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University Name:

Cambridge University: Corpus Christi

Location: Cambridge, East Anglia Show on Map

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STAFF & STUDENTS

Undergraduates:	160 men, 120 women
Postgraduates:	100 men, 90 women
Teaching staff:	Men: 40 fellows, 2 research fellows, 23 lecturers, 19 life fellows, 20 honorary fellows. Women: 7 fellows, 7 lecturers, 3 research fellows, 2 life fellows.

COLLEGE & ADMISSION

Founded:	1352; women undergraduates first admitted 1983.
Admission:	Primarily based on public examination results, school report and interview. Undergraduates not admitted for architecture, education, land economy or veterinary medicine.

STUDY OPPORTUNITIES

Library and information services:

Taylor Library (working undergraduate library); Parker Library (medieval and Anglo-Saxon manuscripts and early books). IT and library services converged. 15–20 computers, access 24 hours for keyholders; 2 points with access to library catalogue, 18 to the internet plus all student rooms; IT support from computer officer.

LIVING

Eating arrangements:	All meals provided in hall and/or bar.
Gate and guests hours:	Entry after 11pm by key.
Other college facilities:	Extensive sports grounds; 7-acre garden with open-air swimming pool; river boathouse; craft and music rooms; strong music and drama activities.
Accommodation:	All students in college accommodation (sets and single rooms), mostly around £750 per term plus meals; allow £3500 pa to live in college. No first-degree students live at home.

MONEY

Term-time work:	No work in term-time. Some bar work in college and domestic work in vacs.
Scholarships:	Awarded to those already in residence on the basis of academic performance. Organ and choral scholarships also available.
Travel grants:	Considerable sums annually
Financial help:	Generous provision of access funds and hardship support for those in need.

Student view

Brendan Shepherd, JCR Academic and Access Officer (History)

Living

What's it like as a place to live? Great. Corpus is centrally located, so close to all the main things you'd want in a town: shops, pubs, and clubs, even the departments of the university! The college itself is an extremely friendly place to live.

How's the student accommodation? Cambridge is unique in offering a college room for the entire length of our undergraduate degrees, and all the rooms are fairly nice – no-one has to live anywhere awful. The prices are more than reasonable too, which is something furthered by only having to pay rent when you are actually in residence, rather than for the whole year.

What's the student population like? Cambridge in general is a really friendly place to live, and Corpus especially. The students come from all parts of the UK and the wider world, so you get to mix with all sorts of people; and everyone tends to get along really well.

How do students and locals get on? Cambridge is a town with a large proportion of students and there is little friction, students and locals get on well. Everyone lives in the city together - it's just another town after all!

Studying

What's it like as a place to study? Cambridge offers a wide range of traditional courses, all covering a huge amount of ground – most courses have some compulsory elements, but there is also a great deal of choice. In history, for example, you get almost totally free choice of papers from the start.

What are the teaching staff like? Most of the academic staff, whether young and new to academia or older and internationally renowned, teach/lecture enthusiastically, with much of the teaching at Cambridge given in very small groups (often as small as one-to-one teaching).

Socialising

What are student societies like? There are hundreds of societies at both college and university level to cater for every conceivable interest. And if there isn't one doing what you are interested in then CUSU (Cambridge University Students' Union) or the college JCR (a college students' union) will almost certainly give you money to help you start one.

What's a typical night out? Something fun with friends. Cambridge's nightlife is not world class, but it's easy to have a good time with mates if you don't take the clubs seriously... they're not meant to be taken seriously!

And how much does it cost? Around £15−£20 (depending on where you go)

How can you get home safely? Cambridge is very small, and pretty safe, so you can easily walk home. Very few people live far enough away from town to need a taxi.

Money

Is it an expensive place to live? It would be a lie to say everyone is skint. Student loans can be sufficient, but the Cambridge bursaries system is great for those who need a bit of extra help. Living costs are low (college accommodation is reasonable and generally on 30-week leases)

Average price of a pint? £3 (less in college bars)

And the price of a takeaway? £10

What's the part-time work situation? Cambridge does not allow students to get jobs during term time (with the exception of a few college bars) so is extremely helpful in ensuring students do not run out of money for the essentials.

Summary

What's the best feature about the place? Regarding Corpus, the college's small size means everyone gets to know each other really quickly and this makes the place really friendly. There's always plenty going on and always someone around to have a chat with.

And the worst? Similarly, the college's small size can impinge on privacy! But really, it is the amount of work that university can involve that sometimes feels like the worst thing. But these are minor complaints, and both good things in a way.

And to sum it all up? A great place to live and study. A nice city to live in and a great atmosphere in which to make friends.

Past students

Christopher Marlowe, Christopher Isherwood (author), Sir Frederick Lawton (Lord Justice of Appeal), Lord Sieff (Marks & Spencer), Sir Eric Faulkner (Lloyds Bank), Mark Elder (conductor), Joe Farman (discoverer of hole in ozone layer), Christopher Booker (journalist/writer), E P Thompson (historian/nuclear disarmer).