’ll learn a lot about the difference between theory and reality of Constitutional Law in the US and UK. He also came highly recommended from participant feedback.
Traveling
- One of the benefits of going to Cambridge is that you have opportunities to travel around Europe. Clarissa Berry, a 2005 participant, recommends that you travel, “but do it sensibly.” Many participants recommend planning at least your first trip away from Cambridge before you even leave the US.
- The inexpensive European airlines, according to 2004 participant Corey Simpson, are just like the ones over here – the best fares require at least 14-days advance planning, so plan ahead to save some cash!
- If you’re booking in advance, 2005 participant Lauren Davis recommends traveling through Luton and Stansted airports for less expensive fares and reasonable Cambridge-to-airport travel.
- “Don’t be afraid to make travel plans with people you don’t know very well, at least once,” advises 2004 participant Matt Durden. It’s a great opportunity to get to know them. (But don’t plan a trip with someone with whom you know you won’t get along – your weekends are mini-vacations and you don’t want to be miserable!)
- Plan ahead: don’t rely on there being an open hotel room or B&B. “It might turn out to be the weekend of an obscure festival,” says 2005 participant Josh Moger, “and you will, like others, have to drive the circumference of the North coast to find lodging for a night.”
- Hostels are an inexpensive option, but research before you book and use common sense. If you’ve never stayed in a hostel before, go with someone who has until you know the ropes.
- Participants are split on the public transportation vs. car rental issue; however, you should look into mass transportation options before you head over the pond, since you may need additional documentation of your student status from UR (beyond the letter you have to get through customs) to be eligible for some student discounts.
- “Travel around Europe as much as you can, but don’t forget about Cambridge, London, and other nearby towns in England,” recommends 2005 participant Sara Dehne.
- Three-day tours of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales are available through Haggis Tours (http://www.haggisadventures.com) and fit well to the Cambridge class schedule. “Book early, they fill up,” advises 2005 participant Stephanie Sharer.
- If you plan to travel more extensively on either end of the Cambridge term, do it before classes start. You might run out of money and, by the time classes are over, “you’ll probably just be ready to get home” advises 2004 participant Matt Durden.
- Travel Books: The Lonely Planet and Eyewitness series are highly recommended. If you don’t feel like lugging them from the US, you can join the local Cambridge library during your stay and check out travel books for free. (Your classmates or other Cambridge visitors may have the same idea, though, so your preferred travel guide may not be available.)
Visiting London
- Professor Murphy usually takes the group to the Inns of Court. Spend the whole day in London and you may even have time for a show.
- What not to miss: Wagamama (fantastic noodle restaurant that we can only dream will one day expand to the States); The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged (maybe the funniest show you’ll ever watch); Tea at Harrod’s (pricey but a British tradition)
Packing
- Pack lightly.
- Things you might want to take with you:
- Shower shoes
- Bathrobe
- Clothing Layers: English weather in the summer can vary from cold and rainy to hot and summery. Bring a coat, too!
- Medications, including your preferred cold medicine: “It’s just easier than negotiating the medications and you’ll probably save some money, too,” suggests 2005 participant Clarissa Berry. If you have allergies, make sure you stock up on allergy medicine, too.
- Towel & sheets: They’re provided for you, but changed on a seemingly incomprehensible schedule. B.Y.O.Washcloth!
- Earplugs: Whether your window opens to the courtyard or the bus station, you’ll want them, especially – according to one anonymous participant – when your drunken classmates are discussing the future of Socialism at 3:00 a.m. right outside your courtyard-facing window.
- Few of the 2004 participants toted their laptops all the way to Cambridge (you don’t use them on exams anyway), but some 2005 participants recommended it. Starbucks and Borders had wireless access, but it’s not the U.S. – access ran about £45/month at Starbucks, so you should consider splitting it with friends. 2005 participant Sara Dehne recommends a T-Mobile subscription. If you prefer to travel lightly, there are Internet cafes for checking e-mail and booking travel plans. Besides, who wants to spend their weeks in Cambridge glued to a computer?
- Cell phone (probably not your normal one): You can buy minutes on SIM cards, according to 2005 participant Josh Moger, and take advantage of decent call rates. You’ll also be able to avoid the British phone booths which tend to be confused with public toilets by drunk tourists and vagrants.
- Converter: Not as prevalent as adapters – buy one before you go if your curling iron/digital camera/etc. doesn’t play well with the European electrical system. Consider all of your possible destinations when purchasing converters and/or adapters – some countries are on different systems.
- Things to buy when you arrive:
- US-to-UK adapter (the three-prong type): They’re readily available and only cost about £2.
- Extra pillow: Although a pillow is provided, if you’re accustomed to fluffy and soft, you’ll want to pick one up. Many stores sell them in two-packs, so take a friend shopping with you and split the comfort.
- If you’re visiting during a particularly chilly summer, you may want to pick up a space heater, too. Argis had them for about £8 in 2005.
- Hairdryer: Yours, even with a converter, may object to the electrical system. They’re fairly inexpensive – save the space and weight and just buy one when you get there.
- Wine glasses and a corkscrew: For evenings in the courtyard, Shakespeare in the park, or punting on the Cam, you’ll want to open the bottle of wine you just bought (and share it with friends)!
Getting There
- Students recommend you take the bus from Heathrow airport to Cambridge. It’s a three-hour trip, but drops you off within a block of Emmanuel College. The bus costs about half the price of the train and “you don’t have to tote your luggage through the Tube and then through Cambridge,” says 2005 participant Joanna Suyes.
Finances
- Some US banks partner with British banks. For example, Bank of America and Barclay’s, so check with your bank and find out if there are fees.
- Call all of your credit cards and banks whose cards you might use on your trip to let them know you’re leaving the country – a quick phone call before you leave will save you the headache of a frozen account!
Food
- In the cafeteria, “get ready for all potatoes, all the time,” warns 2004 participant Matt Durden. He also recommends trying the desserts because they’re not like what you’ll get at home. Don’t be scared of cafeteria hamburgers – these ones are way better than anything the lunch lady served you in third grade. You find yourself (surprisingly) enjoying egg ‘n’ cress sandwiches, if you aren’t already a fan.
- “Once you’re sick of cafeteria food (estimated time: 4 days),” advises 2005 participant Jeanette Peters, “you can buy your own food at a British grocery store: Sainsbury’s.” Your room will have a mini-fridge so you can keep some snacks (and the little packages of cheese from the cafeteria) chilled.
- Cambridge is a very international city, and there are lots of restaurants to explore. Keep an open mind and try something new!
Pubs
- You can probably enjoy a pint at a different pub every night during your Cambridge stay without repeating a visit. Print out a map before you leave: http://www.cambridge-pubs.co.uk. Everyone probably has a different favorite pub, but some on the “recommended” list include:
- The Fountain Inn
- Prince Regent
- The Eagle – history, food, and beer!
- Regal Wetherspoon – inexpensive, good food
- The Mill – bone up on your British pop culture before you go to trivia night
- The Castle – excellent Thai food
- The Locomotive – 2004’s weekly karaoke spot