FAQs

What happens if photography or filming hasn’t been authorised?

Visit St John's College

College staff may require unauthorised organised photography, filming or recording to stop immediately. Individuals may also be asked to relocate or leave College property if they fail to comply.

I’m from the media. Who should I contact?

Visit St John's College

All media enquiries, including requests to photograph or film at the College for editorial purposes, should be directed to the Communications Office.

Can I arrange commercial photography or filming at St John’s College?

Visit St John's College

Commercial photography and filming requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

If you are interested in using the College as a filming or photography location, please contact the Communications Office before making any arrangements. They can advise on permissions, availability, fees and any conditions that may apply.

How do I request permission for organised photography or filming?

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Applications should be submitted using the relevant online form at least one week before your proposed visit.

Photography request form
Filming request form

Permission is not guaranteed and may be subject to conditions or commercial fees.

Can I use a tripod or other professional photography equipment while visiting St John's College?

Visit St John's College

Tripods, lighting and other professional photography equipment are not permitted without prior permission from the College. If you wish to use this equipment, please apply for permission in advance, as conditions may apply.

What counts as organised photography or filming?

Visit St John's College

Organised photography and filming includes but is not limited to posed photoshoots, content creation, commercial filming, media interviews, drone use and other planned photography or recording activities including smartglasses.

These activities require prior permission from the College.

Can I create social media content while visiting St John’s?

Visit St John's College

You’re welcome to capture memories of your visit through casual personal photography. Photography, filming or recording for social media that goes beyond casual personal use requires prior written permission from the College. This includes organised content creation, filming inside College buildings, the use of professional equipment, and any commercial or sponsored content.

If you’re unsure whether your planned activity requires permission, please contact the Communications Office before your entry to St John’s.

Can we have engagement, proposal or other special occasion photographs taken at St John’s College?

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No. Engagement, proposal and other special occasion photography is not permitted. The College is not available as a location for standalone engagement or special occasion photography.

Can we have our wedding photographs taken at St John’s College?

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Wedding photography is only permitted for couples who are married in the College Chapel or hold their wedding reception at St John’s College. Wedding photography is not available for other couples or as a standalone photography location.

Can I take photographs during my visit?

Visit St John's College

Visitors are welcome to take photographs for personal use in the College grounds, unless otherwise indicated.

Photography is not permitted inside College buildings without prior written permission or in any area where signage prohibits it. Please respect the privacy of Fellows, students, staff and other visitors, and follow any instructions from College staff.

Organised or posed photography of any kind always requires prior written permission from the College.

What is not automatically included with an event booking?

Visit St John's College

An event booking does not automatically authorise:

Professional or posed photography
Content creation
Commercial filming
Media interviews
Audio recording
Drone use

Each organised activity must be approved in advance. College staff may require unauthorised activity to stop, move to another location, or for the individual or group to leave College property.

What’s included in my event booking?

Visit St John's College

Permission to hold an event at St John’s College does not automatically include permission for commercial photography, filming, drone use or extensive photography equipment.

Your Conference & Events Coordinator will advise what is permitted and whether any additional permissions or conditions apply. Photography, filming and recording must be agreed before your event takes place.

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Can I arrange photography or filming for my event at St John’s College?

Visit St John's College

If you have booked a meeting, conference, dinner or other event at St John’s College and would like to arrange photography or filming, please discuss this with your Conference & Events Coordinator in advance. Permission is required, and any photography or filming must be agreed before your event takes place.

Can I visit as part of a group?

Visit St John's College

Yes. Visiting groups are welcome, group leaders should report to the Porters’ Lodge to liaise with the onsite team before entering the College. Groups should contain no more than 15 people.

Larger parties should divide into smaller groups, leaving at least 10 minutes between each group. Group leaders should remain with their group throughout the visit and help keep passageways clear.

Commercial tour groups of five or more people must be accompanied by an approved guide from the Society of Cambridge Tourist Guides, arranged through Cantab Tours. Discounted admission rates are available for commercial tour groups. Please contact Cantab Tours for bookings and further information.

Is the visitor route accessible?

Visit St John's College

Yes. We are committed to making St John’s College as accessible as possible for all visitors.

Please note that some courts, paths and grassed areas have uneven surfaces, so visitors should take extra care when moving around the site. For detailed information about step-free access, accessible routes and visitor facilities, please see our Accessibility page.

Which areas can visitors access?

Visit St John's College

St John’s is a working academic community. Visitors should follow the public visitor route and any directional signage. Please do not enter staircases or areas marked Private.

Can I have a picnic or walk on the grass?

Visit St John's College

No. Picnicking is not permitted, and visitors must not walk on the grass in the College courts.

Can I bring a bicycle into the College?

Visit St John's College

No. Bicycles must not be brought into the College.

Are dogs or other animals allowed?

Visit St John's College

Only assistance dogs are permitted in the College.

Can I leave and re-enter on the same visitor admission?

Visit St John's College

No. Re-entry is not permitted after admission.

How can I pay the visitor fee?

Visit St John's College

Payment is by bank card only. American Express is not accepted.

How much does visitor admission cost?

Visit St John's College

The current admission prices are published on the Visitor Information page and vary by visitor type. Concessions are available for children, students, senior citizens and National Disability Card holders.

When is an entrance fee to visit payable?

Visit St John's College

An entrance fee is payable by other visitors during the dates and times published on the Visitor Information page.

I'm thinking of applying to St John’s. Can I visit the College?

Visit St John's College

Yes. We welcome prospective undergraduate and postgraduate students who are considering applying to St John’s College.

Prospective students receive free admission and may bring up to two guests. Simply let the Porters know that you’re visiting as a prospective applicant when you arrive.

If you’d like to find out more about studying at St John’s, please visit our Admissions pages for information about our courses, Open Days and outreach events, or get in touch with the Admissions team, who will be happy to answer any questions.

We also recommend consulting the Visitor Information page before travelling.

Who can visit St John's College free of charge?

Visit St John's College

Free admission is available to:

· St John's alumni and their guests

· University of Cambridge card holders and up to two guests

· CAMCard holders and up to two guests

· Cambridge residents who can provide evidence of a home address with a CB postcode

· Prospective students and up to two guests

· People attending Chapel services or other events in College

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We always recommend consulting the Visitor Information page before travelling.

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When can I visit St John's College?

Visit St John's College

The College grounds are normally open to visitors between 9.30am and 4.30pm during the published visitor periods. The College may close at short notice for operational reasons or events, so please check the Visitor Information page before travelling

Can I visit St John's College as a member of the public/local resident?

Visit St John's College

Yes, you can. Members of the public are very welcome to visit St John’s College during designated opening times. Cambridge residents (with proof of a CB postcode), alumni, University card holders, and certain other groups may enter free of charge, while other visitors may need to pay an admission fee at specific times of year.

Access is via the Great Gate, and visitors should follow the signed public routes, as the College is a working academic environment and some areas are restricted.

When will I receive my MB and BChir degrees?

Graduation & Congregations

As a medic, you will receive your BChir degree automatically in the June of your last Term when the class list is published. You will then have one calendar year to receive your MB degree at a ceremony in person in or in absence. If not taken within one calendar year it will be automatically conferred in absence.

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Where do I find more information about disability support at Cambridge?

Disability Support

Visit the University of Cambridge Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) and Support for Disabled students page on the University website.

Who do I contact about accommodation for disabled students?

Disability Support

Email St John’s Accommodation Office in the first instance if you have any questions or concerns relating to accommodation arrangements for disabled students.

How do I find out more about University and College support for disabled students applying for undergraduate study?

Disability Support

Learn more about applying for undergraduate study at St John’s and Cambridge as a disabled student on the University website

My name is spelled incorrectly on my degree certificate – what should I do?

Graduation & Congregations

Unfortunately certificates cannot be reprinted if you did not inform us of any errors before the registration deadline passed. It is therefore essential that you check your name is spelled correctly at the time of registration.

Will my degree certificate be issued in a frame?

Graduation & Congregations

No, the certificate you receive will not be framed. Jet Photographic offers College-specific certificate frames, which you may wish to purchase/order direct from the company ahead of receiving your certificate.

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Can I access my degree certificate and transcripts digitally?

Graduation & Congregations

Degree certificates and transcripts are available digitally via your CamSIS Self-Service or via the subscription-based Parchment Digitary Service, which allows you to share documents such as your official transcript online with other organisations such as employers or other educational institutions.

Further information is available on the University website.

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Can bags/luggage be brought into the Senate House?

Graduation & Congregations

Rucksacks, holdalls, shopping bags or bags larger than 35cm x 25cm are not currently allowed inside the Senate House or the surrounding grounds. If you bring these to the Congregation/Honorary Degree Ceremony you will be asked to make alternative arrangements for their storage or may be denied entry to the event. If you need to keep your bag with you, you must seek assistance from a Proctor/Constable who will check the contents prior to your entry to the Senate House. Please allow sufficient time for the delays this may cause.

Graduands are asked not to bring any bags to the ceremony. A phone can be brought in as a means of payment for items within the Senate House so long as it can be concealed.

Can guests take photographs at the graduation ceremony?

Graduation & Congregations

Photography is not allowed inside the Senate House, though photos may be taken outside. A professional photographer will take photos inside the Senate House and in the Combination Room, and there is also the opportunity throughout the day to have a professional group photograph taken with your guests with a Senate House backdrop. Graduands must not take professional photographers as their guests into the grounds of the Senate House.

Is the ceremony accessible to disabled guests?

Graduation & Congregations

Downstairs seating is available in the Senate House, and the Proctors/Constables can ensure a suitable space is allocated to anyone with a disability. (Please note however that only one carer/family member can be guaranteed an adjacent seat on the ground floor, so group members may be seated in different places.) Unfortunately there is no parking near the Senate House, and on arrival at the Senate House it is usual for guests to have to wait outside before being seated.

Please contact the Praelector's Secretary if any graduand/guest has a disability and we will do our best to ensure suitable arrangements are made.

Can I bring children to my graduation?

Graduation & Congregations

Children are allowed into the Senate House as long as they have a ticket to enter. If you alert the marshals on the day they can try to seat guests with younger children near the door for a quick exit if required.

Children are also allowed to attend the College lunch as long as they have their own ticket, which is taken from the graduand’s allowance of guest tickets.

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Is College parking available for guests on graduation day?

Graduation & Congregations

Car parking is available at the Playing Fields Car Park for all Congregations, space permitting.

Is College accommodation available for graduands/guests?

Graduation & Congregations

All graduands may normally remain in College until 10am on the Thursday after General Admission. A limited amount of Bed and Breakfast accommodation is available for guests in College rooms the night prior to and/orthe night of General Admissions. Rooms are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis and are limited to two guests per student. Graduands will be sent a link to the accommodation booking as part of their invitation.

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Why St John's for undergraduates?

Why St John's for postgraduates?

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Latest news from St John's

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FAQs

What happens if photography or filming hasn’t been authorised?

I’m from the media. Who should I contact?

Can I arrange commercial photography or filming at St John’s College?

How do I request permission for organised photography or filming?

Can I use a tripod or other professional photography equipment while visiting St John's College?

What counts as organised photography or filming?

Can I create social media content while visiting St John’s?

Can we have engagement, proposal or other special occasion photographs taken at St John’s College?

Can we have our wedding photographs taken at St John’s College?

Can I take photographs during my visit?

What is not automatically included with an event booking?

What’s included in my event booking?

Can I arrange photography or filming for my event at St John’s College?

Can I visit as part of a group?

Is the visitor route accessible?

Which areas can visitors access?

Can I have a picnic or walk on the grass?

Can I bring a bicycle into the College?

Are dogs or other animals allowed?

Can I leave and re-enter on the same visitor admission?

How can I pay the visitor fee?

How much does visitor admission cost?

When is an entrance fee to visit payable?

I'm thinking of applying to St John’s. Can I visit the College?

Who can visit St John's College free of charge?

When can I visit St John's College?

Can I visit St John's College as a member of the public/local resident?

When will I receive my MB and BChir degrees?

Where do I find more information about disability support at Cambridge?

Who do I contact about accommodation for disabled students?

How do I find out more about University and College support for disabled students applying for undergraduate study?

My name is spelled incorrectly on my degree certificate – what should I do?

Will my degree certificate be issued in a frame?

Can I access my degree certificate and transcripts digitally?

Can bags/luggage be brought into the Senate House?

Can guests take photographs at the graduation ceremony?

Is the ceremony accessible to disabled guests?

Can I bring children to my graduation?

Is College parking available for guests on graduation day?

Is College accommodation available for graduands/guests?

contact us

Get in touch

Information