Sport, performing arts and extracurricular

Sport, performing arts and extracurricular

  • 2017 winning women's Cancer Research UK Boat Race crew

Image copyright Ben Tufnell/Row360

Clubs and societies are an integral part of the student experience. With societies ranging from academic, sporting, religious, musical, political, and artistic there are opportunities for students to develop their skills, meet others and enjoy extracurricular activities no matter their interests.

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Vision for sport

Our mission is to support students, staff and the wider community in pursuit of their health and wellbeing, and talented student-athletes in their competitive and high-performance sporting ambitions.

Opportunities in 'Sport, performing arts and extracurricular'

The ADC Theatre
The ADC is at the centre of university drama in Cambridge, run almost entirely by students with no faculty involvement.

ADC Theatre

Weighlifter in the Cambridge Union
The University of Cambridge Athlete Performance Programme (UCAPP) has been established to offer high performance athletes at undergraduate or postgraduate level the opportunity of a professional and coordinated support services network in order to improve their performance as a sports athlete. This programme has been set up thanks to the kind generosity of Mark Hanson (Girton 1985) who was a Modern Pentathlete during his time at Cambridge.

Athlete Performance Programme

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The Cambridge University Basketball Club promotes basketball of the highest standard at the University

Basketball Club (CUBbC)

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Cambridge University Amateur Boxing Club (CUABC) is one of the oldest and most prestigious University sports teams in the UK. The annual Varsity Match against Oxford is the longest-running boxing fixture in the world and has been fiercely contested each year since 1897.

Cambridge University Amateur Boxing Club (CUABC)

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Cambridge University Association Football Club has a proud history dating back to its foundation in 1856.

Cambridge University Association Football Club (CUAFC)

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Cambridge University Athletic Club prides itself on its long and distinguished history as one of the oldest athletics clubs in the world. Three times a year, we compete against Oxford's OUAC. In three out of every four years, CUAC and OUAC call a temporary truce and come together to compete against American universities in the oldest international athletic series in the world.

Cambridge University Athletic Club (CUAC)

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Cambridge University Badminton Club is one of the oldest university sports clubs in Cambridge, with the first Varsity Match held in 1928. Since then, the club has grown and matured.

Cambridge University Badminton Club (CUBaC)

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Cambridge challenged Oxford to the first race in 1829. The Boat Races are one of the biggest free sports events and over the years have captured worldwide interest.

Cambridge University Boat Club (CUBC)

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The Cambridge University Bowmen (CUB) is the archery club for the University of Cambridge.

Cambridge University Bowmen (CUB)

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Cambridge University Cricket Club is the original Blues sport, with records dating back to 1820.

Cambridge University Cricket Club (CUCC_

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Founded in 1874, CUCC is one of the oldest cycling clubs in the world, and has a rich history to match.

Cambridge University Cycling Club (CUCC)

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Established in the 1920s, the Cambridge University Eton Fives Club (CUEFC) has always been home to a passionate group of players, several of whom have gone on to become Kinnaird champions.

Cambridge University Eton Fives Club (CUEFC)

Students hold the Cambridge University Expeditions Society flag
Founded in 1904, the Cambridge University Expeditions Society (CUEX) is the oldest expeditions society in the world. In the footsteps of such alumni as Sir Peter Scott, Sir Vivian Fuchs and Sir David Attenborough, we exist to encourage and support students, staff and alumni to join, lead and organise expeditions around the world.

Cambridge University Expeditions Society (CUEX)

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The inaugural meeting of the “Cambridge Gliding Club” was held on 12 February 1935, the Club’s formation having been sanctioned by the Proctors of the University on the previous day. Since becoming the Cambridge University Gliding Club later that year, CUGC has consistently produced impressive glider pilots and contributed significantly to the British gliding scene.

Cambridge University Gliding Club (CUGC)

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The Cambridge University Olympic Gymnastics Club prides itself in being a fun and rewarding club for people of all levels.

Cambridge University Gymnastics Club (CUOGC)

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Founded in 1880 with the first Varsity Match that very same year, Cambridge University Hare & Hounds (CUH&H) is one of the oldest cross-country running clubs in the world.

Cambridge University Hare & Hounds (CUH&H)

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Cambridge University Hockey Club, founded in 1890 and based at Wilberforce Road Sports Ground, is the largest and most successful university sports club in Cambridge.

Cambridge University Hockey Club (CUHC)

Men's Blues
Cambridge University Ice Hockey Club (CUIHC) is home to the Cambridge Men's Blues team and the Cambridge Eskimos team (staff and students).

Cambridge University Ice Hockey Club (CUIHC)

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The Cambridge University Judo Club, founded in 1906, is the oldest Judo club in Europe.

Cambridge University Judo Club (CUJC)

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Korfball is a fun, mixed-gender sport and Cambridge University Korfball Club strives to be an accessible society to all students.

Cambridge University Korfball Club (CUKC)

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The men’s lacrosse team was founded in 1882, making it the oldest university lacrosse club in the United Kingdom.

Cambridge University Lacrosse Club (Men's) (CULC)

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Cambridge University Ladies’ Netball Club is one of the University’s most popular and competitive sports clubs. We are unique as the only club founded entirely by women and are still one of the only large sports clubs managed entirely by a committee of women.

Cambridge University Ladies Netball Club (CULNC)

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Cambridge University Lawn Tennis Club (CULTC), is one of the oldest lawn tennis clubs in the world, founded in 1881, seven years before the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).

Cambridge University Lawn Tennis Club (CULTC)

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Cambridge University Modern Pentathlon Club has been training pentathletes and defending the University’s colours since 1958, providing generations of students with lifelong memories of Cambridge sport.

Cambridge University Modern Pentathlon Club (CUMPC)

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Cambridge University Musical Society is one of the oldest and most distinguished university music societies in the world. It offers a world-class musical education for members of the University and local residents, nurturing the great musicians of the future and providing performing opportunities for over 500 Cambridge musicians every year.

Cambridge University Musical Society (CUMS)

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Founded in 1873, the Cambridge University Polo Club (CUPC) is the oldest polo club in UK & EU and lays claim to the oldest continuing polo fixture in the world, the Varsity Match against Oxford.

Cambridge University Polo Club (CUPC)

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Cambridge University Powerlifting Club (CUPLC) has rapidly grown to become one of the most successful sports clubs in Cambridge University, winning ‘Club of the Year’ at the Cambridge University Sports Awards in 2019/20. We compete annually against Oxford at the Varsity match with a mixed team and have won for a record 8 years in a row. Our men’s team have won BUCs and our members regularly qualify to compete on the international stage.

Cambridge University Powerlifting Club (CUPC)

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Founded in 1902, Cambridge University Revolver and Pistol Club (CURPC) is the only club in Cambridge that shoots pistol.

Cambridge University Revolver & Pistol Club (CURPC)

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CURC is a large active club with members from a wide variety of backgrounds — providing lessons for riders of all abilities.

Cambridge University Riding Club (CURC)

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Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club will celebrate its 150th anniversary in the 2021-22 season. The Club aims to provide the best student rugby experience for both men and women, at all levels, across the University.

Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club (CURUFC)

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Cambridge University Squash Rackets Club is one of the oldest university sports clubs in Cambridge, with the first official Varsity match held in 1925.

Cambridge University Squash Rackets Club (CUSRC)

Cambridge University Swimming and Water Polo Club
Founded in 1855 Cambridge University Swimming and Water Polo Club (CUSWPC) is one of the oldest swimming clubs in the country.

Cambridge University Swimming and Water Polo Club (CUSWPC)

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Founded in 1922, CUTTC promotes accessibility for anyone with a passion for table tennis.

Cambridge University Table Tennis Club (CUTTC)

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Cambridge University Women's Ice Hockey Club was founded in 1981 and was one of the first university women's clubs in the UK.

Cambridge University Women's Ice Hockey Club (CUWIHC)

Cambridge University Women's Lacrosse Club
The Cambridge University Women’s Lacrosse Club, founded in 1912 and celebrating our 105th Varsity match this season, is arguably the most successful, respected and long-standing female sports club at the University.

Cambridge University Women's Lacrosse Club (CUWLC)

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Cambridge University Women’s Basketball Club (CUWBbC)

Most of the time it's nothing, but sometimes it's cancer
CATS Cambridge, the Cancer Awareness in Teenagers and Young People Society, raises awareness among students of the University of the signs and symptoms of the most common cancer types in 18 to 25 year olds.

Cancer Awareness in Teenagers and Young People Society (CATS)

Rock and Roll - just one of the dance styles that the Club offers
Cambridge Dancers' Club is a registered Cambridge University society, and around three quarters of our members are students or staff at the University of Cambridge.

Dancers' Club

'Evolution' travelled 2,047km on solar power across the Australian Outback
Cambridge University Eco Racing (CUER) is a 60-strong student organisation that designs and builds solar powered vehicles to compete in the biennial World Solar Challenge.

Eco Racing (CUER)

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Full Blue Racing is a student team of 60 that designs, builds, and races a single-seater race car at the annual Formula Student UK (FSUK) competition.

Full Blue Racing — University of Cambridge Formula Student Team

Three women at an iSoc Garden Party
The University of Cambridge Islamic Society (iSoc) serves the spiritual and academic needs of our Muslim students and fosters feelings of brotherhood and sisterhood amongst them.

Islamic Society

Cambridge University Jewish Society
Cambridge University Jewish Society (CUJS) provides for the needs of Jewish students across the religious spectrum over their time at University. Many of our alumni continue to hold dear the friendships made at CUJS for many years after graduation.

Jewish Society

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Founded in 1976, Cambridge University Karate Club is one of the most successful sports clubs in the University, having won the annual Varsity match against Oxford for the 14th consecutive year in 2020.

Karate Club

Image of building with scaffolding
The Land Society provides networking opportunities and social events for its more than 1,000 members, including Chartered Surveyors and those who work in commercial property, legal and rural land professions, public companies and for local and national government bodies.

Land Society

CUOS is one of the largest and most prestigious student opera groups in the UK
Cambridge University Opera Society is one of the largest and most prestigious student opera groups in the UK, with a busy calendar of events taking place throughout the year.

Opera Society (CUOS)

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Founded in 1970, CUOC is now one of the oldest and most-active university orienteering clubs in the UK. The club consistently finishes within the top five positions at BUCS, thanks to the high level of technical and physical training offered to its members.

Orienteering Club (CUOC)

Cambridge University Pythons team photograph
Cambridge University Pythons American Football Club (CUPAFC) is the University's gridiron team, competing in the British American Football University Championship and the season finale Varsity match against Oxford.

Pythons American Football Club

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Cambridge University Rugby League Football Club was founded in 1980, commemorating our 40th anniversary in the 2020/21 season.

Rugby League Football Club (CURLFC)

Firefly dinghies, windsurfing and Swallow class yachts
Founded in 1893, Cambridge University Cruising Club is the home of all dinghy, windsurfing and small boat sailing at the University. ‘Big boat’ sailing is the province of the separate CU Yacht Club.

Sailing and windsurfing (CUCrC)

Sports Centre
Cambridge has an illustrious sporting history and continues to be home to athletes who compete at the highest levels and a thriving community of clubs for all abilities.

Sports Centre and Sports Syndicate

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The Ospreys is a sporting society, representing elite sportswomen and raising the profile of women’s sport at Cambridge.

The Ospreys

The Wilberforce Society logo
The Wilberforce Society is the first student-run political think tank to have been established in the UK, based at the University of Cambridge.

The Wilberforce Society

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With more than 100 members, the Cambridge University Canoe Club caters for all levels of ability, from absolute beginner to hardcore expert.

University of Cambridge Canoe Club (CUCC)

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Founded in 1896 alongside the birth of the new Olympic era, the Cambridge University Fencing Club has developed fencing excellence right from the start of the sport’s modern timeline and continues to excel today in 2020.

University of Cambridge Fencing Club (CUFC)

Yachts on the water
Cambridge University Yacht Club prides itself both on its history of racing success and its accessibility to all members of this diverse sailing Club. Since the founding of the Club in 2004, students have seen regular success in the varsity match against Oxford and placed top three at the BUSA Yachting nationals. The Club has represented Cambridge at an international level in recent years, participating in the Student Yachting Nationals in 2015 and 2016, and winning the 2017 International Universities Regatta in Qingdao, China.

Yacht Club (CUYC)

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