So what's life at Cambridge really like?

We know it isn’t easy choosing which university to go to and applying to Cambridge can feel like a big decision to make! As we’ve experienced this ourselves, we’d like to try answer any questions you might have and help you make informed decisions. From web pages on Colleges (where we live) to courses, social life to academic support, the Cambridge SU Alternative Prospectus is the student insight to Cambridge: we’re not trying to ‘sell’ it to you – rather tell you our experience so you can decide for yourself.

Unfortunately, Cambridge is surrounded by many myths and stereotypes that prevent people from thinking that it’s worth applying. Hopefully, the student profiles and experiences on this website prove that Cambridge is actually made up of people from all sorts of backgrounds – this university is for everyone, no matter where you've come from, what your parents do for a living, or the type of school you went to. We promise it’s not all work, work, work, either – that myth is very wrong too!

Check out the Courses section for profiles on each undergraduate course, advice on choosing your course and info on academic life. The Colleges section tells you about where students live, with info on what a College actually is and profiles of each one. Finally, the Cambridge Life section will tell you all about the the town and university as a place to live.

Which college you choose matters

Jessica Asiedu-Kwatchey
Education & Widening Participation Officer 2025/26

The college system is one of the most unique parts about living and studying at Cambridge, but it can also be one of the most daunting for applicants. You'll often hear from admissions sessions that "Wherever you end up at, all students end up loving their college" and whilst that is true (for the most part!), at Cambridge SU we believe it is important for prospective students to be fully equipped with relevant information about the university and its colleges, as facilities, financial support, cohort size etc... can all vary. So, we hope that this Alternative Prospectus provides you with a real insight into Cambridge, and helps you decide which college may be most suitable for you, if you decide to apply!