Pembroke College (Oxford): Detailed Guide, General Information and Contacts

Pembroke College is located on St Aldates, a few minutes’ walk from the Cornmarket Street/High Street crossroads. It is relatively central and is around a 20 minutes’ walk from the University Science Area.

Pembroke offers financial rewards for academic success which includes undergraduate scholarships, exhibitions, academic prizes, and single collection prizes. Additionally, the JCR Art Fund provides hardship grants all year round for sudden financial hardship. It is designed to cover small amounts, but applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. More information about undergraduate financial support can be found here.

There is support available to graduate students and this includes, but is not limited to, the Dean of Graduates fund to cover the cost of conferences or field trips, the Alumni Graduate scholarship, senior studentships, and travel prizes. More information on graduate financial support can be found here.

Pembroke College is known for the JCR art collection which is lent to students to display in their rooms. During ‘Arts Week’ each year, the JCR Art Fund Collection hosts an exhibition of student artwork in their gallery.

There is a strong music culture at the College and the JCR has music and drama reps who coordinate programmes throughout the academic year. There are societies such as the Pembroke College Music Society, Master’s Recitals, and the College Choir that students can get involved in. There is also a vibrant drama scene with students running pantomimes, musicals, operas, and outdoor plays.

As well as these opportunities, there are over 300 university societies you can join.

All first-year undergraduates live on the main site in fully furnished bedrooms which are a mixture of en-suite and shared bathrooms. For subsequent years, students can request to stay on main site or at the Sir Geoffrey Arthur Building. The rooms in the GAB are self-catered and students are allowed to say in them during holiday term. All three years of undergraduate study have accommodation provided for and the fourth year is subject to availability.

More information about undergraduate accommodation can be found here.

The Pembroke College dining hall hosts formal events but also provides daily pay-as-you-go lunches for all students who want it.

Graduates are offered accommodation throughout their course duration. There are two sites, with the newest being just an 11 minutes’ walk from the main site. The rooms comprise of en-suites and studio flats. There is accommodation offered on the main site within The Rokos Quad. More information can be found here.

Pembroke has a huge range of sports club and its own sports ground a 10-minute walk from the College. The sports ground has two football pitches, a rugby pitch, two cricket nets, two grass tennis courts, a pavilion and more. There is no College gym. Sports is played competitively but novices are welcome to join too. There are scholarships and awards available for undergraduates who take sports in a high level.

Pembroke College has a dedicated welfare team to help students struggling with a multitude of issues from having diverse needs, being a carer, being an estranged student, and more. They regularly run bespoke sessions and resources including workshops for students to attend. Additionally, the University of Oxford also provides welfare support for all students, regardless of which College they are enrolled at.

• Pembroke was the first Oxford College to have an art collection owned by its JCR- these art pieces are lent out to students to decorate their rooms during term time.
• The College has its own café, called the Farthings café, which is a popular space for brunch, snacks and works as an informal workplace. Additionally, the College has its own bar, The Rose and Thistle.
• Pembroke students wear pink, play sports in pink, and have the Pink Panther as their official mascot.
• The JCR is the wealthiest in Oxford, after the sale of a Francis Bacon painting in 1997.
• Pembroke is where Tolkien wrote the famous ‘Lord of the Rings’.

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