Cambridge Clare - Student Life

Housing: College accommodation for 3 years, possibly 4. Varies in quality - generally very good and relatively inexpensive.

Eats: Kitchen fixed charge, to subsidise communal eating (approx £90), compulsory for undergraduates. College canteen operates on credit basis (settle up at end of term). Generally pleasant, fairly cheap (good feed from £1.50); vegetarian options always available, special dietary requirements catered for. Plenty of food in town, some cheap restaurants and handy sandwich bars.

Drink: Town pubs expensive; student-run college bar popular; Greene King and Adnams are local brews. Nightlife: Some great music in Cambridge; Clare's Cellars excellent venue for both the unusual and mainstream. Lots of live music in pubs, many nightclubs with student cheese nights, everything from d'n'b to salsa if you look hard.

Locals: Generally tolerant. Weekends are more 'townie' than the rest of the week.

Sports: Good college and university facilities, most free. Town facilities excellent, cheap with City Leisure Card.

Travel: You can walk or bike everywhere in Cambridge. Always worth asking for travel funds; substantial amounts normally available from college or university for academic and non-academic travel.

Annual living costs: The minimum amount students say you need to live on each year (covering all living expenses but excluding tuition fees) is £5000.

Financial help: Generous university and college funds; if you had to work, you'd surely qualify - no student should ever drop out on purely financial grounds. Book grants available.

Jobs: Not advisable during term but some work in college bar and library. Some summer vacation work locally (eg punting for Scudamores).

Best features: The people; the surroundings, Clare Cellars.

And worst: The work; the tourists. More info? Contact JCR President at ucs@clare.cam.ac.uk

Past students: David Attenborough (naturalist and broadcaster), Paul Mellon (philanthropist), Harvey & one of his Wallbangers. James Watson (Nobel Laureate - DNA), Chris Kelly (broadcaster), Hugh Latimer (martyr), Siegfried Sassoon (poet), Peter Lilley MP, Matthew Parris (journalist), Norman Ramsey (Nobel Laureate), John Rutter (composer).