Fitzwilliam College (usually called 'Fitz') is a college of the University of Cambridge. The college was formed out of the Non-Collegiate Students Board founded in 1869. This body was based at Fitzwilliam House, opposite the Fitzwilliam Museum. The Non-Collegiate Students Board eventually evolved to become Fitzwilliam College in 1966. Female undergraduates were first admitted in 1979.

The main grounds of the College are sited off Storey's Way, towards the north-west of Cambridge, close to Churchill College, New Hall and Trinity Hall's Wychfield site. Its buildings are of contemporary design, in contrast to many of the University's other colleges. The first college courts and central building (comprising the library, dining hall, junior common room and bar) were designed by Denys Lasdun and were completed in 1963. The original intention was for these buildings to constitute the 'back' of the college, and as funding became available, the college grew to the south, with New Court (1985) and Wilson Court (1994), and was finally completed with Gatehouse Court (2003) giving the college a new frontage. At the same time, the college concluded the new Auditorium building, so that it now has some of the best facilities in the University. The college surrounds the building called The Grove (1813) which has rooms for some fellows and graduates. The Chapel (1991) is an excellent example of modern architecture. The college is also well-known for its beautiful gardens. The construction of a new library is currently underway at the north of the college site. The library is due for completion in 2009.

Fitzwilliam College is 15 minutes' walk away from the main tourist centre of Cambridge. However, it is close to the flourishing West Cambridge site where the university concentrates most of the departments of mathematics, pure sciences and technology.

The college's less traditional image helps to attract students who have the image of Cambridge being an elitist university. Former pupils of state schools usually comprise around 70–75% of the College's undergraduates; however, many of these are from provincial grammar schools and the leading comprehensive schools in the Home Counties, so membership is somewhat less balanced than the figures may suggest.

The Music Society is particularly strong, and Fitz is the only college in Cambridge to have access to a professional string quartet, the Fitzwilliam String Quartet, in residence at least once every term. As well as its own Chapel Choir, the college is home to numerous other singing groups, including Fitz Barbershop, and the Sirens - both perform regularly throughout the university. Fitz is also heavily involved in the Orchestra on the Hill, whose membership is drawn from the 'hill' colleges, performing large scale works on at least a termly basis. The college also hosts the ?Fitz Swing? band ? a high standard jazz group in Cambridge with a good reputation for providing excellent entertainment at the May Balls. On a less formal basis, Fitzwilliam College is renowned for having some of the best student entertainment of the Cambridge Colleges in the form of 'Fitz Ents'. These student-organised parties are usually held at least once every term and attract many different musical acts including live performances from student bands to professional DJs.

'Fitztheatre', the 'hill' college drama society is based at Fitzwilliam's auditorium, one of the largest and best equipped in the University, newly opened in 2004.

Sports teams play a large part in college life; the college is particularly strong in football, having won the league in 2005 (winning every game on the way) and Cuppers in 2006. The college is lucky enough to have three of its own squash courts on the main site which are newly refurbished and among the best in the university (the Cambridge University Squash club hold their training sessions there). There are also a number of academic societies.

The 2006 yearbook is online.

The First Undergraduate Statue

Recently, there has arisen a tradition that Fitz students taking Tripos Examinations offer prayer, and often a small sacrifice of consumable produce, to a statue depicting "The First Undergraduate" in the hope that this will grant them at least a pass grade in their examinations. This ritual is competed either individually, or in small groups of people sitting the same subject, on the night before their first examination.

Notable alumni

<gallery> Image:2003_0131_170451AA.jpg|College sign on Huntingdon Road (Removed to make way for building works as of late May '08) Image:2003_0607_170338AA.jpg|Main Hall in summer Image:2003_0131_171651AA.jpg|Main Hall in winter Image:2002_1118_171120AA.jpg|Main Hall in twilight Image:2003_0607_170915AA.jpg|Inside the main building Image:2003_0607_171258AA.jpg|College library Image:New Court, Fitz.jpg|Gatehouse Court Image:Gatehouse2.jpg|Gatehouse Court Image:Wilson Court, Fitz.jpg|Wilson Court Image:The Grove, Fitz.jpg|The Grove Image:Inside Chapel, Fitz.jpg|Inside the Chapel Image:2002 1118 170951AA.jpg|New Court Image:Auditorium3.jpg|Auditorium Image:Cambridge Fitzwilliam.jpg|Fitzwilliam College Image:Fitz_from_b_block.JPG|Tree Court in the snow </gallery>

See also

• Alumni of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
• Fellows of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
• Masters of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge

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