Cambridge Newnham (Student Life)

Accommodation: All can live in for all 3 years, but possible to live out. Everyone pays the same rent (rooms allocated by ballot).

Eating: Meals £2-ish in college. In town, Dojo (Japanese canteen serving hearty noodles and noodlesoups for a fiver), Rainbow Vegetarian Bistro (£5-£10 for great food), India House, Bun Shop (great paella), Nadia's (best cakes).

Drinking: Cheap college bars (especially Newnham). Loads of riverside, town and country pubs (esp The Anchor, The Maypole), always full and fun; couple of gay pubs.

Nightlife: Diverse and cheap college-based ents all over university - club nights, film socs, concerts, live music and DJs to suit every taste. Clubs in town: Ballare (cheese and drunken student revelry), The Junction (tour venue for dance acts and bands; popular monthly gay night), Corn Exchange.

Locals: Reasonably friendly. Area safe for students.

Sports: Free multi-gym; hockey, football, lacrosse pitch, netball, tennis, basketball courts, shared squash courts. Deserved reputation for the best football and boat clubs. Kelsey Kerridge sports hall and swimming pool other side of town.

Travel: Many college and university travel grants.

Financial help: Lots - college and university.

Access grants: books, vacation grants.

Jobs: Catering department and college bar for work in term-time. Catering dept, housekeeping, library in holidays.

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 (in college accommodation), £5500 (in private accommodation).

Best features: Setting; people; college ethos; student involvement.

Worst features: Stress, workload (although strong emphasis is put on student welfare).

More info: Email jcr.president(at)newn.cam.ac.uk, for prospectus or to arrange a visit - adm(at)newn.cam.ac.uk or Tel: 01223 335700, or check out www.newn.cam.ac.uk

Past students: Julia Neuberger, Frances Gumley, Sarah Rowland Jones, Dorothy Hodgkin, Margaret Drabble, AS Byatt, Germaine Greer, Sylvia Plath, Joan Bakewell, Susie Menkes, Miriam Margolis, Katharine Whitehorn, Shirley Williams, Ann Mallalieu, Mary Archer, Anne Campbell MP, Emma Thompson, Diane Abbott, Clare Balding, Patricia Hewitt.