| Term | Definition |
| Arch 'n' Anth | Short for Archaelogy and Anthropology |
| Asnac | Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic |
| The Backs | Big grassy areas behind the colleges on the river |
| Bedder | The lovely people that clean your room, and empty your bins each day. Once upon a time they used to make the beds (and some still do) - hence the name! |
| Boaties | People who row, and generally seem to have to get up early in the morning to do it |
| Bop | An ent, more often than not dedicated to the latest and greatest or at least 'most mature' cheese |
| Catz | St Catharine's College |
| Cheese | From 70s disco hits to the latest Steps releases, the staple musical diet of university nightlife. |
| Cindy's | A local night club in Lion Yard - Officially called Ballare - but everyone knows it as |
| Coming up | Arriving in Cambridge at the start of term - at the end of term you "go down" |
| Compsci | Computer Scientist |
| Cuppers | Tournament between colleges in most sports |
| CUSU | Cambridge University Students' Union |
| DoS | Director of Studies - you will meet yours at the beginning of term |
| Easter Term | Also known as Exam Term - the term between Easter and the Long Vacation |
| ECSU | Emmanuel College Students' Union |
| Emma | Emmanuel College |
| Ents | Entertainments - most often musically based and in the evenings (good work avoidance) |
| Exec | The Executive - a group elected by the members of ECSU who take on specific responsibilities |
| Fellow | An academic affiliated to a college usually to do teaching and or research. |
| Fitz | Fitzwilliam College |
| Freshers | New students - usually in their first year |
| Full term | The 8-9 weeks that you must be in residence in Cambridge to qualify for a degree |
| Grad | Graduate |
| Gyp room | Room in which the (now extinct) College manservants (Gyps) sat. Name given to the kitchens on the staircases. |
| JCR | Junior Combination Room - refers either to a common room, or to the student representative body (ECSU) |
| Jester | The Jester is the smiley sculpture in the Emma Paddock |
| 'Keys' | Gonville and Caius College |
| LEA | Local Education Authority |
| Lent Term | The term between Christmas and Easter. |
| Mathmo | Mathematician |
| Matriculation | Becoming a member of the college and the university. |
| May Ball | All-night decadent black tie event put on by many of the colleges in June |
| May Week | Week in June given over to enjoyment after the exams have finished |
| MCR | Middle Combination Room - refers either to the graduate common room, or the representative body for graduate students. |
| Natsci | Natural Scientist |
| NPR | Normal Period of Residence - the ten weeks of term that you pay for room rental (even if you are not there for the full 10 weeks) |
| NUS | National Union of Students |
| P'hole | Pigeonhole - where you pick up your post |
| Plodge | Porters' Lodge |
| Punting | Exploit this in the summer, as you may well get very wet; involves propelling yourself along the river with a wooden pole, whilst standing on a flat wooden boat |
| Reporter | The Cambridge University Reporter - lecture lists galore in this black and white directory. Available at the University Press Bookshop or any other bookshop in Cambridge. |
| Roar! | Weekly Emmanuel College newsletter |
| SPS | Social and Political Sciences (or as an insult to someone who does no work) |
| Squash | Society event at the beginning of term to try and make you join them, usually with free drinks |
| Tit Hall | Trinity Hall College |
| Undergrad | Undergraduate |
| Van of Life | The kebab van on the North of Market Square - visit at your peril! |
| Van of Death | The best kebab van in Cambridge, on the South side of Market Square |