Who we are and what we do
University of the Third Age in Cambridge (U3AC), an independent Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), organises educational, social and fitness activities for people who are not or no longer in full-time employment (there are no age restrictions). Set up in 1982, we are self-financing and run by our members.
Welcome from the Chairman
U3AC is one of the largest and certainly the oldest ‘university of the third age’ in the country. We offer over 300 room based courses and physical activities, such as walking groups, to our members.
Our year follows the academic cycle, with three terms of ten weeks each, starting in October. Most members join at the start of the year (Aug-Sept), but new members are welcome at any time.
At U3AC you’ll find people who share your interests and enthusiasms, who want to keep mentally and physically active, who like a bit of structure in their week. We know it’s all good for us, but we do it because it’s enjoyable. Once you’re a member you may decide to run a course or activity yourself. Alternatively, you could volunteer to help with the administration that keeps the organisation running smoothly.
As a direct consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve adapted how we deliver our courses. The core of what we do is unchanged, but can now be delivered in more diverse ways. Rather than offering only face-to-face or online (Zoom) classes, we offer classes in which some members are in the room and others are attending remotely (the “hybrid” model). Our wide range of physical activities are continuing in the same way that they were prior to the pandemic.
As a charity we are run by our elected Board of Trustees (‘the Council’). Day-to-day organisation is managed by our four, tireless staff members from offices in central Cambridge. While they are generally your first point of contact, I am always happy to hear from members.
Tim Ewbank
chairman@u3ac.org.uk
Tim Ewbank, U3AC Chairman
Our Programme
Each year U3AC members have over 300 courses and activities to choose from. You could:
- learn about something new – courses have included building a free website, military history, James Joyce’s Ulysses, astronomy, climate change
- study a new language or improve your language skills
- pursue an existing interest – listening to jazz, drawing for pleasure
- enjoy a sociable activity – bridge, Scrabble, a book group
- improve your fitness – yoga, dance
- or simply enjoy the open air while walking or bird watching.
Courses may run across one, two or all three terms.
Download our Programme and course vacancy listSocial events
Trips and visits
Our Cultural and Social Activities Committee organises trips and visits for members to theatres, museums and places of interest at reasonable cost throughout the year. These are advertised in the Newsletter and/or the weekly Bulletin and on this website.
Application forms can be downloaded from this website when you are logged in, or picked up from the U3AC Reception area.
U3AC organises regular events at which members meet and mingle, including:
- New Year’s drinks party (January)
- Meeting for new members (September)
- Christmas lunch (December)
These events are all announced in the weekly Bulletin and on this website.
Read our latest Bulletin
Our Lectures and Conference
U3AC organises two regular lecture series which are open to all members:
- The Wednesday Lectures, covering a wide range of subjects of general interest, and
- The Norah Boyce Science Lectures, covering topics of scientific interest in an accessible way.
The Ron Gray Annual Conference, usually held on a Saturday in the Spring term, always has a topical theme as its subject. It is led by speakers who are experts in their fields and concludes with questions and contributions from the floor.
Our Summer School
The Summer School is held over four weeks in the summer holiday. It offers members a varied programme of short courses and one-off lectures.
We regret that the 2023 Summer School will not run this year as our meeting rooms will be unavailable. Any sporting and other outdoor activities that continue through the summer will be unaffected.
Garden parties
In the summer a number of garden parties are held in members’ gardens, often to raise money for charity. Forthcoming garden parties are all announced in the weekly Bulletin and on this website.
Wine tasting
Members who enjoy wine and want to learn a little more about it, can join the occasional wine tastings in our premises that are organised by U3AC with advice from a local wine merchant. They are advertised in the weekly Bulletin and on this website.