Choosing a Cambridge College
Advice for mature students
At the University of Cambridge, we have 29 undergraduate Colleges, including three that are exclusively for mature students – so you’ll have lots of options to choose from when you’re applying. This article will explain what Colleges are and what you should consider when applying.
"I think it can be often quite daunting being a mature student and wondering whether you're going to fit in with all the younger students, but I haven't found it a problem at all.
I loved the atmosphere here. I felt like it was somewhere I could see myself. I felt like I could fit in."
The College system
Cambridge is a collegiate university, which means it comprises University faculties and departments in different academic subjects, and a number of Colleges.
At Cambridge, all undergraduate students are a member of one of our 29 undergraduate Colleges. All Cambridge Colleges admit mature students, but there are three that are exclusively for mature students who will be aged 21 or over when their course begins:
Colleges are responsible for admitting students, pastoral care, and organising small group tuition – ‘supervisions’. Whilst undergraduates are at Cambridge they live in College accommodation and use the range of facilities on offer within their College.
Your College will be your home away from home, and you’ll be a part of a community of students studying a variety of subjects. Typically, there are lots of opportunities for you to study alongside and socialise with students from other Colleges within your faculty/department, and to meet people through University-wide societies and clubs.
"I honestly didn't really think university was going to be for me until I applied. I just found the College was really welcoming and it felt right to be with a group of people who've had experience before - we're all doing this kind of crazy academic journey together."
How to narrow down your list
Everyone’s reasons for choosing a particular College differ. It usually comes down to personal preference, and finding the College that ‘feels right’ to you. With so many Colleges to choose from, it may take a while to research every College. There are a number of different elements that you can consider initially to help you narrow down your list.
Course availability: Start by checking which Colleges accept students for your chosen course – some Colleges don’t offer places for particular courses. You should also check the subject requirements for your chosen course at the College you’re thinking of applying to. Check the course profile on the Undergraduate Study website to find out which Colleges offer your course and what subjects are required.
Age and gender: Three of our Colleges (Hughes Hall, St Edmund's and Wolfson) only accept mature students (over 21 years old), and two of our Colleges (Murray Edwards and Newnham) only accept applications from female students, so keep in mind whether you’re eligible for these Colleges when deciding.
Specialist knowledge: Mature Colleges have extensive experience in assessing a wide variety of qualifications that students returning to education or changing direction may have, such as Access courses.
Accommodation and facilities
The next thing to do is to start thinking about where you want to live. Would you like to be part of a larger College community? Do you want to be at a College with sports facilities on-site? Do you prefer Colleges with historic buildings? Whether you’re looking for the picturesque gardens or manicured lawns of some Colleges such as Clare, Newnham, and Sidney Sussex, or the modern architecture and open spaces of Colleges such as Churchill, Murray Edwards and Fitzwilliam, you’ll find a College that suits you.
You should think about where you'll be living. Some Colleges offer accommodation on the main College site, whilst others have College owned buildings dotted around central Cambridge, or additional sites in other parts of the city.
There’s a variety of catering facilities, ranging from cafeterias, to butteries and formal halls (three-course dinners usually held in the main College dining hall). Usually there are also additional self-catering facilities, ranging from fully equipped kitchens to areas with microwaves and kettles. You should explore what’s on offer at the Colleges you’re interested in applying to.
Colleges also have many different societies and facilities on offer, with some Colleges having their own sports facilities such as tennis courts, sports pitches and gyms alongside other facilities such as theatre spaces and music rooms.
Each College has its own charm and perks, so do spend some time visiting the College websites and the Cambridge Virtual Tour to get a feel for what they're like.
Mature students
Mature students can apply to any of the undergraduate Colleges, though many choose one of the mature Colleges, where they’ll be living with other students who also have a bit more life experience and haven’t just finished school. This can be a great support for anyone returning to education.
The social life in the mature Colleges is a rich mix and takes account of partners and families. At the same time, there are plenty of opportunities to meet standard-age students in lectures and practicals and through the University’s clubs and societies.
For students with children, the University’s Childcare Office can offer guidance on childcare, and some Colleges are able to provide family accommodation. More information for student parents can be found on the Student parents page.
Don't agonise over choosing a College. The Colleges are more alike than they are different and you may be offered a place at another College that you did not apply to directly. No matter which College you end up at, it will become your home at Cambridge, and you’ll make some amazing memories along the way.
"I was 25 when I decided that I wanted to do my first degree. It definitely was the right choice to apply to a mature College, because you don't feel the distance that you might feel from 18 year olds who are also doing their first degrees."
How not to choose a College
There are lots of different factors that can help you choose which College to apply to, but it’s also worth knowing what shouldn’t affect your application.
Age of College: Our Colleges range in age – from the oldest, Peterhouse, which was founded in 1284, to the newer Colleges such as Robinson, founded in 1977. All provide the facilities you’d expect and each College has their own history and traditions - your student experience isn’t dependent on the age of your College.
College Fellows: You should keep in mind that you are not guaranteed to be supervised by any particular Fellows, and you may attend supervisions at a different College if that's where your relevant subject expert is based.
Applications statistics: The number of applications a College gets, or how many undergraduate students they accept each year, shouldn’t affect your College choice. Remember, Colleges can also accept students that applied to a different College through the pool system. Strong applicants who’ve been squeezed out by the competition at their original College can be made an offer by another College through the pool. Colleges would rather admit a strong applicant from the pool than a weaker applicant who applied directly to them.
Do I have to choose a College?
If you find that you don't mind which College you're a part of, you can decide to make an open application. This means that you will be allocated to any of the Colleges you are eligible for, instead of you choosing one for yourself. Mature students who make an open application are allocated to one of the three mature Colleges.
If you’re an applicant with a mobility and/or sensory impairment, or have other considerations that require particular support, it's advised that you choose a College that best suits your needs, instead of making an open application. You can find more information about this by visiting our support pages.
You can read more about choosing a College on our Undergraduate Study site.
"I expected College to be friendly and welcoming, but I didn't imagine in my best possible dreams that it would be this nice. Some of the people I've met here have truly changed my life and my perspective on the world's issues. It's been a transformative journey so far and I can't wait to see what the rest of my degree brings."
The information on this page is correct at the time of publishing. It’s very important that prospective students check the Undergraduate Study Website and College websites (listed on each College profile) regularly for up-to-date information before submitting an application and again before accepting an offer to study.
Last reviewed December 2021.
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