Undergraduate

Why Cambridge?

The University of Cambridge is one of the world's great universities, which provides a challenging, flexible and individual learning experience, and is consistently rated at the top of national league tables. Below are 10 reasons why we feel your students should consider applying to the University.

• 1. Academic excellence
• 2. The collegiate structure
• 3. Flexible learning
• 4. More personal tuition
• 5. Outstanding educational and personal support
• 6. Accommodation guarantee
• 7. Low cost of living
• 8. Substantial financial support
• 9. Everyone 'fits in'
• 10. Excellent career prospects

1. Academic excellence

Cambridge’s teaching and research excellence has led to outstanding results in both the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) Institutional Audits and in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). Our teaching staff includes many national and world leaders, so students have the exciting opportunity to be taught by experts in their fields.

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2. The collegiate structure

There are 29 Cambridge Colleges that admit undergraduate students and provide a place for them to live, study and socialise (though students in all Colleges take the same course and examinations). The collegiate system offers a huge amount of support for each student individually.

3. Flexible learning

Our degree courses (referred to at Cambridge as Triposes) generally cover subjects broadly in the first year, before becoming increasingly specialised in later years. This can be very advantageous for students as it allows them to explore their subject widely before choosing an area on which to focus.

4. More personal tuition

Each week in addition to lectures, practicals and seminars, which are organised by the appropriate department or faculty, students receive regular small-group tuition (often in pairs). This more personal tuition, known as a 'supervision', is one of the most distinctive features of the Cambridge system and allows students to explore course material in much greater depth, investigate new approaches and clarify anything they are unclear about.

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5. Outstanding educational and personal support

To help our students to succeed we provide expert teachers and lecturers, excellent library and computing facilities, superb labs and lots of support. Within their Colleges, undergraduates have a Director of Studies (DoS) who looks after their academic welfare, and many Colleges also allocate students a Tutor who is available to advise on any personal or financial matters. Our extensive welfare and support systems ensures that students' individual needs are recognised and met - as a result we have the highest student retention rate in the UK.

6. Accommodation guarantee

The Cambridge Colleges* guarantee accommodation to single undergraduate students without a family for three years (many also provide for fourth year students) so very few students have to pay commercial rents. The terms at Cambridge are also short (around eight weeks in length), and students are only charged rent when they are in residence (usually 24–30 weeks, rather than a full year).

7. Low cost of living

Cambridge is a relatively inexpensive place to study. Transport costs in the city are minimal, as it is easy to get around on foot or by bicycle; and study costs are kept low because we are fortunate to have excellent computing and library facilities.

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8. Substantial financial support

The University is committed to the principle that no UK/EU student should be deterred from applying or have to leave because of financial considerations. Discussions are still taking place regarding the financial support that will be available for students from 2012 entry. Information will be added to the Undergraduate Admissions website as soon as it is available.

9. Everyone 'fits in'

There is no such thing as a typical Cambridge student. You’ll find students from all parts of the country (and the world) and from all backgrounds. Our students work hard and play hard. In fact, there are over 600 clubs and societies for them to choose from in addition to everything the city has to offer.

10. Excellent career prospects

Cambridge graduates go into a very wide range of occupations, and are highly employable and greatly sought after throughout the world - illustrated by our having one of the highest graduate employment rates in the UK. The flexibility, teaching style and demands of our degree courses ensure that students develop a range of transferable skills, which are crucial to a successful career

* With the exception of St Edmund's College.

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