Cambridge University: Queens

What’s it like as a place to live? Friendly. By far the most sociable College. There is a strong sense of community at Queens’ and this is fostered by lots of inter-year and inter-subject socialising.

How’s the student accommodation? All undergrads get 3 years accommodation on-site. Rooms vary between old and new, big and small, nice and nasty. The price generally reflects the quality. Graduate accommodation tends to be off-site in private housing or nearby Owlstone Croft.

What’s the student population like? Very very friendly (see above). People from all over the world (though majority are British), but everyone tends to settle in quickly and form a close friend network.

How do students and locals get on?  Few locals in college (mainly tourists). No Queens’ specific interaction with locals, just the usual uni-wide issues, which tend to include very few problems.

What’s it like as a place to study?  Offers almost all courses at the uni. College sticks to the traditional teaching hierarchy at Cambridge (supervisors, tutors and Director of Studies etc). Traditionally an academically strong college.

What are the teaching staff like?  Many tutors/DoSs are experts in their fields. Some supervisors are PhD students, but the quality is still very, very high!

What are student societies like? Good range of societies in Queens’, especially sports. All sports/societies welcome beginners as well as pros, and many compete at a uni level. Music is very strong at Queens’. Socs range from a few people to 50. If there isn’t a soc you are interested in then you can set one up (ie Salsa club was set up just last year).

What’s a typical night out? No typical night out − variety of things to do – depends on person.

And how much does it cost? Again, very dependent. On average, about £20 for a night out.

How can you get home safely?  Cambridge is essentially safe. Can get taxis, walk with friends, cycle, bus (if not too late – a bus stop is right outside Queens’).

Is it an expensive place to live? No. Everyone complains about prices and overspends anyway, but compared to national prices, very good.

Average price of a pint?  £1.75.

And the price of a takeaway? £8.

What’s the part-time work situation?  Uni strongly discourages part-time jobs. Plus the terms are so short and busy that it isn’t worth it. There are some available though, as so few students get them.

What’s the best feature about the place?  The people. The bar. The location. The mix of old and new buildings. The Ents.

And the worst? Some shoddy rooms. Sports pitches about a mile away. Listening to punting tours telling fake tales about the Mathematical Bridge!

And to sum it all up?  The social hub of the university – something for everyone!

Stephen Fry (comedian); Archbishop of Sydney; Erasmus; Graham Swift, T H White (authors); Michael Foales (first Briton in space).

Enquiries to JCR President tel 07761 680912, email jcr-president@quns.cam.ac.uk.