Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fitzwilliam College |
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The Grove, Fitzwilliam College
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Blazon: Lozengy argent and gules; a chief of the arms of the University of Cambridge
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| University | University of Cambridge | |||||||||||
| Location | Storey's Way, Cambridge, England (map) | |||||||||||
| Coordinates | 52°12′52″N 0°06′18″E / 52.21447°N 0.10489°E | |||||||||||
| Full name | The Master, Fellows and Scholars of Fitzwilliam College in the University of Cambridge | |||||||||||
| Abbreviation | F | |||||||||||
| Motto | Ex antiquis et novissimis optima (Latin) | |||||||||||
| Motto in English | The best of old and new | |||||||||||
| Established | 1966 (1869 as a non-collegiate body) | |||||||||||
| Named after | ||||||||||||
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| Sister college | St Edmund Hall, Oxford | |||||||||||
| Master | The Baroness Morgan of Huyton | |||||||||||
| Undergraduates | 520 (2022-23) | |||||||||||
| Postgraduates | 396 (2022-23) | |||||||||||
| Map | ||||||||||||
 Location in Cambridge
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Fitzwilliam College is one of the colleges that make up the University of Cambridge in England. It started a long time ago, in 1869, to help smart students from all backgrounds study at the university. At first, it was called the Non-Collegiate Students Board and was located near the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.
Later, it moved to its current location in the north of the city. In 1966, it officially became Fitzwilliam College. Girls were first allowed to study there in 1978, which was around the same time many other colleges started accepting women.
Today, Fitzwilliam College is home to about 500 undergraduate students and 400 graduate students. It also has around 90 fellows, who are senior members and teachers. It is one of the larger colleges in Cambridge. Many famous people have studied at Fitzwilliam College, including Nobel Prize winners, leaders of countries, and important figures in law and politics.
Contents
History of Fitzwilliam College
How Fitzwilliam College Started
In 1869, the University of Cambridge changed its rules. This allowed men who were not part of a college to still be members of the university. These students were supervised by an official called a censor. Their office was on Trumpington Street, across from the Fitzwilliam Museum. This change helped students who couldn't afford to join a college to still get a university education. They could earn degrees, take exams, and try for scholarships.
In 1887, the students chose the name "Fitzwilliam" for their group. So, the building on Trumpington Street became known as Fitzwilliam Hall. The college's coat of arms, which is like a special symbol, was created using parts of the Fitzwilliam family's symbol and the university's symbol. Even though the college had no direct link to the Fitzwilliam family, the name stuck.
Fitzwilliam Hall became the main place for these non-collegiate students. It offered facilities and some places to live. In 1922, its name changed again to Fitzwilliam House.
Because Fitzwilliam focused on academic talent rather than how much money someone had, it quickly attracted very smart students. Many of them later became Nobel Prize winners, country leaders, or important judges. The college also became known for its strong medical programs and for having students from many different countries.
Becoming a College
In the mid-1900s, it became easier for students to get money to study at Cambridge. This meant there was less need for a special group for students who weren't in a college. People worried that Fitzwilliam might close. But former students spoke up, and it was decided that Fitzwilliam should become a full college.
Money was raised, and a new location was bought about a mile north of the city center. The first new buildings opened in 1963. Finally, in 1966, Fitzwilliam House was officially given a special permission by the Queen to become Fitzwilliam College.
Growing and Expanding
Since moving to its current location, Fitzwilliam College has grown a lot. It has become one of the larger and more diverse colleges at the university. The college is built around an old manor house from the 1800s. Over the years, new buildings have been added, creating five connected areas with large gardens. Many of the newer buildings have a modern design, which is different from most of the older university buildings.
The first main buildings, including the dining hall and common rooms, were designed by Sir Denys Lasdun and finished in 1963. The college continued to grow, adding New Court in 1985, the Chapel in 1991, and Wilson Court in 1994. In 2003, Gatehouse Court was completed, creating a new main entrance for the college. The Auditorium building, finished in 2004, gave the college excellent performance spaces.
More recently, a new boathouse was built on the River Cam in 2007. In 2009, the Library and IT Centre was added. In 2010, the college bought more buildings to use for graduate students.
Fitzwilliam is also known for its beautiful gardens. In 2008, archaeologists found evidence of a 3,500-year-old farmstead on the college site. This is the earliest clear sign of people living in Cambridge.
Fitzwilliam College has also had success in the TV quiz show University Challenge. It won the competition in 1973. The same team also won a game in the 2002 Reunited Series.
Buildings and Grounds at Fitzwilliam
The main part of Fitzwilliam College is located on Storey's Way, in the north-west of Cambridge. Fitzwilliam is sometimes called one of the "Hill Colleges" because it's on one of the few hills in Cambridge. Other colleges like Churchill and Girton are also in this area. These newer colleges often share similar modern building styles.
Fitzwilliam has many modern buildings built within the grounds of an older estate. Some of its main buildings, like the Central Hall Building, New Court, and the Chapel, were given special protection as historic buildings in 2024.
The Grove (1813)
The most central building at Fitzwilliam is The Grove. It's a beautiful manor house built in 1813. It was designed by an architect named William Custance, who also lived there first.
The Grove was once owned by the famous Darwin family. Emma Darwin, the wife of Charles Darwin, lived there from 1883 to 1896 after her husband passed away. Today, The Grove holds important offices, common rooms for students and staff, and other multi-purpose rooms.
The Hall Building (1963)
The Hall Building is a large complex at the back of the college. It was built between 1960 and 1963 and designed by Sir Denys Lasdun, a famous architect. This building mainly contains the college dining hall. It also has the bar, kitchens, the junior common room for students, and some teaching rooms. The large bell used to announce dinner was originally from a ship called HMS Ocean.
Fellows' Court (1963)
Fellows' Court was also part of the first buildings designed by Sir Denys Lasdun and finished in 1963. It's in a quiet corner of the college, surrounded by the Hall Building and other dormitories. This area is mostly for the college's fellows (senior members and teachers).
Tree Court (1963)
Tree Court was another part of the original buildings from 1963. It's at the north end of the college. This court was once the main entrance. Today, it provides living spaces for most first-year students. A new Library and IT Centre was recently added, extending one of its walls.
New Court (1985)
In the mid-1980s, the college grew with the addition of New Court. This building has three sides and provides student housing. Students and fellows even helped with the design, suggesting ideas like special staircases and long windows. In 2004, the college's new Auditorium completed the fourth side of this court.
The Chapel (1991)
A college chapel was added to New Court in 1991. It was designed to look like the hull of a ship, which can represent a journey or protection. The chapel has a beautiful organ, a grand piano, and a harpsichord.
Wilson Court (1994)
The fourth court, Wilson Court, was built in 1994. It has 48 student bedrooms, three teaching rooms, a large common room with a bar, and a lecture theatre. This lecture theatre is also used as the college cinema.
Gatehouse Court (2003)
Gatehouse Court was finished in 2003. This building created a new main entrance for the college, facing Storey's Way. It includes the Porter's Lodge (where staff welcome visitors), offices, meeting rooms, and 42 more student bedrooms. This addition greatly expanded the college's main area.
Auditorium (2004)
The Auditorium building was completed in 2004. It was designed to be a great place for performances. Much of the building is underground, which gives audience members a direct view of the gardens. It has a large main performance area and three smaller practice rooms. The auditorium is the official home of the Fitzwilliam Quartet.
The main hall has a Steinway grand piano and other instruments for students to use. It's mostly used for music, but also for plays and important talks. Famous speakers like Jesse Jackson and Sir Richard Dearlove have given lectures here.
The Olisa Library (2009)
A new library and IT centre was finished in 2009. As of August 2025, it holds about 60,000 books and adds around 1,000 new books each year. The building was designed by Edward Cullinan, who had worked on the college's original plan.
The building was officially opened in April 2010 by the Duke of Edinburgh. It has many computers and facilities for students. In 2011, a former student named Ken Olisa donated a large sum of money to the library, and it was named the Olisa Library in his honor. Because Fitzwilliam is on a hill, the Olisa Library's tower is one of the highest points in Cambridge.
Fitzwilliam's Heritage
College Name
The college's name comes from the Fitzwilliam family, a well-known noble family. They had connections to the university for hundreds of years. More directly, the name refers to the Fitzwilliam Museum, which was founded in 1816. The museum was across the street from where the non-collegiate students first met. It also refers to the nearby Fitzwilliam Street, where many of these early students lived.
Coat of Arms
The college's coat of arms (its special symbol) was first used in the 1880s. The college's boat club needed an emblem. The design combines the university's coat of arms with a diamond pattern used by the Earls of Fitzwilliam. This design was used unofficially for many years. When Fitzwilliam was becoming a full college, it officially applied for this coat of arms. It was formally approved in the late 1960s. Fitzwilliam's coat of arms is unique because it's the only college symbol that includes a part of the university's own coat of arms.
College Motto
The college's motto is: Ex antiquis et novissimis optima. This means "the best of the old and the new." This motto has also been adopted by the nearby village of Hardwick.
College Colours
The earliest records of the college's sports clubs describe their colours as 'grey and ruby'. Later, they were called 'cardinal and French grey'. Today, the college is strongly linked with the colours grey and dark red.
College Mascot
Students from Fitzwilliam are sometimes playfully called Fitzbillys or Billygoats. Because of this, the goat has become a popular college mascot. You can see a goat image on the boathouse, on the boat club flag, and in other places around the college.
Academic Strengths
Fitzwilliam College focuses on strong academic performance. It has a growing number of students studying Natural Sciences, making up about 20% of its undergraduate students. The college is also known for its strengths in Music and Politics. In 2010, Fitzwilliam had more graduates in the UK Parliament than any other college. Geography students have also always been a strong group at Fitzwilliam.
The college also has a well-known Criminology department. Many important figures in Britain's police force have connections to Fitzwilliam.
Student Life at Fitzwilliam
A large number of students at Fitzwilliam come from state schools, usually around 70–75% of the undergraduate population. This includes many international students.
Sports at Fitzwilliam
Fitzwilliam is very strong in sports like football, rugby, and table tennis. In 2017, Fitzwilliam's men's football team made history by winning all four major university football titles in one season. The women's team also won their league that year. As of August 2025, Fitzwilliam's men's football team has won the Cuppers Champions title five years in a row.
On campus, the college has a two-story gym, a badminton court, and three squash courts. These courts are also used for table tennis.
The college's main sports grounds are on Oxford Road. This land was given to the college to honor students who died in the First World War. The grounds include tennis courts, a netball court, a cricket pitch, a rugby pitch, and football pitches. It's the only sports ground at the university with its own clubhouse and bar.
In 2007, the college completed a new boathouse for the Fitzwilliam College Boat Club.
Music at Fitzwilliam
Fitzwilliam has a rich history in music. Many former students have become famous musicians, composers, and broadcasters. These include composer Sir Walford Davies, conductor David Atherton, and singer-songwriter Nick Drake. Two of the founding members of the Fitzwilliam Quartet also studied here.
As of 2010, Fitzwilliam had more active music groups than any other college. Besides the traditional Chapel Choir, the college has several singing groups. Its two a cappella groups, Fitz Barbershop and The Sirens, are the oldest of their kind in Cambridge. They often do well in national competitions. Other student groups include Fitz Swing, a jazz band, and Fitzwilliam Chamber Opera.
To encourage music, the college hosts the annual Alkan Piano Competition. Fitzwilliam also offers many scholarships and grants for music students, including a unique saxophone scholarship.
The college's new Auditorium hosts the Fitzwilliam Chamber Series, which features concerts by professional musicians. Famous performers like cellist Julian Lloyd Webber and DJ Annie Mac have performed at the college.
The Fitzwilliam Quartet
Fitzwilliam is the only college in Cambridge with a professional string quartet living there. The Fitzwilliam Quartet was started by Cambridge students in 1968, with two of them from Fitzwilliam. They became famous internationally when the Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich asked them to perform some of his string quartets. They were the first group to perform and record all 15 of his string quartets. Shostakovich himself called them his "preferred performers."
The group has recorded music by many other composers and won a Grammy Award in 1977. In 2005, some of their recordings were listed among the "Hundred Greatest-ever Recordings" by Gramophone magazine. They perform regularly around the world. The group returned to Fitzwilliam in 1999 and are now the college's Resident Quartet. They visit each term for performances and workshops.
The University Orchestra
The University of Cambridge Philharmonic Orchestra (UCPO) began as part of the Fitzwilliam College Music Society. In its early days, the orchestra received support from the college and practiced there. It was first called the West Cambridge Symphony Orchestra because many members were from colleges in West Cambridge, like Fitzwilliam. The orchestra later changed its name, but a smaller group called the West Cambridge Sinfonia still uses the old name.
As of August 2025, the orchestra practices at St Giles' Church. It regularly tours and records, and performs university concerts once a term.
Notable People from Fitzwilliam
Many talented people have studied or worked at Fitzwilliam College. Here are a few examples:
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Sir Charles Scott Sherrington, a neuroscientist who won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1932.
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Albert Szent-Györgyi, a Hungarian scientist who discovered Vitamin C and won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1937.
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Subhas Chandra Bose, an important Indian revolutionary leader.
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Lee Kuan Yew, the first prime minister of Singapore (1959–90).
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Joseph Stiglitz, a top economist who won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2001.
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Vince Cable, a politician who led the Liberal Democrats (2017–19).
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Angus Deaton, an economist who won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2015.
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Andy Burnham, a politician and current Mayor of Greater Manchester (since 2017).
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Cressida Dick, the first female Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police (2017–22).
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David Leakey, who served as Black Rod in the UK Parliament (2011–18).
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Norman Lamont, a politician who was the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1990–92).
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Queen Sofía of Spain, who was Queen Consort of Spain (1975–2014).
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David Starkey, a historian and TV presenter.
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Notable Academics
Many distinguished academics have been fellows at Fitzwilliam College.
- Sir Ernst Boris Chain, a biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1945 for his work on penicillin.
- Sir Anthony Bottoms, a well-known criminologist and author.
- Sir Angus Deaton, an economist who won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2015.
- Paul Muldoon, a poet who won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 2003.
College Masters
The head of Fitzwilliam College is called the Master. The current Master is Sally Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Huyton. She is a member of the Labour Party and a former chair of Ofsted, which inspects schools in England.
See also
- Listed buildings in Cambridge (west)
