any part of the British empire which fulfil certain
conditions as to the education of adult students. Attendance at these
institutions is counted as equivalent to a certain period of residence
at Cambridge University in the event of a student wishing to pursue his
work here. There are over twenty such affiliated colleges. There are
also, in England, certain "affiliated centres." These are towns in which
there is no affiliated college, but students who have there attended a
course of education managed in connexion with the university by a
committee may enter the university with privileges similar to those
enjoyed by students from affiliated colleges.

May week.

The principal social function of the university is the "May Week" at the
close of the Easter term. It actually takes place in June and lasts
longer than a week. There is a great influx of visitors into Cambridge
for this occasion. The first four days are occupied by the college
boat-races on the Cam, and on subsequent days there are college balls,
concerts, theatrical performances and other entertainments. On the
Tuesday after the races there is a Congregation, at which prize
exercises are recited, and usually, but not invariably, a number of
honorary degrees are conferred on eminent men by invitation. This final
period of the academic year is called Commencement, or in Latin _Comitia
Maxim_.

AUTHORITIES.--For details of the administration of the university and
colleges, regulations as to studies, prizes, scholarships, &c., see
the annual _Cambridge University Calendar_ and _The Students' Handbook
to the University and Colleges of Cambridge_; see also R. Willis and
J.W. Clark, _Architectural History of the University of Cambridge_ (3
vols., Cambridge, 1886); J. Bass Mullinger, _History of the University
of Cambridge from the Earliest Times to the Accession of Charles I._
(2 vols., 1873-1884; third vol., 1909); and smaller _History of
Cambridge_, in Longman's "Epoch" Series (1888); J.W. Clark,
_Cambridge, Historical and Picturesque_ (London, 1890); T.D. Atkinson,
_Cambridge Described and Illustrated_, with introduction by J.W. Clark
(London, 1897); F.W. Maitland, _Township and Borough_ (Cambridge,
1898); C.W. Stubbs, _Cambridge_, in "Mediaeval Towns" series (London,
1905); Arthur Gray, _The Dual Origin of the Town of Cambridge_
(publications of the Cambridge Antiquarian Soc., new ser. No. I,
Cambridge, 1908); J.W. Clark, _Li