OVERALL UNIVERSITY RATING
Tell us about your overall university experience so far.
An incredible place to study, full of inspiring students, lecturers and staff. I would never have had the opportunities to meet so...
University rating
Tell us about your overall university experience so far.
An incredible place to study, full of inspiring students, lecturers and staff. I would never have had the opportunities to meet so many influential people had I not applied here to study!
Although the work can be extremely challenging, stressful and at time demotivating, I feel that Cambridge really gives you £9,000 worth of education. What's more, there's no denying that my degree will be more than worth it in the jobs market-employers are very keen even on attracting first years!
Facilities
How good are your university's facilities?
With over 100 libraries, every published book in the world and some of the best faculties and facilities not just in the UK but the world, it is hard to fault the facilities at Cambridge.
Student support
How good is the support offered by the uni? Think both academic (tutors/feedback) and personal (counselling, etc).
the university has one of the best councillor systems due to the pressures of the work load. It also offers very generous bursaries, and even grants to go on holiday!
Most students find the support network of friends and the University more than enough. That said, there are some grumblings that more can be done.
Students' union
What do you think of your Students' Union in terms of student representation and facilities?
Probably one of the weakest aspects of the University. We have no central students' union bar or social area, due to the collegiate system. This can hamper the ability to meet people outside of college in first year.
That said, each of the 31 colleges has its own union, JCR and MCR. There are plenty of ways to get help and representation!
Local life
Is your university in a good location in terms of distance to accommodation and local amenities?
It depends what you like. Cambridge is dominated by the University, and in this sense it's very friendly and student-orientated.
That said, there are only 4 'clubs', and they are hardly spectacular. This is somewhat made up for by the large number of pubs, although these can be quite expensive!
As long as you make good friends, you're guaranteed to have a good time in the City.
Societies and Sports
How would you rate the variety of societies/sports?
There are almost too many to talk about. Probably the most famous one is the Cambridge Union debating society. One of the oldest in the World, it hosts some famous faces and important speakers. This is one of the real privileges of Cambridge.
Otherwise, there are tonnes of sports and social societies, so you are guaranteed to find something you like!
Lecturers and teaching quality
What do you like most and least about the way your course(s) are taught?
The general standard is good, and some lecturers are excellent. That said, some subjects are a bit hit and miss, but this just depends on the style that helps you learn best.
You simply cannot fault the number of contact hours with lectures, either.
Career prospects
How does your uni make efforts to increase your employability (careers department, work placements, transferable skills)?
The careers service is excellent, offering fairs, talks and workshops almost every day.
Internships and placements are on continuous offer. The number of recruitment agencies wanting to sign you up can actually get quite annoying!
That said, a degree from Cambridge does not mean that you'll walk into a job. The careers service is there to drive this home, offering work and CV guidance to make your application as competitive as possible.
University halls
What do you think about the safety, condition, location and cost of your accommodation?
You get accomodation in most colleges for all 3 years, which is hard to fault if you don't want the fuss of a house. The standard is excellent and the prices usually heavily subsidised compared to the rest of Cambridge.
For me, the best part is the weekly clean and fresh bed linen provided by the College-it means that if you're domestically lazy, this is the place for you!
The only real issue is that at some colleges you have to move out of your accommodation at the end of each term. This is because the rooms are needed for businesses and conferences.