The Top 10 Best Colleges in Cambridge According to Students
Applying to Cambridge University is a big move, but choosing one of the many colleges in Cambridge to call home during your studies can feel just as important. With 31 colleges in Cambridge, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the choices, but don’t worry - we’re here to help.
And no, unfortunately, there’s no magic ‘Sorting Hat’ that is going to choose the community that you spend the next few years in. So, it's time to make some decisions.
While applying to Cambridge and submitting your application, you can choose to let Cambridge randomly allocate you to a college, or you can be a bit more proactive and pick your two favourite college preferences, based on your needs and interests.
How Many Colleges In Cambridge?
You probably know this already, but Cambridge University is the fourth oldest university in the world, with an outstanding reputation. As a student there, you’ll be rubbing shoulders with over 24,000 of the best and brightest minds, and potentially with some future world leaders.
And, it’s not just prestige that is on offer - but the opportunity to study in an almost personalised environment. The university boasts a whopping 31 colleges in Cambridge, each with its own distinct personality and facilities.
So, whether you're drawn to the rich history of Christ’s College, the innovation at Churchill College, or the scenic beauty of Queen’s College, there’s bound to be something for everyone.
As these colleges are where you’ll be eating, socialising, and spending much of your study time, the college you pick will influence your day-to-day life - so choosing your top two colleges in Cambridge can seem like a big task.
When it comes to deciding which one you want to apply to, you can always consult the official Tompkins Table. Or, take a look at our rundown of the best colleges in Cambridge, below.
10. Trinity Hall
Trinity Hall, the fifth-oldest of all the colleges in Cambridge, offers a picturesque location near the River Cam, while also being close to the centre of the city.
The college offers an enticing mix of historic, centuries-old buildings alongside modern facilities - like the new 30,000-volume Jerwood Library - making it ideal for students who love a mix of traditional and contemporary comforts.
Sports lovers can also find a home at Trinity Hall, with the college offering a variety of clubs and facilities both for established athletes, and those interested in trying something new.
Not to be confused with Trinity College, Trinity Hall is home to around 650 students, with nearly 30 undergraduate courses to choose from, and 260 postgrad courses.
9. St Catharine’s College
Set in the heart of Cambridge, St Catharine’s College, also known as "Catz”, offers a wide range of courses to students looking to enrol, along with a real sense of community. Being fairly small, where everyone knows everyone, “Catz” is one of the best colleges in Cambridge to meet people and make friends for life.
St. Catharine’s great central location means you won’t have to work hard to get around on a day-to-day basis. Its campus offers a charming blend of old and new facilities alongside historic buildings, including a new addition, the McGrath Centre, which holds a lecture room, bar, and common area. Great for hanging out with course mates and exchanging ideas post-lecture.
“Catz” is also great if you’re into sports, but if you’re into punting, then this might not be the one for you as it’s not located close to the river.
8. Selwyn College
This Victorian college has flourished into one of the most diverse, multidisciplinary homes that you could wish for when studying at Cambridge.
Selwyn College opens its doors every year to students from schools that don’t usually send alumni to Cambridge, and has courses in almost every subject, from Engineering, to Archaeology, to Music.
Speaking of music, there’s a popular college choir that you can sign up for, or if you prefer more sporty activities, there are plenty of teams to play for.
International students can get a flavour of traditional English life with a spot of Sunday Tea in the common room, and you can get your ballgown out for the highlight of the year - the annual Selwyn SnowBall.
Oh, and as it’s not located on King’s Parade, you will find some peace and quiet for that all important studying (the hustle and bustle that tourists bring can be somewhat distracting if you’re trying to knock out an essay at the last minute!).
7. Emmanuel College
Another centrally-located (but off the tourist track!) college, with around 500 undergraduate students is Emmanuel College. This is a very popular choice for those with a seriously studious flair and one of the bigger colleges at Cambridge.
This former 16th-century monastery now has its finger on the pulse with a strong environmental focus, thanks to its college-wide Green Duck Scheme, so called because of the resident mallards on Emanuel’s two ponds.
The scheme focuses on recycling and energy efficiency at the college, so if you’re especially focused in being eco-friendly and making a difference, then Emmanuel College may be the place for you.
It’s also close to shops and amenities, and there’s an outdoor swimming pool to enjoy on that rarest of occasions, a sunny day in Blighty!
6. Queen’s College
Queen’s College is centuries-old, and a favourite among students thanks to its rich history and fab central location along the River Cam. It’s also well-connected by bus routes that leave you on the doorstep of the Clinical School and West Cambridge science departments.
The more musical will enjoy participating in the renowned chapel choir. There’s also the impressive Old Library (which really is reminiscent of Hogwarts) where you can access 30,000 texts that span seven centuries.
What’s more, Queen’s College has started a new programme to help students who have experienced educational disadvantage. The programme offers a foundation year that serves as a bridge into Cambridge or other universities, and a great initiative for inclusion among Cambridge’s colleges.
The architecture of Queen’s College will not only make your friends back home instantly jealous of your Instagram feed, but also tends to attract a lot of tourists, so is something to bear in mind. On the upside, there are some tasty and cheap formals and lunches - this army marches on its stomach!
5. Churchill College
Churchill College, as you may have guessed, is named after British wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
It’s one of the largest, newest, and preferred colleges in Cambridge. But, it is less formal than its older counterparts, so this probably isn’t the one if you’re hoping for an all-out traditional ‘Cambridgey’ experience.
In its short history, it has produced a fantastic roster of 32 Nobel Prize winners, including nine in physics alone - and the college focuses on technology, engineering, mathematics, and sciences.
If you choose Churchill, you’ll be joining 485 undergraduates and 375 postgraduates, all of whom share fairly similar interests. If you’re hoping to study Computer Sciences, then this is one of the best colleges in Cambridge to do so.
As a member of Churchill College, you can also take advantage of a personalised executive education programme through the Møller Institute for Continuing Education. Funds from the programme, which helps business leaders from around the globe develop their skills, benefits students at the college.
Sporty students will like it here too, as there are some fabulous facilities, but Churchill is a bit off the beaten track, so that’s something to bear in mind.
4. Peterhouse
Peterhouse is Cambridge’s oldest college, and rightfully boasts of its alumni who went on to become groundbreaking inventors, Nobel laureates, and luminaries over the centuries since it opened in 1284. Oh, and TV personality and actor, David Mitchell, went there too.
It’s somewhat more difficult to get into Peterhouse, only admitting around 80 undergraduates a year, but they are open to most academic disciplines. For physics students, Peterhouse is one of the best colleges in Cambridge, thanks to its many links to CERN.
Centrally located and small enough to be super sociable, there are plenty of community activities to get your teeth into at Peterhouse, including sporting groups, the Chapel Choir, academic societies, outdoor activities, and the Music Society.
It may be little diffficult to get into, but you’ll certainly never be bored once you’re in!
3. Pembroke College
If you’re a history buff and like quaint, pretty gardens, then you’ll love Pembroke College - it’s honestly like stepping back in time.
The third-oldest college in Cambridge, Pembroke was founded in 1347 and is home to Cambridge’s first college chapel. It also houses a Victorian library building packed to the rafters with books, special collections, and rare tomes.
That’s not to say that it doesn’t have its modern aspects, though. There are some recently renovated facilities at Pembroke College, including its hall, to provide both a quaint and picturesque setting with modern facilities.
There’s a diverse feel about Pembroke College, welcoming international students as part of its traditional two-semester study abroad programme, or the Pembroke Cambridge Summer Programme.
If you’re looking to study medicine, then look no further. Pembroke is ideally situated close to Addenbrookes Hospital, where the Cambridge Department of Medicine is based.
Food is also an attraction for Pembroke College students, with the college offering some of the best food in Cambridge…some even say that a Michelin chef runs the kitchens. Whatever the truth is, you’d be a fool to skip the mouthwatering brunches. Nom.
2. Trinity College
Trinity College is also one of the oldest colleges in Cambridge, and has been part of Cambridge for hundreds of years, producing 34 Nobel Prize winning scientists.
Selecting Trinity College doesn’t just set you on the path of following Nobel Prize winners, but also gives you entry to a college that is regularly #1 of the Tompkins Table. It hosts around 600 undergraduate and 300 postgraduate students, not to mention an alumni roster that boasts royalty. Not bad, eh?
That’s not all. There are 36 acres of gardens to enjoy on a gorgeous afternoon in the British spring, and while you’re taking a stroll, you can seek out a descendant of the apple tree that is said to have inspired Isaac Newton’s theory about gravity. Oh yeah, Isaac Newton also studied at Trinity College, and the university library holds many of his papers.
It also hosts the original and biggest May Ball, which is always a plus if you want the authentic Cambridge experience.
1. Christ’s College
So now we’ve made it to prime position - top of our list of the best colleges in Cambridge: Christ’s College.
This one made it to the top thanks to an awe-inspiring legacy. Former alumni include legendary names like Charles Darwin and John Milton.
Although Christ’s College has been around since the 15th Century, these days it admits undergraduates looking to study a variety of subjects (except veterinary medicine). Around 100 postgrad students are also admitted.
With its super quaint and pretty grounds, perhaps the most impressive thing about Christ’s College is the collection of libraries, where you can find more than 90,000 texts.
The green-fingered among you will love taking some downtime from revision sessions by joining Christ’s Horticultural and Botanical Society, helping care for the college’s gorgeous gardens.
And if you’re a creative soul, or want to let off some steam after a long week of studying, you can get involved in the arts, making music, or treading the boards in the CADS amateur dramatics society.
Centrally located, Christ’s College is close to nightlife, restaurants, a cinema, and supermarkets. It also has a recently refurbished swimming pool, something to make your non-Christ’s uni mates seriously jealous of!
Here are a couple more tips before we go…
The Best Cambridge Colleges for Social Life
Most university students are interested in maintaining an active social life while studying. If that’s something that’s important to you, then we recommend opting for a centrally-located college to be close to the action and attractions that Cambridge has to offer.
Clare’s College, which doesn’t make it into our top ten, is famed for its underground bar and weekly ‘Ents’ nights (‘ents’ being Cambridge slang for a party or night out).
For close-knit college communities, then check out Fitzwilliam, Girton, and Jesus colleges.
The Most Authentic Cambridge College
When you think of Cambridge University, you probably have an image that springs to mind of quaint customs, fancy formals, and old, impressive architecture. If all that’s super important to you, then have a look into King’s College (although it’s very competitive to get into).
Alternatively, try Pembroke, which is on our list, or our number four, Peterhouse, which boasts its own deer park!
Another contender for the most ‘Cambridge’ College would be Magdalen, which has candlelit formal dinners every night - best dust off that tie, then.
This list only skims the surface when it comes to the best colleges in Cambridge, and it’s really worth doing a bit more research on all of the colleges before you take the plunge. Your choice will shape your uni life, so make a decision that ensures you’ll live your best life in Cambridge.
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