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University Name:

Cambridge University: Clare

Location: Cambridge, East Anglia Show on Map

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STAFF & STUDENTS

Undergraduates:	282 men, 230 women
Postgraduates:	159 men, 139 women
Teaching staff:	65 (40 male, 25 female)

COLLEGE & ADMISSION

Founded:	1326; women undergraduates first admitted 1972
Admission:	Conditional offers, usually A*AA at A-level (or equivalent). Most candidates apply during fourth term in sixth form; normally A-levels plus STEP for maths.

STUDY OPPORTUNITIES

Study abroad:	Some international links for linguists.
Library and information services:	25,000 volumes. Some computing and word-processing facilities and links to university computer network in all college rooms.

LIVING

Eating arrangements:	Self-service buttery, formal dinner in hall.
Gate and guests hours:	None
Other college facilities:	Playing fields.
Accommodation:	Students in college accommodation for three years, rent £850−£1100 per term (most £850) plus £113 fixed kitchen charge per term. No first-degree students live at home.

MONEY

Term-time work:	Vacation work available in college library and helping with conferences; also with care of applicants during interview fortnight.
Scholarships:	Organ scholarship (£300 pa) and choral scholarships (£100 pa).
Travel grants:	Some travel grants available, maximum £300.
Financial help:	College bursary for home students from low-income families. Funds are also available in cases of unexpected hardship.

Student view

Danielle Kaminski, Clare College Access Officer (2nd year, Natural Sciences)

Living

What’s it like as a place to live? Bustling city. Diverse community. Full of stimulating conversation.

How’s the student accommodation? Fantastic. High quality and reasonably priced.

What’s the student population like? Both friendly and diverse. Students come from all over the world but all have common passion to learn.

How do students and locals get on? There is some tension between the two and going out in the city is inadvisable on a Fri/Sat night but there are plenty of student nights within colleges to make up.

Studying

What’s it like as a place to study? Hard work but courses second to none. Interesting, stimulating and generally flexible.

What are the teaching staff like? Many international academic stars. Generally interested in students.

Socialising

What are student societies like? Almost any society one can think of and if what you want doesn’t exist, there is funding to set up new societies.

What’s a typical night out? College ents, or local club/bar. Also theatre productions, concerts, jazz nights etc.

And how much does it cost? Very much depends. Can easily have a good night out on £10.

How can you get home safely? Within walking distance easily. Walk in pairs to be on safe side.

Money

Is it an expensive place to live? Reasonably expensive city although no more so than other southern cities and Cambridge has one of the best bursary systems in the country.

What’s the part-time work situation? Not advisable to work in term although there are some vacancies in the college bar and library.

Summary

What’s the best feature about the place? Always something to do.

And the worst? If you’re used to big city clubs, you won’t find many here.

And to sum it all up? Standard in societies second to none, top international academics, intellectually challenging and fantastic people.

Past students

David Attenborough (naturalist and broadcaster), Paul Mellon (philanthropist), Harvey & one of his Wallbangers, James Watson (Nobel Laureate – DNA), Chris Kelly (broadcaster), Hugh Latimer (martyr), Siegfried Sassoon (poet), Peter Lilley MP, Matthew Parris (journalist), Norman Ramsey (Nobel Laureate), John Rutter (composer).