University of Cambridge colleges explored

• Inside the cult of Oxford and Cambridge — and how to get in

Churchill

Undergraduates 506
Postgraduates 348
Acceptance rate 19.2%
Churchill, a “hill college” outside of the city centre, offers the perks of a 42-acre site and has more than 1,000 trees. The location is a quick commute to the West Cambridge site, where many science departments are based – particularly useful for the 70 per cent of undergraduate Churchillians who study Stem subjects. Famed for its brutalist architecture, the campus also houses a gym, theatre, music centre, squash and tennis courts and grass pitches. The state school intake was 75 per cent in 2022. The college has also achieved a more even gender split in the past few years, with 49 per cent of 2022’s intake female.
Did you know? Students are welcome to walk on the grass and don’t wear academic gowns to formal dinners.
admissions@chu.cam.ac.uk; chu.cam.ac.uk

Clare college and the River Cam

ALAMY

Clare

Undergraduates 490
Postgraduates 266
Acceptance rate 18.4%
Cambridge’s second-oldest college, Clare dates from 1326 and features garden views leading out onto the Backs and the River Cam. Much of Clare has been a construction site in recent years, however, as the college has been transforming Old Court by refurbishing existing rooms and adding bathrooms. Clare is renowned for music, with a famous choir and recitals, as well as intimate gigs in the Clare Bar in the crypt under the College Chapel. Clare has its own punts, a boat club and good sports facilities a ten-minute cycle ride away.
Did you know? The college has a popular, non-partisan Politics Society, drawing high-profile speakers, as well as Clareification, a student-run newsletter.
admissions@clare.cam.ac.uk; clare.cam.ac.uk

Corpus Christi

Undergraduates 340
Postgraduates 212
Acceptance rate 21%
In the heart of Cambridge, Corpus Christi is a small, bustling college with a welcoming feel. The Parker Library houses a collection of medieval manuscripts and is home to the college’s ancient drinking horn – given to it upon its 1352 founding and made from the horn of an auroch, an extinct cattle species. All undergraduates are guaranteed accommodation. To expand its sports offering, Corpus joins with King’s and Clare colleges to form the collaborative “CCK” teams. In 2022, the college accepted its third cohort of Bridging Course students from underrepresented groups. Corpus also participates in the Stem Smart widening participation initiative and the Pelican Programme, which supports arts and humanities applicants.
Did you know? The Old Court is said to be the oldest continually inhabited court in either Cambridge or Oxford.
admissions@corpus.cam.ac.uk; corpus.cam.ac.uk

Downing

Undergraduates 493
Postgraduates 455
Acceptance rate 13.8%
Built in a neoclassical style in 1800, Downing has a different appearance to any other college. Grand buildings open onto the Paddock lawn – a popular spot for students to relax after exams. Students at Downing throw themselves into plenty of extracurriculars at the 140-seat Howard Theatre or by taking part in competitive sports. It also has its own student-run magazine, The Griffin. Through the Downing 360 Campaign, the college aims to raise £40 million by 2027 to increase the number of fellows, remove accessibility barriers and fund renovations.
Did you know? In 2022, Downing opened a wellbeing centre, to promote and support student health.
admissions@dow.cam.ac.uk; dow.cam.ac.uk

Emmanuel

Undergraduates 518
Postgraduates 225
Acceptance rate 19.7%
Students love this place — nicknamed “Emma” — for its central location, friendly atmosphere and the weekly load of laundry included in their rent. Extensive renovations are under way at Emma as it builds new residential facilities with the aim that all undergraduates may be accommodated on site throughout their degrees. Founded by Puritans in the 1580s, Emma strives to maintain a forward-thinking and egalitarian atmosphere. Societies and sports focus more on inclusion than competition and activities are diverse.
Did you know? The elegant Christopher Wren chapel hosts concerts organised by the music society.
admissions@emma.cam.ac.uk; emma.cam.ac.uk

Fitzwilliam

Undergraduates 522
Postgraduates 396
Acceptance rate 22.4%
Many “Fitzbillies” enjoy the quieter surroundings of their Castle Hill locale and the camaraderie of the ten-minute walk into town. Fitzwilliam’s commitment to widening access is borne out of the 83 per cent of its undergraduate intake drawn from the state sector in 2022 – one of the highest proportions in Cambridge. It participates in the Foundation Year programme for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Students are accommodated throughout their degrees and have access to facilities such as an auditorium, a two-storey gym, squash courts and its own sports ground. The college’s cultural life is rich as rehearsal rooms, along with the chapel and crypt, are available for musicians to use.
Did you know? The occasional goat figurine or drawing around college attests to Fitzwilliam’s mascot: the billy goat.
admissions@fitz.cam.ac.uk; fitz.cam.ac.uk

• The University of Oxford colleges explored

Girton

Undergraduates 538
Postgraduates 410
Acceptance rate 33.2%
Since its inception in 1869 as the UK’s first residential college offering higher education to women, Girton has had a storied history. Boasting Virginia Woolf as an alumna, it is now co-educational and home to a dynamic community of scholars. Students tend to be well-acquainted with the cycle or bus route into town as their college is the furthest from the city centre. As a low-carbon college, Girton has won awards for energy efficiency and has an eco-friendly green roof. One accommodation corridor in the main building is reserved for women and non-binary students. It has its own museum and an extracurricular scene with a focus on the arts. The college participates in the Foundation Year programme for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Did you know? Facilities include three gyms, football, rugby and cricket pitches and the only indoor heated pool of any college.
admissions@girton.cam.ac.uk; girton.cam.ac.uk

Gonville and Caius college

ALAMY

Gonville and Caius

Undergraduates 620
Postgraduates 256
Acceptance rate 22.5%
Founded as Gonville Hall in 1348, Caius (pronounced “keys”) is one of the oldest colleges and its undergraduate population is among the largest. Its main site, Old Courts, features five courtyards in the heart of town, a 19th-century library and a chapel with a claim to being the oldest purpose-built in Cambridge. The college has 40 clubs and societies as well as a boathouse and a gym. In the past the college had some of the lowest state school intakes (just 57 per cent in 2020) but that figure rose to 73 per cent in 2022.
Did you know? Unlike other colleges, Caius serves a three-course meal, six nights a week, in the hall, and for the second sitting students are required to file in wearing their formal gowns (often with jeans or a sports kit underneath).
admissions@cai.cam.ac.uk, cai.cam.ac.uk

Homerton

Undergraduates 620
Postgraduates 746
Acceptance rate 28.9%
Homerton is one of the furthest colleges from the city centre, and it has the largest intake of students. The 25 acres of college grounds give the impression of a self-contained university campus and extensive lawns contribute to the friendly and unpretentious atmosphere. Homerton officially became a college in 2010, making it Cambridge’s youngest, although it was initially founded more than 250 years ago as a “dissenting academy”. Upgrades include the £8 million dining hall and a new lantern-shaped Porter’s Lodge and a library extension is planned. Homerton has a state school intake of 80 per cent and receives five Foundation Year students.
Did you know? In October 2021, the new master, Lord Simon Woolley, became the first black man to head an Oxbridge college.
admissions@homerton.cam.ac.uk; homerton.cam.ac.uk

• Which degree will earn you the most money?

Hughes Hall

Undergraduates 202
Postgraduates 775
Acceptance rate 14.3%
A small number of undergraduates aged over 21 are welcomed to Hughes Hall, the oldest graduate college at Cambridge. Known for being very international, 57 per cent of its students come from outside the UK. Hughes Hall has a strong sports record with its rowing club historically performing very well in the intercollegiate “Bumps” competition. Undergraduates are guaranteed accommodation and couples’ flats are in high demand. In 2022 Sir Laurie Bristow, the former diplomat, became the Hughes Hall president.
Did you know? The college is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2030 and has been awarded gold by the NUS Green Impact programme in the past three years – all of its electricity provision is renewable. admissions@hughes.cam.ac.uk; hughes.cam.ac.uk

Jesus college

ALAMY

Jesus

Undergraduates 529
Postgraduates 395
Acceptance rate 16.4%
Jesus enjoys acres of picturesque grounds close to the city centre, many of its red brick buildings date back to its foundation in the 1500s and the 12th-century chapel outdates the college by 350 years. Sonita Alleyne, Jesus’s current master and a former media executive, is the first black woman to lead an Oxbridge college. Jesus has on-site pitches for football, rugby and cricket, as well as squash and tennis courts and in 2022 it won the ladies’ netball Cuppers. Students can showcase their musical abilities in the Blues and Chill evenings hosted in the chapel, or at the college’s song-writing competition launched in 2022. All undergraduates are accommodated. Other facilities include a kosher staircase and free washing machines and dryers.
Did you know? In 2021, Jesus recruited more than 80 per cent of its UK students from state schools for the second year running — one of the highest proportions of all Cambridge colleges.
undergraduate-admissions@jesus.cam.ac.uk; jesus.cam.ac.uk

King’s

Undergraduates 466
Postgraduates 326
Acceptance rate 20.2%
King’s chapel’s grandeur of scale and vaulted ceilings rival many cathedrals. College life is less staid than the imposing surroundings would suggest with art studios and punts to rent. King’s has a modern outlook, and the student community can be alternative: the King’s Affair May Week event typically features techno music and avant-garde dress. The college is aiming to raise £100 million to preserve its buildings and develop access efforts. A bridging programme provides support for students from schools in disadvantaged areas.
Did you know? Students and parents snap up tickets for the choir’s famous carols.
undergraduate.admissions@kings.cam; kings.cam.ac.uk

Lucy Cavendish

Undergraduates 367
Postgraduates 488
Acceptance rate 23.1%
Historically a college for mature, female students, Lucy Cavendish welcomed its first mixed-gender intake in 2021 and now accepts students from age 18. There are two new student bursaries: one for British-Bangladeshi students and one for women studying Stem subjects. Accommodation is provided for all for at least three years, subject to availability. Students can stay in women-only sets if preferred for religious or cultural reasons. There are also some flats for couples. All of the college’s electricity is supplied by renewables.
Did you know? The college’s Fiction Prize, in its 13th year in 2023, has previously helped launch the publishing careers of authors including Gail Honeyman and Laura Marshall.
admissions@lucy.cam.ac.uk; lucy.cam.ac.uk

Magdalene

Undergraduates 384
Postgraduates 199
Acceptance rate 28.5%
Magdalene was founded in 1428 while its chapel was built in the 1470s and its river frontage is the longest of any college. Tradition means the college still hosts white-tie summer balls every other year but its modern outlook makes Magdalene a firmly 21st century seat of learning. The college came second in the BBC’s University Challenge contest in 2021 and its library won the RIBA Stirling prize in 2022. The college’s most famous alumnus, Samuel Pepys, is immortalised in the Pepys Building that houses 3,000 of the diarist’s books and manuscripts. The sports pitches are shared with St John’s. All undergraduates are guaranteed accommodation.
Did you know? In 2021, almost 50 books and pamphlets belonging to Mary Astell, sometimes considered the “first English feminist”, were found in the library.
admissions@magd.cam.ac.uk; magd.cam.ac.uk

Murray Edwards

Undergraduates 401
Postgraduates 172
Acceptance rate 38.6%
Students at Murray Edwards – “Medwards” – enjoy the supportive atmosphere at its architecturally Brutalist campus on Castle Hill, as well as weekend brunches and a proactive college president, Dorothy Byrne, the former Channel 4 editor. The Gateway programme provides workshops on academic leadership and career development. Seventy-four per cent of new students in 2022 came from state schools and the women’s college is participating in the university’s Foundation Year scheme. All freshers are housed in one building and there are allotments to grow herbs and vegetables.
Did you know? It is home to the second largest collection of women’s art in the world, including work by Dames Barbara Hepworth, Paula Rego and Tracey Emin, and hosts regular exhibitions.
admissions@murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk; murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk

Newnham

Undergraduates 423
Postgraduates 300
Acceptance rate 29%
Newnham celebrated its 150th anniversary as an all-women’s college in 2021, having sought to champion women’s academic success since 1871. The grounds stretch across 18-acres and feature sports pitches, tennis courts and gardens. There is also a well-stocked art room. Newnham has many of its own sports clubs, including badminton, football, netball and lacrosse. Alumni include Mary Beard, who is a fellow, Sylvia Plath, Diane Abbott and Emma Thompson. Rooms can be expensive as they all cost the same despite their varying quality although rent bursaries have been introduced.
Did you know? Upgrades include a new porters’ lodge, gym and café.
admissions@newn.cam.ac.uk; newn.cam.ac.uk

Pembroke

Undergraduates 534
Postgraduates 282
Acceptance rate 18.4%
Pembroke is Cambridge’s third-oldest college, and within its walls there is a wild orchard, and Christopher Wren’s first chapel. Students make the most of the extracurricular scene which includes the Pembroke Players, one of the largest college drama societies. Other clubs include the Music Society, the Stokes Society and Pembroke Politics. About two thirds of 2021 undergraduate entrants were state-school-educated. Renovations to the Mill Lane site across the road will enlarge the college’s footprint by a third and create 110 bedrooms.
Did you know? Alumni include Ted Hughes, and the actors Naomie Harris and Tom Hiddleston.
admissions@pem.cam.ac.uk; pem.cam.ac.uk

Peterhouse

Undergraduates 291
Postgraduates 188
Acceptance rate 24.8%
Cambridge’s oldest college and one of its smallest, Peterhouse retains some traditional idiosyncrasies – hosting a white-tie ball every other year and formal hall dinners by candlelight every night. It is also one of the wealthier colleges and as such can offer travel grants, academic awards and high-standard accommodation. The college is well located for both the science and arts faculties and has two libraries. There are plans to landscape its outdoor spaces around Cosin Court to create courtyard gardens with a focus on health and wellbeing.
Did you know? One of Peterhouse’s outdoor spaces, known as the Deer Park, has no deer inhabitants but plenty of students roam the area.
admissions@pet.cam.ac.uk; pet.cam.ac.uk

The main entrance gate to Queen’s college

ALAMY

Queens

Undergraduates 550
Postgraduates 544
Acceptance rate 28.8%
The Queens’ campus sits on both sides of the River Cam, and is connected by the striking, wooden Mathematical Bridge. Walking through it provides a quick course in architectural history from every era since the college’s foundation in 1448. The active Bats dramatic society puts drama centre stage and its sports clubs cover everything from chess to water polo. The biennial May Ball is a popular fixture that welcomes big-name bands.
Did you know? It is one of the few colleges to host all undergraduates on site for three years. admissions@queens.cam.ac.uk; queens.cam.ac.uk

Robinson

Undergraduates 430
Postgraduates 256
Acceptance rate 31%
The college’s 1970s architecture might not fit the Cambridge stereotype but there are beautiful gardens – that have the bonus of students being allowed to walk on the lawns — and a buzzing social, and sporting, life. In 2022, 65 per cent of entrants were from state schools, a big improvement since 2020 — when Queens’ was the only Cambridge college to admit fewer than half of its undergraduates (48 per cent) from the maintained sector. About half of undergraduate accommodation is en suite.
Did you know? In 2021 the college opened a new wellbeing centre.
apply@robinson.cam.ac.uk; robinson.cam.ac.uk

Selwyn

Undergraduates 444
Postgraduates 307
Acceptance rate 18.5%
Selwyn enjoys an impressive range of renovated facilities after extensive fundraising. The completed Ann’s Court development features a 140-seat auditorium and the Bartlam library opened in 2021. West Cambridge is also a quick cycle away for Stem students. Selwyn has a strong musical tradition, with the Selwyn Mighty Players helping fund and produce student theatre both in and out of college. Selwyn shares sports grounds, and its boathouse with King’s and Churchill. At the end of first term, the college hosts a popular winter event called the Snow Ball. All students are accommodated.
Did you know? Selwyn consistently has one of the highest intakes of home students from state schools — 80 per cent in 2022.
admissions@sel.cam.ac.uk; sel.cam.ac.uk

Sidney Sussex

Undergraduates 400
Postgraduates 241
Acceptance rate 25.6%
It may have the distinction of being ten steps away from Sainsbury’s, but life here is the finest. Sidney is a musical college with an award-winning chapel and a recently inaugurated organ. The student-run bar is a social hub, thanks to its affordability and rowdy “bops” held every other Friday. Sports teams are more enthusiastic than competitive, and grounds are shared with Christ’s, a ten-minute cycle ride away. Sidney is one of the colleges participating in the Foundation Year programme.
Did you know? It is home to the (buried) head of Oliver Cromwell, one of the college’s first students.
admissions@sid.cam.ac.uk; sid.cam.ac.uk

St Catharine’s

Undergraduates 497
Postgraduates 296
Acceptance rate 16.3%
Students at mid-size “Catz” can take advantage of a central location and thriving community. The David and Claudia Harding Foundation made a £25 million donation in 2019 — one of the largest in the university’s history — which will support postgraduates and encourage applications by students from underrepresented backgrounds. In 2021 two new health and wellbeing roles were created, while last year, a new dining hall was completed. Students are guaranteed accommodation.
Did you know? The Shirley Society is Cambridge’s oldest literary society. undergraduate.admissions@caths.cam.ac.uk; caths.cam.ac.uk

St Edmund’s

Undergraduates 194
Postgraduates 528
Acceptance rate 15.7%
Students (including parents who want to study) and academics are encouraged to mingle at “Eddies”, which has more mature students as well as a convivial and laidback atmosphere on the hill away from the centre of town. The college’s cheap and cosy bar, which remains entirely student-run, is a popular choice.
The college also participates in the university’s foundation year programme, which provides a fully funded year of study (before starting a degree) for students from less-advantaged backgrounds.
Did you know? St Edmund’s is unique among Cambridge colleges for having a Catholic chapel and takes a relaxed approach to traditions.
admissions@st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk, st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk

St John’s

Undergraduates 640
Postgraduates 368
Acceptance rate 18.7%
St John’s enjoys a fairytale setting. The college hosts a vibrant community with any number of sporting and cultural clubs and societies, including a student-run cinema, and in 2021 the college choir made the decision to start admitting women and girls. Its prowess on the sports field includes the “Red Boys” rugby team while on the river “Maggie”, as the boat club is known, is another force to be reckoned with. St Johns The May Ball is one of the most fabulous: on the night, punts fill the river to watch the firework display.
Did you know? Its new Free Places programme will cover the costs of up to 40 low-income undergraduates at a time including all tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses.
admissions@joh.cam.ac.uk; joh.cam.ac.uk

Trinity College

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Trinity

Undergraduates 739
Postgraduates 336
Acceptance rate 21.7%
Arguably Cambridge’s most famous college, Trinity has vast grounds on the Cam and an alumni list that ranges from Sir Isaac Newton to the actor Eddie Redmayne. In 2019 Trinity installed its first female master: England’s former chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies. It has retained some of its quirkier traditions, including the Great Court Run in which students try to run around the court faster than the clock can strike 12 (made famous in Chariots of Fire). Trinity has by far the largest, and high-performing, undergraduate population and is the richest college, which is reflected in the resources (including bursaries), sports facilities and high-quality accommodation. A mentoring scheme aims to widen access for black students.
Did you know? At last count about 60 per cent of its undergraduates were studying Stem subjects.
admissions@trin.cam.ac.uk; trin.cam.ac.uk

Trinity Hall

Undergraduates 402
Postgraduates 205
Acceptance rate 26.9%
Trinity Hall is home to Cambridge’s smallest chapel, and year groups are also relatively small which creates an intimate atmosphere at the college nicknamed “Tit Hall”. It’s close to the action: Sidgwick Site, the University Library, and Market Square are all just a few minutes away. The chapel choir’s recordings are well-received and off-site there are great sports facilities to cover almost every team.
Did you know? Mary Hockaday, the former BBC World Service news and current affairs editor was appointed the new master in 2022.
admissions@trinhall.cam.ac.uk; trinhall.cam.ac.uk

Wolfson

Undergraduates 186
Postgraduates 916
Acceptance rate 14.7%
Wolfson’s postgraduate-heavy balance of students creates a grown-up feel to social life. Forward-thinking and welcoming, the college has students from 96 countries. Wolfson does not shy away from breaking some Cambridge conventions, with no “high table” — meaning academics and students share their dinners. The college was founded in 1965 and at the time was unique in Cambridge in accepting both women and men.
Did you know? Howler comedy nights draw an audience from across Cambridge to catch stand-up at its lively bar.
ugadministrator@wolfson.cam.ac.uk; wolfson.cam.ac.uk

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