Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What information is needed to obtain a University Card?
A. To produce a University Card, the Card Office needs the following:
- Photograph(Digital photo 280x336 pixels)
- Surname
- Forenames
- Date of birth
- Duration of contract or study period with start and end dates
- College affiliation (if any)
Staff members should also supply their Department and Job title details.
The Card Office verifies this information. For students, this is done by checking with the College concerned, if the information is CamSiS. For University staff, it is done by checking with the Department concerned, if the information is not in the CHRIS system. For other College or Department personnel, the information is checked with the College or Department concerned.
Q. Who determines what the University Card can be used for?
A. The services available using the University Card (such as door access) are determined on a site-by-site basis, e.g. by the local Building Manager, or College office, not by the Card Office.
Q. Can I keep my university card as a souvenir after I have finished studying/working at the University?
A. No, the card is issued by and remains the property of the University of Cambridge. This information is published at the back of the card.
Q. Does my new card need to be reprogrammed for the UL once my current/old one has been replaced?
A. No, all the details for cards printed everyday go through to the Library overnight. But should there be a problem and your new card is not detected, you will need to show some documentation e.g. contract or in the case of students a letter from the college.
Q. Can you programme the card for door access to the necessary buildings from the Card Office, or do I have to visit each individual building to get this done?
A. Building access is not centralised but localised to each site where the building manager or designated person will arrange access.
Q. What is a Building Manager?
A. Building Manager is used to describe the person who controls a local access system (for example a librarian, Custodian, College Porters or the Department Office Administrator).
Q. Why do I need/have a College scarf on my card?
A. Each college has its own colours and uses them to identify all those who have an affiliation with it.
Q. Is there any way of printing my card to show that I am a PhD student, rather than just a graduate student?
A. No, all graduate student cards have the Graduate Union Logo and that differentiates them from Undergraduate or staff cards.
Q. I am an undergraduate student - why is my date of birth shown on the card?
A. Undergraduates may be required to proof their age, the card can therefore be used for this purpose.
Q. What's the difference between undergraduate, graduate and staff cards?
A. An Undergraduate card has the date of birth on the front and will normally have the college colours above the photo unless the college does not use the Scarf for security reasons. The staff card does not have the college colours or the date of birth on the front, It has the University centre LOGO for membership.
Q. I am an alumnus; can I have a university card?
A. Alumni's are not eligible for staff cards but can apply for a CAM Card from the University of Cambridge Development Office, 1 Quayside, Bridge Street, Cambridge CB5 8AB; Tel +44 (0)1223 332288; Fax +44 (0)1223 764476; Email enquiries@foundation.cam.ac.uk.
Q. I used to work at the University but don't any longer, why can't I have a university card?
A. The university card is for current students and staff, upon leaving the University, the card must be returned to the Card representative
as it remains the property of the University of Cambridge.
Q. My university card is about to expire, but my contract has not yet been officially extended. Can I have a new card?
A. You will need to contact your card representative who can authorise the issue of the card in writing pending formalisation and signing of
the contract.
Q. Why do I have to go through my card representative to order a new card rather than just visiting the Card Office and sorting it myself?
A. The card representative is the designated person who coordinates all card issues between the card holders and the Card office. They therefore should be the first contact point which also enables them to manage the card administration in matters relating to access. The card rep need to know when a card is lost or stolen so that access rights on that card can be terminated this ensures that security is not compromised.
Q. How long will I wait for my card after a replacement has been requested?
A. Replacement cards will be processed immediately after a request has been received.
Q. Is a contract sufficient authorisation of my connection to a College/Department, or do you need authorisation from my Card Representative as well?
A. No.
Q. I don't like the photo on my current card. If I give/send you a new photo, will you print a new card for me?
A. We are not likely to change photos on the database except for an extremely good reason, e.g. sex change, no longer recognisable, previous photo unsuitable but still used. However if your card is about to expire, or you change your name you can request to have a new photo via the card representative
Q. If I have a letter from the director of the Department/College/Faculty, authorising me to have a card, why do you still need to contact the Card Representative?
A. Yes we shall still contact the card rep as they need to know and confirm validity of the letter.
Q. If I am affiliated with two or more Colleges, can I have both Colleges' scarves on my card? If not, which scarf do I have?
A. No, you can only have one college scarf on the card. You will need to make the choice yourself.
Q. I need a replacement for my lost/stolen university card urgently, and my College/Department has no temporary cards. Can I have one?
A. Please contact your card representative who will request for an emergency temporary card from the card Office
Q. What is the primary function of the university card?
A. The functions of the University card depends on the extent to which a college or University uses it. Main functions include, door access, Library borrowing , purchases in buttery, photocopying etc
Q. If my card expires, will a new one be printed automatically?
A. No.
Q.What is the difference between a TDSI strip card and a contactless card?
A. A TDSi card has a black strip and is swiped on a reader for access. The contactless card has the Chip usually embedded into cards. Also referred to as the proximity card as it does not require direct contact with the reader to function but can be waved at the reader which senses and performs the function.
Q. If I move to another dept within the University can I still use the same Card I was issued with at my previous dept or do I have to get a new one?
A. Ideally you should return your card when you leave your department, but if you move to a different department within the University you could use the same card. You will need to discuss this with the Card Representative as they have an obligation to collect all leavers cards.
Q. I have just finished studying and I'm about to start working at my department. Can I carry on using the Card my college issued to me?
A. Ideally you should have handed your card to the card rep after graduating. Graduate cards and staff cards are different and your correct status should be reflected on the current card.
Q. I used to be a student/staff member of the University. Am I still entitled to hold a University Card?
A. The Card must be returned to the college or department upon leaving. It remains the property of the University of Cambridge, using the card when one is not a current student or staff is therefore not legal. However, former students can apply for an Alumni card which allows them as many privileges as the University card.
Q. When I get my Card will it be ready to use straight away?
A. No, you will need to contact the card representative or the building manager who will program your card for the various uses within your college or department.
Q. Can I use my University Card at the Library or do I have to get a separate Library Card?
A. The university card also doubles up as a Library card you therefore do not need a separate card.
Q. Who is eligible to travel on the discounted Unit 4 Bus?
A. Any person holding a valid University card is eligible for the discounted fare on the UNI 4 Bus. However, holders of Temporary cards e.g. consultants, conference delegates and visitors are not eligible.
Q. I am a student at the University. Can my wife/husband have a Card as well?
A. This varies from college to college, where this is applicable there is a charge of £7.50 for a spouse card.