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University Name:

Cambridge University: Trinity Hall

Location: Cambridge, East Anglia Show on Map

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STAFF & STUDENTS

Undergraduates:	200 men, 185 women
Postgraduates:	133 men, 137 women
Teaching staff:	Men: 37 fellows, 5 research fellows. Women: 8 fellows, 5 research fellows.

COLLEGE & ADMISSION

Founded:	1350; women undergraduates first admitted 1977.
Admission:	Undergraduates not admitted for education (except education with classics).

STUDY OPPORTUNITIES

Library and information services:

New library; also historic library (chained books). Wireless internet access for laptops in library and ethernet points in all student rooms in college. Computer officer and undergraduate support team give IT support.

LIVING

Eating arrangements:	All meals available in hall and charged to end of term bill. Optional Formal Hall twice a week; regular Super Halls (with themed menus) . All rooms have access to basic self-catering facilities.
Gate and guests hours:	Gate closed at 2 am; all undergraduates on central site may have gate key.
Other college facilities:	Bar; music room with piano and drum kit; washing machines and driers; boathouse; squash and tennis courts; playing fields.
Accommodation:	All students guaranteed college accommodation for 3 years (4th years offered graduate accommodation): rents average £80 per week including heat but not including meals. No first-degree students live at home.

MONEY

Term-time work:	College does not allow term-time work for first-degree students (term-time work in college only in exceptional circumstances). University careers service can help find work out of term-time.
Scholarships:	Scholarships awarded on the results of university examinations taken while in residence; numerous college prizes.
Travel grants:	Elmore travel exhibition awarded annually on result of modern and medieval languages tripos; grants from Benn and Gregson funds for vacation travel of educational or adventurous nature. Other travel funds available according to need.
Financial help:	Number of funds available, as well as university funds; all cases are considered individually on merit.

Student view

Andy McGowan, Trinity Hall JCR Access Officer (2nd year Law)

Living

What’s it like as a place to live? It is a really friendly college and as it’s quite small you can walk through college and know at least the names of practically everyone that you will walk past. The porters really have a reputation for being friendly and helpful (whether you’ve locked yourself out of your room, have injured yourself playing football or are just stressed in exam term and want a chat over a cup of tea at 3 in the morning)

How’s the student accommodation? Trinity Hall accommodates all of its undergraduates for the entirety of their degrees. There is some new ensuite accommodation which is quite posh (heated towel rails, leather sofa in the common room, big kitchen) but all other rooms have a sink and a mirror in them and you share a bathroom and kitchen (normally between 4 people or so). The accommodation is quite nice and there is some within the centre of Cambridge, and some just a bit outside.

What’s the student population like? Trinity Hall has quite a diverse population with a sizeable international community. On its JCR Committee, there are welfare reps and also an international rep who looks after the needs of international students.

Studying

What’s it like as a place to study? Trinity Hall has a rather new library which is rather well stocked – they also operate a scheme where you can request a book and if your course director sees it as helpful to your course, then the library will get it in (usually within 2−3 days!). Trinity Hall is quite good at balancing academic and extra-curricular activities so that you have the time to do both.

What are the teaching staff like? The teaching staff at Trinity Hall really do their best to help you both academically and non-academically. They have some leading experts in numerous subjects as well as PhD students who are really, really enthusiastic so it’s quite a mix. As it’s quite a small college, you may find yourself having 1 or 2 supervisions in a different college.

Socialising

What are student societies like? Trinity Hall has a large range of societies ranging from football, rugby and choir to a film society and a pool club! The college has a reputation for letting anyone be involved who wants to be involved – even if they have never done it before and aren’t very good. It does have a reputation for ‘punching above its weight’ especially in rowing.

What’s a typical night out? Most Wednesdays, you will find students going out to the local club for the students night, starting at the college bar having a few drinks with friends and relaxing, and then going to one of the clubs (after queuing for a while!) before stopping off for some food on the way back at the end of the night for a burger or kebab!

And how much does it cost? Probably around £20 in total (including entry to nightclub and the food!)

How can you get home safely? Most of the accommodation is within the centre of town and only a couple of minutes walk from most of the clubs/bars. There is some accommodation a bit further away but everyone walks up in a group (about 1/3 of the college live up at that second site).

Money

Is it an expensive place to live? Accommodation within college is reasonably cheap. The college has some new ensuite accommodation which costs around £100 per week – but on average, the typical price of a room varies between £50 and £80 a week.

Average price of a pint? £1.70.

What’s the part-time work situation? Generally you’re not allowed a part-time job, but they do employ some students to work behind the college bar (for one or two nights a week), they also pay students to help out with open days and similar events at the start of vacations.

Summary

What’s the best feature about the place? It really does have a reputation for being a very friendly college – people in the first year socialise with people in the third year. Even the porters do their best to make sure they learn your name (and even invite you for tea & biscuits!)

And the worst? The food is quite expensive compared to other colleges, but still cheap in comparison to in town.

And to sum it all up? Trinity Hall is a very friendly place to study, and everyone is encouraged to get involved in all aspects of college life as much or as little as they want – whether it’s standing for a position on the committee, playing a sport for fun, or even going to watch a drama production just to support the people in it.

Past students

Rt Rev Robert Runcie (former Archbishop of Canterbury); Lord Geoffrey Howe, Sir Norman Fowler MP (politicians); J B Priestley (writer); Tony Slattery (comedian); Rachel Weiss (actress); Lord Phillips of Sudbury (lawyer and politician); Nicholas Hytner (Director of the National Theatre), Terry Waite (former hostage).