Robinson College is a constituent college of the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

. Founded in 1977, it is one of the newest

Oxbridge Oxbridge is a portmanteau of Oxford and Cambridge, the two oldest, wealthiest, and most famous universities in the United Kingdom. The term is used to refer to them collectively, in contrast to other British universities, and more broadly to de ...

colleges and is unique in having been intended, from its inception, for both undergraduate and graduate students of both sexes. The College was founded through a significant donation from the businessman and philanthropist, Sir David Robinson. In 1981 Robinson College was formally opened by

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...

with both undergraduate and graduate students in attendance.

History

The College was founded after David Robinson offered the University £17 million to establish a new college in Cambridge. Robinson later gave his College another £1 million on the occasion of its official opening. The first graduate students and

fellow A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

s joined the College in 1977.

Undergraduates Undergraduate education is education conducted after secondary education and before postgraduate education. It typically includes all postsecondary programs up to the level of a bachelor's degree. For example, in the United States, an entry-lev ...

(20 of them) were first admitted in 1979, but significant numbers only began arriving the following year. Robinson was formally opened by

in May 1981. Whilst Robinson embraces many Cambridge traditions, such as

Formal Hall Formal hall or formal meal is a meal held at some of the oldest universities in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland (as well as some other Commonwealth countries) at which students usually dress in formal attire and often gowns to d ...

, a chapel and porters' lodge, it avoids others: for example, it allows its students to walk on the grass in the College gardens. In general, the College has a reputation for being slightly less formal and traditional than other Cambridge Colleges.

Buildings and grounds

Designed by the Scottish architectural firm Gillespie, Kidd & Coia, Robinson's main buildings are distinctive for the use of handmade red bricks in their construction. In November 2022, Historic England announced that the College had been awarded Grade II* listed status. In November 2008, the college was included in the "50 most inspiring buildings in Britain" by ''

The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a national British daily broadsheet newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed across the United Kingdom and internationally. It was fo ...

''. Of particular note is the chapel, which contains stained-glass windows designed by John Piper and houses a renowned Frobenius organ. The oak-panelled dining hall seats 300 for formal dining and the library is remarkable for its use of woodwork, for which it was awarded the Carpenter’s Award for 1981. The College is located a ten-minute walk west of the city centre, behind the

University Library An academic library is a library that is attached to a higher education institution and serves two complementary purposes: to support the curriculum and the research of the university faculty and students. It is unknown how many academic librar ...

, near the science buildings in

West Cambridge West Cambridge is a university site to the west of Cambridge city centre in England. As part of the ''West Cambridge Master Plan'', several of the University of Cambridge's departments have relocated to the West Cambridge site from the centre ...

and the arts faculties on the university's

Sidgwick Site The Sidgwick Site is one of the largest sites within the University of Cambridge, England. Overview and history The Sidgwick Site is located on the western side of Cambridge city centre, near the Backs. The site is north of Sidgwick Avenue an ...

. It stands on a wooded site of historical and horticultural interest. The College Gardens are a fusion of ten pre-existing gardens which date back to late Victorian and early Edwardian times and are crossed by the Bin Brook stream, which once supplied water to the Medieval Hospital of St John (now St John's College). Within its grounds are Thorneycreek House and Cottage (built in 1895), the Crausaz Wordsworth Building and the

Maria Björnson Maria Elena Björnson (16 February 1949 – 13 December 2002) was a theatre designer. She was born in Paris to a Norwegian father and Romanian mother. She was the great-granddaughter of the Norwegian playwright Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, who won ...

outdoor theatre. Robinson owns a number of houses on Adams Road and Sylvester Road adjoining the main college site, which it uses for student accommodation. The main entrance to the college is via a

drawbridge A drawbridge or draw-bridge is a type of moveable bridge typically at the entrance to a castle or tower surrounded by a moat. In some forms of English, including American English, the word ''drawbridge'' commonly refers to all types of moveable ...

-like ramp which is accessible to wheelchair users, and there are also some special facilities for those with physical or visual disabilities. The

Needham Research Institute The Needham Research Institute (NRI; zh , t = 李約瑟研究所 ), located on the grounds of Robinson College, in Cambridge, England, is a centre for research into the history of science, technology and medicine in East Asia. The institute is n ...

is also located within the College grounds.

Conferences

As one of Cambridge's most important

conference A conference is a meeting of two or more experts to discuss and exchange opinions or new information about a particular topic. Conferences can be used as a form of group decision-making, although discussion, not always decisions, are the main p ...

centres, Robinson hosts conferences when undergraduate students are absent.

Student life

Students of the college are represented by the Robinson College Students' Association, or RCSA, headed by a President, with members of the college elected to the RCSA committee every year. Politically, Robinson is generally seen as liberal. Robinson has supplied a large number of Green Officers to the Cambridge University Students' Union in recent years and in 2008 was judged the most environmentally friendly college in Cambridge. Like other colleges, Robinson provides its students with recreational facilities such as a JCR, MCR, TV room, art room, café and bar. As a result of its other role as a conference centre, the college is equipped with two auditoria that are available for student use during term; the smaller one being frequently used by the college's film society and the larger by the "Brickhouse Theatre Company" (dramatic society). There is also a purpose-built party room that hosts college "bops" and other entertainment. Musical talents are catered for by a music room, CD library and chapel. There are also several sports teams, covering most major sports: everything from water polo and cricket to rowing and rugby union. Robinson has become successful in hockey, winning the Cambridge colleges league and colleges Varsity match against

Oriel College, Oxford Oriel College () is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Located in Oriel Square, the college has the distinction of being the oldest royal foundation in Oxford (a title formerly claimed by University College, wh ...

, in 2009–2010, in addition to becoming mixed

cuppers Cuppers are intercollegiate sporting competitions at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The term comes from the word "cup" and is an example of the Oxford "-er". Each sport holds only one Cuppers competition each year, which is open to all ...

champions by beating

Churchill College, Cambridge Churchill College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It has a primary focus on science, engineering and technology, but still retains a strong interest in the arts and humanities. In 1958, a trust was establish ...

College arms

The arms of the College are described as follows: Azure in base two Bars wavy Argent over all a Pegasus rampant Or gorged with a Crown rayonny Gules''.'

College grace

The Latin grace is read before the start of formal hall.
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''Lord, bless us and your gifts, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.''

Gallery

File:Robinson College, Cambridge.jpg, Robinson College Entrance File:Thorneycreek House, Robinson College.jpg, Thorneycreek House File:Stained-glass window in Robinson College Chapel, Cambridge.jpg, A section of the chapel stained-glass windows by John Piper File:Robinson College, Cambridge UK 2008.jpg, Robinson College gardens File:Cold cast bronze in Robinson College, Cambridge.jpg, 'Finback' sculpture by Ben Barrell File:2 Adams Road, Robinson College.jpg, 2 Adams Road (Robinson College student accommodation) viewed from across the college gardens. File:David Robinson memorial stone at Robinson College, Cambridge.jpg, Memorial stone for David Robinson File:Robinson College, Bin Brook bridge.jpg, A section of the elevated walkway over Bin Brook stream

Notable people

Alumni

File:Webbcropped.jpg, Robert Webb File:Nick Clegg by the 2009 budget cropped.jpg,

Nick Clegg Sir Nicholas William Peter Clegg (born 7 January 1967) is a British media executive and former Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom who has been president for global affairs at Meta Platforms since 2022, having previously been vicepr ...

File:Konniehuq.jpg, Konnie Huq File:Justine Thornton-Miliband.jpg,

Justine Thornton Dame Justine Thornton (born 16 September 1970), styled The Hon Mrs Justice Thornton, is a British barrister and judge of the High Court of England and Wales. Thornton was appointed to the High Court of England and Wales in February 2019, assi ...

File:MARC holiday.jpg,

Marc Quinn Marc Quinn (born 8 January 1964) is a British contemporary visual artist whose work includes sculpture, installation, and painting. Quinn explores "what it is to be human in the world today" through subjects including the body, genetics, ident ...

Joe Ansbro Joe Ansbro (Born Glasgow, 29 October 1985) is a former Scottish international professional rugby union player. He is the first player of African origin to represent Scotland at test level in history. His favoured position is centre. He most rece ...

, Scottish international rugby union player *

Morwenna Banks Tamsin Morwenna Banks (born 20 September 1961) is a British comedy actress, writer and producer. She appeared in the Channel 4 comedy sketch show '' Absolutely'', and wrote, produced, and appeared in the British ensemble film ''The Announcemen ...

, actress *

Joey Batey Joey Batey (born 1989) is an English actor, musician, singer, and songwriter. He is known for portraying the bard Jaskier in the Netflix fantasy series ''The Witcher'', where he sang " Toss a Coin to Your Witcher", as well other songs featured in ...

, actor *

Matt Brittin Matthew John Brittin (born 1 September 1968) is a British businessman, President of EMEA Business & Operations for Google. Since 2007, he is lead spokesperson for Google on its announcements in Europe about digital skills, as well as on issues s ...

, Vice-president at Google *

, former

Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom The deputy prime minister of the United Kingdom is a minister of the Crown and a member of the British Cabinet. The office is not always in use, and prime ministers may use other offices, such as First Secretary of State, to indicate the seni ...

and former Leader of the Liberal Democrats *

Adrian Davies Adrian Davies (born 9 February 1969 in Bridgend) is a former Wales international rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century ...

, Welsh international rugby union player *

Mauro Galetti Mauro Galetti. is a Brazilian ecologist and conservation biologist. He is a full professor in the Department of Biodiversity at the Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, São Paulo and has worked at Stanford University (USA), Aarhus Universi ...

, Brazilian ecologist *

Malcolm Gaskill Malcolm John Gaskill FRHistS (born 22 April 1967) is an English academic historian and writer on crime, magic, witchcraft, spiritualism, and the supernatural. Gaskill was a professor in the history department of the University of East Anglia fr ...

, historian * Greg Hands, politician, former

Chief Secretary to the Treasury The chief secretary to the Treasury is a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom. The office is the second most senior in the Treasury, after the chancellor of the Exchequer. The office was created in 1961, to share the burden ...

* Charles Hart, songwriter and musician *

Marko Attila Hoare Marko Attila Hoare (born 1972) is a British historian of the former Yugoslavia who also writes about current affairs, especially Southeast Europe, including Turkey and the Caucasus. Biography Hoare is the son of the British translator Quintin ...

, historian * Konnie Huq, television presenter *

Rebecca John Rebecca John (born 15 April 1970) is a presenter and reporter for ''Wales Today'', BBC Wales on British television. John was born in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. She read for a degree in French and German at Robinson College, Cambridge, be ...

, television presenter and journalist *

Tim Lenton Timothy Michael Lenton (born July 1973) is Professor of Climate Change and Earth System Science at the University of Exeter. In April 2013 he was awarded the Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award. He graduated with a first-class degree in nat ...

, climate scientist *

Anthony Lowe Anthony Peter Lowe AP (born 16 March 1962) is a British-Australian mathematical physicist and actuary. He previously served as chief executive officer of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, and is a frequent media commentator on prostat ...

, chief executive officer at

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia is a broad-based community organisation and the peak national body for prostate cancer in Australia. The Foundation is dedicated to reducing the impact of prostate cancer on Australian men, their partners ...

* Tim Luckhurst, journalist and former editor of ''

The Scotsman ''The Scotsman'' is a Scottish compact newspaper and daily news website headquartered in Edinburgh. First established as a radical political paper in 1817, it began daily publication in 1855 and remained a broadsheet until August 2004. Its par ...

'' * Sarah MacDonald, former Organ Scholar and first female Director of Music in an Oxbridge College ( Selwyn College) *

Toby Marlow Toby Marlow (born 12 October 1994) is a British composer, writer, and actor best known for co-creating the international hit musical ''Six (musical), Six'' with Lucy Moss. ''Six'' received five 2019 Laurence Olivier Awards, Olivier Award nominat ...

, co-writer of the West End musical ''Six'', about Henry VIII's wives. *

Saul Metzstein Saul Metzstein (born 30 December 1970) is a Scottish film director. He won the British Academy Scotland New Talent Award for best director in 2002 for ''Late Night Shopping''. Metzstein is the son of Isi Metzstein, the renowned modernist arch ...

, film director, and son of Robinson College architect

Isi Metzstein Isi Israel Metzstein Order of the British Empire, OBE (7 July 1928 – 10 January 2012) was a German-born architect who worked at Gillespie, Kidd & Coia and taught at the Glasgow School of Art. He became known for his postwar architectural desig ...

* Neil Mullarkey, comedian, writer * Marie Phillips, author *

Kate Pickett Kate Elizabeth Pickett (born 1965) is a British epidemiologist and political activist who is Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York, and was a National Institute for Health and Care Research Ca ...

, epidemiologist * John Pritchard, Olympic and World rowing medallist *

, artist * Anita Sethi, journalist and writer *

, barrister and wife of the former Leader of the Opposition

Ed Miliband Edward Samuel "Ed" Miliband (born 24 December 1969) is a British politician serving as Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Net Zero since 2021. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Doncaster North since 2005. Miliband ...

* Sam Wallace, journalist * Robert Webb, comedian, writer * Andy White, musician and poet

Fellows

G. E. Berrios Germán Elías Berríos FMedSci, FRCPsych (17 April 1940) is a professor of Psychiatry at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. Life Berrios was born in Tacna, Peru, and studied medicine and philosophy at the University of San Marcos. He r ...

, neuropsychiatry and epistemology of psychiatry *

Myles Burnyeat Myles Fredric Burnyeat (1 January 1939 – 20 September 2019) was an English scholar of ancient philosophy. Early life and education Myles Burnyeat was born on 1 January 1939 to Peter James Anthony Burnyeat and Cynthia Cherry Warburg. He rece ...

, ancient philosopher (honorary fellow) * Dame Athene Donald, Deputy Head of the

Cavendish Laboratory The Cavendish Laboratory is the Department of Physics at the University of Cambridge, and is part of the School of Physical Sciences. The laboratory was opened in 1874 on the New Museums Site as a laboratory for experimental physics and is named ...

* Albrecht Fröhlich FRS, mathematician * Morna Hooker, Emerita Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity and first female holder of the Cambridge DD *

Peter Kornicki Peter Francis Kornicki (born 1 May 1950) FBA is an English Japanologist. He is Emeritus Professor of Japanese at Cambridge University and Emeritus Fellow of Robinson College, Cambridge. Kornicki was born at Maidenhead on 1 May 1950, the eldest s ...

FBA, East Asian Studies * Alan Mycroft, computer scientist, co-author of the ARM chip's

Norcroft C compiler The Norcroft C compiler (also referred to as the Norcroft compiler suite) in computing is a portable set of C/C++ programming tools written by Codemist, available for a wide range of processor architectures. Norcroft C was developed by Codemist, ...

and trustee of the Raspberry Pi Foundation *

Julie Smith, Baroness Smith of Newnham Julie Elizabeth Smith, Baroness Smith of Newnham (born 1 June 1969) is an academic specialising in European politics and a Liberal Democrat politician. From 2003 to 2015, she was a local councillor on Cambridge City Council. Since September 201 ...

, Politics and International Studies, member of the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the Bicameralism, upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by Life peer, appointment, Hereditary peer, heredity or Lords Spiritual, official function. Like the ...

Jeremy Thurlow Jeremy Thurlow is an English composer, known for his chamber music, orchestral scores, vocal music setting English and French poetry as well as experimental texts, and music for dance and stage and is performed across the UK and in France, Spain, ...

, composer * Martin Dixon, law In addition, the writer

Valerie Grosvenor Myer Valerie Winifred Grosvenor Myer (April 13, 1935 – August 9, 2007) was a British writer, university teacher, and editor. Early life Valerie Winifred Grosvenor Godwin was born in Lower Soudley in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England ...

, although not formally a Fellow, supervised English students at Robinson in the 1980s.

List of Wardens

* Jack Lewis, Baron Lewis of Newnham (1977 to 2001) *

David Yates David Yates (born 8 October 1963) is an English film director, producer and screenwriter, who has directed feature films, short films, and television productions. He is best known for directing the final four films in the Harry Potter (film se ...

(2001 to 2021) *

Richard Heaton Sir Richard Nicholas Heaton, KCB (born 5 October 1965) is a barrister and former senior British civil servant who was the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Justice and Clerk of the Crown in Chancery from September 2015 until resigning in ...

(from 1 October 2021)

References

External links

Robinson College official websiteRobinson College Students' AssociationRobinson College MCR (Graduate Society)
{{authority control Colleges of the University of Cambridge Educational institutions established in 1977 1977 establishments in England Grade II* listed buildings in Cambridge