Founded in 1209 and the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world, Cambridge’s 31 honey-coloured colleges offer an intimate, scholarly setting. The fenland city is dominated by crenellations, cobbles and student cyclists — wearing anything from black tie to sports kit flying along the lanes. It is also inventive. The university has more than 100 libraries and discoveries include everything from the reflecting telescope, the rules of football, and webcams.
Whether you prefer a riverside setting, candlelit dinners, or a laid-back approach where you can walk on the lawns, read our guide to each college to find one to suit you — and discover how competitive it is to gain a place.
Undergraduates 461
Postgraduates 265
Acceptance rate 15.5%
Christ’s students are just a stone’s throw
