Facilities, Students and Social Life

What is a College?

A College is where students live, eat, and socialise - much like a Hall of Residence. It is the Colleges, rather than the University, that are principally responsible for students' welfare and pastoral care. But Colleges also have an important academic dimension. They assess students for admission to the University, and they are responsible for arranging the small group teaching from senior members (called supervisions) which is one of Cambridge's distinctive features.  This teaching provides students with a further opportunity to explore the subjects which they have learned about in the lectures and practicals arranged at University level in the Faculties and Departments.

How do I choose a College?

Choosing a College can seem complicated. It needn't be.  Most of the differences are obvious: some are centrally located and some are not; some are large, and some small; some are old foundations and some relatively recent - though it's worth noting that 'old' does not necessarily mean 'traditional' in atmosphere.  Colleges also differ slightly in the social facilities that they offer, and these differences are usually clear in their literature. Having chosen your basic Cambridge course, you can therefore choose a College in exactly the same way as any other University - by looking at location, size, accommodation and facilities, and the level of offer you are likely to get.

Many students find the Open Days very useful, but many apply without having come to one.  Don't forget that the course for your subject is the same whatever your College. It is the University that organises the overall framework of lectures, practicals and examinations, so that all students in a particular subject do the same course, regardless of their College.

What accommodation could I expect at Clare?

Clare is able to offer accommodation to all its students for three years.  All first- years live in the Memorial Buildings, just across the river from Old Court. Most second-year students are together in College hostels on a nearby site known as the Colony, where there is a chance for friends to share flats and houses.  Some students choose to remain here for their third year, while others prefer to move back to the Memorial Buildings or move to student rooms in the seventeenth-century buildings of Old Court. Generally, the standard of accommodation is high, with a lot of choice in style: en-suite sets, converted attics, seventeenth-century rooms over looking the river, and modern purpose-built blocks. Rents vary according to type of accommodation, and first year rents for 2010/11 are likely to be in the range of £800-1000 per term, with most being £900.

What else goes on in College?

The Union of Clare Students (UCS) has an important presence in the College. UCS representatives, elected every year, have full voting rights to the College's Governing Body and on other important College Committees. The UCS is also responsible for the day-to-day running of many other aspects of student life, from UCS finance, to sport, as well as the well- known Clare Ents, which runs student entertainment.

Will I find sports and societies to match my interests?

Most students are keen to develop interests outside work, and in Clare there are plenty to choose from. There are over 30 societies active in Clare at present, loosely co-ordinated by the UCS and funded in part by small grants which the UCS makes available out of its societies' budget. These cover a very wide spectrum, from film to skiing and rock climbing, from environmental campaigning to equal opportunity issues.

Sport is also very well represented. There are squash courts behind Memorial Court. As a riverside College, Clare naturally has a large and active boat club, with a boathouse on the river. The sports field is 10 minutes cycle ride away and has excellent pitches for football, rugby, hockey and cricket, as well as county-standard tennis courts. At present, women's football and men's hockey are particularly successful.

What musical life does Clare offer?

Clare has an internationally renowned mixed-voice chapel choir, made up largely of choral exhibitioners (but with some vacancies for volunteers), which sings a wide cathedral-type repertoire in regular services each week. It broadcasts and records on a regular basis, and there is an annual overseas tour. A second choir consists of those who wish to sing on a more ad hoc basis, and there is also a choral society. A flourishing student-run musical society organises choral, orchestral and chamber concerts, as well as instrumental recitals throughout the year. There is in addition, a successful jazz club, which meets on Sunday evenings in Clare Cellars.

Is Cambridge an expensive place to study?

Contrary to the impression that some visitors have, Cambridge is not an expensive University for students. The arrangements for the financial support of UK and EU students are the same for Cambridge students as they are for students at other UK universities. Living costs are roughly the same, and in some respects actually lower. Rents vary according to the type and quality of your room, but you will find that they compare favourably with those at other British universities. Importantly, students in Cambridge are lucky in having no transport costs during term: the Colleges and Faculties are so close together that it is possible to walk or cycle for most journeys.

For further details, see the fees and finance section of the Cambridge Undergraduate Prospectus.

Why should I apply to Clare?

As suggested above, there is actually much less to choose between many of the Colleges than you might at first think: what is important is the educational experience that Cambridge has to offer, and that is common to every College. That said, you do have to choose a College, unless you wish to submit an Open Application. Students in the past have chosen Clare for a number of different reasons: for its central location and setting by the river, for its firm offer of accommodation for at least three years, for its excellence in music, or for its combination of high academic standards with a friendly and unpretentious student community. The best way to choose is to come to Cambridge for an Open Day, where you will be able to talk directly to current students and teaching staff.

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