Students have access to a wide range of clubs and societies, both at College and University level. It's difficult to cover all of them, but this page includes some examples, as well as details of facilities.
In Freshers' Week, there are sports and societies fairs both at College and University level, where you can go to chat with club members and find out more about activities you might be interested in joining.
The College's Literary Society welcomes anyone with the willingness and curiosity for literary exploration. The society runs a reading group where students meet up every Sunday in our atmospheric Chapel to discuss a piece of literary work. In addition, the society regularly holds events such as open-mics and workshops, oftentimes in collaboration with other poetry and literary societies. You can follow their activities on instagram (@christscollegelitsoc).
The society is described as 'chill' and 'low-commitment' by its committee members. To participate, you do not need to be an English major or have any prior experiences with literary activities; in fact, the society counts Law, Linguistics and ASNAC students among its active members. The society aims to build an amicable relationship with other literary initiatives led by Christ's students, such as The Reverie and attraverso zines (also check them out on instagram!)
Students who enjoy Art will normally take part in Christ's Art Society (CAS) activities. This is a popular creative outlet for the College, and a space to exchange ideas and work, learn or develop specific skills and critically engage and interrogate the place of the creative arts within College and everyday life.
The Society runs weekly workshops, which focus on different materials and processes. You can try new methods/experiences or develop any skills/experience you already have, and it's fun to do this alongside other students. When there's a May Ball the Art Society works on the decorations around College, which can be a good opportunity for large scale projects. The College also runs an annual Art Prize ( see news articles such as this one on the 2021 prize, and this one on the 2022 competition).
During the Covid-19 pandemic the Society continued to be very active and was able to run in-person workshops as well as projects and competitions, providing lots of opportunities for people to get involved. They created this online gallery to showcase student creative work.
In the first week in Cambridge, new students attend the Christ's Freshers Fair and can chat with students at the Christ's Art Society stand there to find out more.
Playing board games is a good, low-key way to get a break, relax and have an enjoyable evening in College. The Board Games Society holds weekly games nights during term, occasionally with other Colleges' Board Games Societies.
The society also runs a database of members' board games so that you can share games and arrange to play on other days of the week if you want to.
Since its establishment in 1937, the Darwin Society has been Christ College’s science society and is open to anyone with an interest in science!
We are named after one of Christ’s alumni, the famous naturalist Charles Robert Darwin, whose work The Origin of Species became the foundation of evolutionary biology.
Christ's Films is our student-run cinema, and screens films in the College's Theatre in the Yusuf Hamied Centre, New Court during the university terms.
The society was founded in the 1960's to give students a cheaper alternative to local cinemas (tickets are normally £4 each). It's very popular with students at Christ's and beyond. Christ's Films aims to show a combination of classic films and the latest blockbusters fresh from the mainstream cinemas.
The theatre is comfortable, with tierd seating, and the equipment used by the society is very professional with a 35mm film projector (the same format used by many cinemas) and a cinema grade Dolby Digital sound system. It's also possible to show films in scope format (very wide screen).
A great way to spend an evening in College, and you can bring friends from out of College too as films are open to all members of the university.
If you like gardening you can get involved in CHABS, the Christ's Horticultural and Botanical Society.
This group works closely with the College gardeners to get students involved with the gardens, and help spread information about what's going on around College. It's a chance to get involved in all sorts of gardening and plant-related events within college.
In the warmer months, the group plants crops and maintains the gardens behind the Jesus Lane accommodation, taking trips to a local garden centre for a nice day out when required. At the end of the year, some home-grown produce even helps to supply the JCR (student union) barbecue!
There are so many advantages of joining CHABS. and it's very much enjoyed by those who get involved. There's no commitment as all events are drop-in, you don't need any experience or prior knowledge, just enthusiasm. The group is very friendly and it's a great way to get a break and do something different as well as getting some fresh air! Whether you just want a plant to keep on your desk or have ideas about projects and initiatives you'd like to see in College, you'll find that there are lots of opportunities (some of them with financial help from College).
We're lucky to have such an active Music Society (CCMS) at Christ's. Membership is free and open to all members of the College (you don't have to be studying Music or play an instrument to join).
The Music Society hosts a weekly Friday recital series and organises a variety of ensembles, all of which are open to students of any ability, including the non-auditioned choir Christ’s Voices, the College Orchestra, Chamber Music, Jazz, Pop and Folk Group.
College members are welcome to join the society, whether signing up to play or simply going to an event.
The society for helping and encouraging future students from all backgrounds is one of the biggest societies in College.
Two student helpers welcoming visitors to Christ's College during a summer Open Day at the University of Cambridge
Christ’s Representatives (or CRep's) help prospective students by being there at events and open days to help give everyone a friendly welcome, show visiting students around the College, chat about what studying here is really like and sometimes you may give presentations about student life too. You can make a real difference as a C'Rep!
CReps work with the JCR Access Officer and Admissions & Outreach team. You attend a training session when you sign up, and then you'll get the requests for help. You can do as much or as little as you like, as some opportunities just last half an hour (e.g. giving a College tour), while others are for a full day event or even a residential where students stay over a few days.
At large events, CReps are the students in blue t-shirts! You can find out more and sign up to join in at the Christ’s Freshers' Fair in your first week.