The Chair Netflix: Where is Pembroke University and can you visit? Inside the real campus

The Chair: Sandra Oh stars in trailer for Netflix series

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The Chair is a new series on Netflix and it stars Killing Eve’s Sandra Oh as English department chair Dr Ji-Yoon Kim. In the comedy-drama, she is tasked with giving the department a new lease of life, but she comes across plenty of hurdles along the way. Fans have taken an interest in the college and Express.co.uk has all you need to know about where to find it. 

Where is Pembroke University?

The Chair made its Netflix debut on August 20 and it has already sneaked its way into the streaming platform’s best-loved series list. 

The popular show follows the new chair of the English department at Pembroke University and her appointment marks a huge milestone for the educational institution.

She is the first woman hired into the role and she makes it her mission to save the struggling department whilst juggling a challenging personal life.

Whilst there is a real Pembroke College located at the University of Oxford in England, the Pembroke University in The Chair is entirely fictional. 

The series was actually filmed in Pennslyvania and two real universities were used as the backdrop for the drama. 

The universities were Washington & Jefferson College, plus the Shadyside campus at Chatham University in Pittsburgh.

Fans may be interested to hear that real W&J students and staff were featured as extras in the series, which was filmed amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

The college is one of the oldest west of the Allegheny Mountains and has been educating people since 1781. 

Meanwhile, Chatham University was founded in 1869 and its areas of excellence include sustainability & health, business & communications and the arts & sciences.

The campus has its own Instagram account and it promoted the Sandra Oh series. 

They said: “Watching the premiere of The Chair on Netflix like [eyes emoji] We can’t wait to spot all the ChathamU locations and props (like Andy Mellon’s portrait!) tonight at our watch party, 8pm in Eddy Theatre!.” [Sic] 

In another post, they said: “Filming Netflix’s The Chair at ChathamU? ‘Like we won the lottery,’ according to Writer & Executive Producer Amanda Peet. Filming during Pittsburgh winter? Not so much.”

The campus must not be confused with the real Pembroke College, which forms part of the University of Oxford. 

Many viewers believe the setting has a very similar feel to the famous British campus, but it is not the same place. 

Fans have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts on the series and the stunning locations, with one saying: “Just finished #TheChair and felt like commentating. But every single academic out there already did. So will leave it at one obvious: Sandra Oh rules! And I could swear that Pembroke University is @Cornell.”

Another said: “Am I the only one that wants Pembroke University merch now? #TheChair”

Meanwhile a third added: “Not me thinking Sandra’s playing the chair at Pembroke college in Cambridge and not a fictional university.”

As for the other filming locations in the series, the Shadyside neighbourhood stood in for the town of Pembroke. 

A few of the early scenes from the first season were also filmed at the Pittsburgh International Airport.

Fans may be disappointed to learn the school featured in the series does not really exist as Pembroke. 

But they are equally as excited over the fact the scenes were filmed at real-life educational premises. 

Sharing their thoughts on the series so far, one fan said: “Holy s***, #TheChair on Netflix is one of the most hilariously traumatic things I’ve watched in a long time.

“There’s a reason why most of Academic Twitter is glued to it this weekend. So much cringe. So much feels. (Also, the world is burning.)”

Another said: “Yes I binged the entirety of Sandra Oh’s new Netflix show The Chair this morning, and yes it’s fantastic. only six 30-minute episodes, so you have no excuse. you’re welcome.”

The Chair is streaming on Netflix now. 

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