Study room

The Fitzwilliam Museum offers enhanced research access to our collections.

Open Tuesday – Friday, 10am – 4.30pm (closed 1–2pm)

The Study Room is available to members of the public to study objects in the collection, by prior appointment.
Anyone under the age of 18 should be accompanied by an adult.
Visitors are advised to submit their enquiry at least four weeks in advance.
Enquiries sumbmitted after 13:45 will not be received until the next working day.
To arrange group visits, please email: collections@fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

Information about collections can be found on the Museum’s Collections Search. Please use this resource to identify objects you wish to request. Any queries relating to object requests should be directed to collections@fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk
Museum staff will reply by email following receipt of the Enquiry Form to clarify details and confirm date and time of visit.
You are strongly advised to not make any travel commitments before an appointment has been confirmed.
Once the details of your visit have been confirmed, you will receive a Study Room booking confirmation and Museum entry ticket via email.
Do not arrive at the Museum for an appointment if you have not received confirmation.
If you are unable to make your appointment, please contact the Study Room as soon as possible.

If you encounter difficulties submitting the Enquiry Form, please email collections@fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk and a member of staff will assist you.

Visitors should go the Museum's Courtyard Entrance and report to the reception desk.
You will then be given directions to get to the Study Room (room 9), which is located on the first floor, off the Spanish Gallery (Gallery 8).
All visitors must wash their hands before heading to the Study Room. Cloakrooms are located on the lower ground floor below the Courtyard Entrance.
There are lockers at the museum entrance for storing coats and bags.
Visitors should knock on the door of the Study Room to gain admittance.
All visitors must sign the Visitor Book and produce proof of identity e.g. passport, driving licence or student card.

The staff member on duty will have the works you have requested at the time of appointment ready for you when you arrive. Please remember that you will be handling original works of art and that these should be treated with the utmost care.
The correct handling procedure will be demonstrated to you.
A member of staff will be available at to assist visitors.
Laptops, tablets, cameras and phones are permitted but must be set to silent. The use of any other electronic devices or equipment must be agreed in advance.
WiFi access: Visitors from academic institutions are able to access WiFi through Eduroam (this needs to be set up in advance at your home institution). All other visitors can be issued with temporary wifi access via the UniofCam network. Please enquire with the Invigilator at the time of your visit.

Visitors are not permitted to take coats, umbrellas or large bags into the Study Room. These should be left in the lockers at the entrance. Any such items that are brought in must be deposited at the side of the room, away from the desks.
To ensure the safety of the objects, pens, ink, correcting fluid, coloured or soft drawing media and other potentially damaging substances may not be brought into the Study Room.
Hand sanitizer should not be used as it is harmful to objects.
Notes can be made in pencil or written on personal electronic devices.
Eating, drinking and smoking are not permitted.
Coloured nail varnish is not permitted when handling works on paper or parchment.
Study Room staff may ask you to remove items of jewelry that could damage an object.
Any material brought in for comparison must be agreed in advance.
The marking of any object or the removal of any object or reference book from the Study Room is strictly forbidden.
Gloves may be required to handle some types of objects. These will be provided by Study Room staff.
Handling guidelines must be followed and some objects may only be handled by Museum staff.

Visitors are permitted to take photographs (without flash) for research purposes. Please note that restrictions do apply, and the Museum reserves the right to prohibit photography if we think the process may put any objects at risk. Please seek further advice from Museum staff.
Access to the collections is provided on the understanding that readers respect the Museum’s ownership and its consequent rights to publication and reproduction.
Applications to publish or reproduce material from the collections must be addressed to the Image Library.
Staff will be pleased to try to answer further questions regarding copyright. In cases in which it is not vested in the Museum, the Museum disclaims responsibility for infringement.

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