Colleges of the University of Cambridge
Encyclopedia
This is a list of the colleges within the University of Cambridge. These colleges
are the primary source of accommodation for undergraduates and graduates
at the University
and at the undergraduate level have responsibility for admitting students and organising their tuition. They also provide funding and/or accommodation for some of the senior research posts in the University. The colleges are self-governed charitable institutions on their own right, with their own endowments and possessions. Until the mid-19th century, both Cambridge and Oxford were rather a group of colleges with a small central university administration, than universities in the common sense.
The University of Cambridge has 31 colleges, of which Peterhouse
is the oldest, founded in 1284. The newest college of the university is Robinson
, founded in 1977.
Three Cambridge colleges admit only women (Murray Edwards, Newnham
and Lucy Cavendish
). The other colleges are now mixed, though most were originally all-male. Darwin
was the first college to admit both men and women, while Churchill
, Clare
and King's
colleges were the first previously all-male colleges to admit female undergraduates in 1972. Magdalene
was the last all-male college to become mixed in 1988. Two colleges admit only postgraduates (Clare Hall
and Darwin
), and four more admit only mature students (i.e. 21 years or older on date of matriculation) and graduate students (Hughes Hall
, Lucy Cavendish
, St Edmund’s
and Wolfson
). All other colleges admit both undergraduate and postgraduate students with no age restrictions.
There are also several theological colleges in Cambridge (for example Westcott House
, Westminster College
, Wesley House
and Ridley Hall
) that are affiliated with the university through the Cambridge Theological Federation
. These colleges, while not officially part of the University of Cambridge, operate programmes that are either validated by or are taught on behalf of either the University or Anglia Ruskin University
.
Colleges within UK Universities
In relation to universities, the term college normally refers to a part of the university which does not have degree-awarding powers in itself. Degrees are always awarded by universities, colleges are institutions or organisations which prepare students for the degree...
are the primary source of accommodation for undergraduates and graduates
Bachelor's degree or higher
Bachelor's degree or higher is a commonly used term by the United States Census Bureau and other U.S. government agencies on the federal as well as state and local level. The term describes the portion of the population that has either a bachelor's degree or a higher degree such as a master's or...
at the University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and at the undergraduate level have responsibility for admitting students and organising their tuition. They also provide funding and/or accommodation for some of the senior research posts in the University. The colleges are self-governed charitable institutions on their own right, with their own endowments and possessions. Until the mid-19th century, both Cambridge and Oxford were rather a group of colleges with a small central university administration, than universities in the common sense.
The University of Cambridge has 31 colleges, of which Peterhouse
Peterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely...
is the oldest, founded in 1284. The newest college of the university is Robinson
Robinson College, Cambridge
Robinson College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.Robinson is the newest of the Cambridge colleges, and is unique in being the only one to have been intended, from its inception, for both undergraduate and graduate students of either sex.- History :The college was founded...
, founded in 1977.
Three Cambridge colleges admit only women (Murray Edwards, Newnham
Newnham College, Cambridge
Newnham College is a women-only constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1871 by Henry Sidgwick, and was the second Cambridge college to admit women after Girton College...
and Lucy Cavendish
Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge
Lucy Cavendish College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is a women-only college, which admits only postgraduates and undergraduates aged 21 or over....
). The other colleges are now mixed, though most were originally all-male. Darwin
Darwin College, Cambridge
Darwin College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.Founded in 1964, Darwin was Cambridge University's first graduate-only college, and also the first to admit both men and women. The college is named after the family of one of the university's most famous graduates, Charles Darwin...
was the first college to admit both men and women, while Churchill
Churchill College, Cambridge
Churchill College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.In 1958, a Trust was established with Sir Winston Churchill as its Chairman of Trustees, to build and endow a college for 60 fellows and 540 Students as a national and Commonwealth memorial to Winston Churchill; its...
, Clare
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
and King's
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
colleges were the first previously all-male colleges to admit female undergraduates in 1972. Magdalene
Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene...
was the last all-male college to become mixed in 1988. Two colleges admit only postgraduates (Clare Hall
Clare Hall, Cambridge
Clare Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is a college for advanced study, admitting only postgraduate students.Informality is a defining value at Clare Hall and this contributes to its unique character...
and Darwin
Darwin College, Cambridge
Darwin College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.Founded in 1964, Darwin was Cambridge University's first graduate-only college, and also the first to admit both men and women. The college is named after the family of one of the university's most famous graduates, Charles Darwin...
), and four more admit only mature students (i.e. 21 years or older on date of matriculation) and graduate students (Hughes Hall
Hughes Hall, Cambridge
Hughes Hall, is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. It is often informally called Hughes, and is the oldest of the four Cambridge colleges which admit only mature students...
, Lucy Cavendish
Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge
Lucy Cavendish College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is a women-only college, which admits only postgraduates and undergraduates aged 21 or over....
, St Edmund’s
St Edmund's College, Cambridge
Saint Edmund's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is the second oldest of the four Cambridge colleges oriented to mature students, which only accept students reading for either Masters or Doctorate degrees, or undergraduate degrees if they are aged 21 or older, the...
and Wolfson
Wolfson College, Cambridge
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. Wolfson is one of a small number of Cambridge colleges which admit only students over the age of 21. The majority of students at the college are postgraduates, with around 15% studying undergraduate...
). All other colleges admit both undergraduate and postgraduate students with no age restrictions.
Colleges
Key: U–undergraduates, P–postgraduates.| Scarf colours | College | Founded | U | P | Male % | Female % | Total | Fixed asset Fixed asset Fixed assets, also known as a non-current asset or as property, plant, and equipment , is a term used in accounting for assets and property which cannot easily be converted into cash. This can be compared with current assets such as cash or bank accounts, which are described as liquid assets... s (£ Pound sterling The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence... ) |
Website | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christ's Christ's College, Cambridge Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:... |
1505 | 423 | 91 | 58 | 42 | 514 | 66,602,000 | |||
| Churchill Churchill College, Cambridge Churchill College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.In 1958, a Trust was established with Sir Winston Churchill as its Chairman of Trustees, to build and endow a college for 60 fellows and 540 Students as a national and Commonwealth memorial to Winston Churchill; its... |
1960 | 476 | 228 | 71 | 29 | 704 | 105,978,346 | |||
| Clare Clare College, Cambridge Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"... |
1326 | 473 | 182 | 52 | 48 | 655 | 70,707,000 | |||
| Clare Hall Clare Hall, Cambridge Clare Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is a college for advanced study, admitting only postgraduate students.Informality is a defining value at Clare Hall and this contributes to its unique character... |
1965 | 0 | 155 | 47 | 53 | 155 | 10,579,203 | Graduate students only. | ||
| Corpus Christi Corpus Christi College, Cambridge Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary... |
1352 | 250 | 209 | 60 | 40 | 459 | 172,218,402 | |||
| Darwin Darwin College, Cambridge Darwin College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.Founded in 1964, Darwin was Cambridge University's first graduate-only college, and also the first to admit both men and women. The college is named after the family of one of the university's most famous graduates, Charles Darwin... |
1964 | 0 | 591 | 54 | 46 | 591 | 33,160,032 | Graduate students only. | ||
| Downing Downing College, Cambridge Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1800 and currently has around 650 students.- History :... |
1800 | 440 | 183 | 66 | 34 | 623 | 86,798,000 | |||
| Emmanuel Emmanuel College, Cambridge Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary... |
1584 | 510 | 123 | 51 | 49 | 633 | 142,262,047 | |||
| Fitzwilliam Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge Fitzwilliam College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge in England.The college traces its origins back to 1869 and the foundation of the Non-Collegiate Students Board, a venture intended to offer students from less financially privileged backgrounds a chance to study... |
1869 (1966) | 502 | 186 | 63 | 37 | 688 | 43,509,000 | |||
| Girton Girton College, Cambridge Girton College is one of the 31 constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge. It was England's first residential women's college, established in 1869 by Emily Davies and Barbara Bodichon. The full college status was only received in 1948 and marked the official admittance of women to the... |
1869 | 531 | 146 | 53 | 47 | 677 | 64,000,000 | |||
| Gonville and Caius Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge Gonville and Caius College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college is often referred to simply as "Caius" , after its second founder, John Keys, who fashionably latinised the spelling of his name after studying in Italy.- Outline :Gonville and... |
1348 | 546 | 173 | 60 | 40 | 719 | 127,401,607 | |||
| Homerton Homerton College, Cambridge Homerton College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England.With around 1,200 students, Homerton has more students than any other Cambridge college, although less than half of these live in the college. The college has a long and complex history dating back to the... |
1895 (1976) | 593 | 588 | 37 | 63 | 1181 | 115,756,432 | |||
| Hughes Hall Hughes Hall, Cambridge Hughes Hall, is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. It is often informally called Hughes, and is the oldest of the four Cambridge colleges which admit only mature students... |
1885 | 85 | 334 | 61 | 39 | 419 | 18,483,546 | Mature undergrad, and grad students only. | ||
| Jesus Jesus College, Cambridge Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely... |
1496 | 503 | 201 | 57 | 43 | 704 | 236,404,421 | |||
| King's King's College, Cambridge King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University.... |
1441 | 394 | 187 | 57 | 43 | 581 | 126,561,000 | |||
| Lucy Cavendish Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge Lucy Cavendish College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is a women-only college, which admits only postgraduates and undergraduates aged 21 or over.... |
1965 | 110 | 110 | 0 | 100 | 220 | 24,323,000 | Mature female undergrad, and female grad students only. | ||
| Magdalene Magdalene College, Cambridge Magdalene College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene... |
1428 | 366 | 127 | 54 | 46 | 493 | 73,763,845 | |||
| Murray Edwards | 1954 | 387 | 55 | 0 | 100 | 442 | 52,852,893 | Female only. Formerly New Hall. | ||
| Newnham Newnham College, Cambridge Newnham College is a women-only constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1871 by Henry Sidgwick, and was the second Cambridge college to admit women after Girton College... |
1871 | 412 | 112 | 0 | 100 | 524 | 90,287,969 | Female students only. | ||
| Pembroke Pembroke College, Cambridge Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its... |
1347 | 442 | 155 | 53 | 47 | 597 | 103,991,180 | |||
| Peterhouse Peterhouse, Cambridge Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely... |
1284 | 266 | 88 | 57 | 43 | 354 | 171,887,000 | |||
| Queens' Queens' College, Cambridge Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville... |
1448 | 535 | 297 | 57 | 43 | 832 | 57,310,511 | |||
| Robinson Robinson College, Cambridge Robinson College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.Robinson is the newest of the Cambridge colleges, and is unique in being the only one to have been intended, from its inception, for both undergraduate and graduate students of either sex.- History :The college was founded... |
1977 | 422 | 73 | 60 | 40 | 495 | 24,863,000 | |||
| St Catharine's St Catharine's College, Cambridge St. Catharine’s College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473, the college is often referred to informally by the nickname "Catz".-History:... |
1473 | 462 | 159 | 52 | 48 | 621 | 68,797,000 | |||
| St Edmund's St Edmund's College, Cambridge Saint Edmund's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is the second oldest of the four Cambridge colleges oriented to mature students, which only accept students reading for either Masters or Doctorate degrees, or undergraduate degrees if they are aged 21 or older, the... |
1896 | 126 | 205 | 69 | 31 | 331 | 8,381,224 | Mature undergrad, and grad students only. | ||
| St John's St John's College, Cambridge St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints.... |
1511 | 588 | 243 | 59 | 41 | 831 | 567,390,000 | |||
| Selwyn Selwyn College, Cambridge Selwyn College is a constituent college in the University of Cambridge in England, United Kingdom.The college was founded by the Selwyn Memorial Committee in memory of the Rt Reverend George Selwyn , who rowed on the Cambridge crew in the first Varsity Boat Race in 1829, and went on to become the... |
1882 | 388 | 130 | 70 | 30 | 518 | 69,992,285 | |||
| Sidney Sussex Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge Sidney Sussex College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England.The college was founded in 1596 and named after its foundress, Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex. It was from its inception an avowedly Puritan foundation: some good and godlie moniment for the mainteynance... |
1596 | 371 | 135 | 63 | 37 | 506 | 64,952,747 | |||
| Trinity Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows... |
1546 | 656 | 373 | 63 | 37 | 1029 | 621,000,000 621,000,000 | |||
| Trinity Hall Trinity Hall, Cambridge Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :... |
1350 | 384 | 196 | 54 | 46 | 580 | 172,354,243 | |||
| Wolfson Wolfson College, Cambridge Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. Wolfson is one of a small number of Cambridge colleges which admit only students over the age of 21. The majority of students at the college are postgraduates, with around 15% studying undergraduate... |
1965 | 119 | 385 | 64 | 36 | 504 | 47,307,000 | Mature undergrad, and grad students only. | ||
| Totals | 11,824 | 6,002 | 17,826 | c. 3,407,053,395 | Total Endowment of University, c. £4.1 billion |
There are also several theological colleges in Cambridge (for example Westcott House
Westcott House, Cambridge
Westcott House is a Church of England theological college based in Jesus Lane located in the centre of the university city of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.Its main activity is training people for ordained ministry in Anglican churches...
, Westminster College
Westminster College, Cambridge
Westminster College in Cambridge is a theological college of the United Reformed Church, formerly the Presbyterian Church of England. Its principal purpose is the training of clergy for ordination, but is also used more widely for training within the denomination...
, Wesley House
Wesley House
Wesley House is a Methodist theological college on Jesus Lane in Cambridge, England. It was founded in 1921 as a base for training Methodist ministers within the precincts of the University of Cambridge...
and Ridley Hall
Ridley Hall, Cambridge
Ridley Hall is a theological college located in Sidgwick Avenue in Cambridge in the United Kingdom, which trains intending ministers for the Church of England and other churches. It was founded in 1881 and named in memory of Nicholas Ridley, a leading protestant theologian of the sixteenth century...
) that are affiliated with the university through the Cambridge Theological Federation
Cambridge Theological Federation
The Cambridge Theological Federation is an association of theological colleges, courses and houses, based in Cambridge, England. The Federation offers several joint theological programmes of study open to students in member institutions; these programmes are either validated by or are taught on...
. These colleges, while not officially part of the University of Cambridge, operate programmes that are either validated by or are taught on behalf of either the University or Anglia Ruskin University
Anglia Ruskin University
Anglia Ruskin University is one of the largest universities in Eastern England, United Kingdom, with a total student population of around 30,000.-History:...
.
Former colleges
The above list does not include several former colleges that no longer exist. These include:- Buckingham CollegeBuckingham College, CambridgeBuckingham College is a name of one of the former colleges of the University of Cambridge, that existed between 1428 and 1542, when it was reformed as Magdalene College....
, founded in 1428 as a BenedictineBenedictineBenedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
hall, refounded as MagdaleneMagdalene College, CambridgeMagdalene College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene...
in 1542. - Bull CollegeBull CollegeBull College is one of the former colleges of the University of Cambridge, existing from 1945 to 1946. It originated as the Cambridge branch of the Training Within Civilian Agencies programme of the U.S. Army, and provided a Cambridge degree programme for American GIs...
, a college for US GIs, existing from 1945 to 1946. - "Clare Hall" was the name of Clare CollegeClare College, CambridgeClare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
between 1338 and 1856. Clare College founded a new college named Clare HallClare Hall, CambridgeClare Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is a college for advanced study, admitting only postgraduate students.Informality is a defining value at Clare Hall and this contributes to its unique character...
in 1966. - King's HallKing's Hall, CambridgeKing's Hall was once one of the constituent colleges of Cambridge, founded in 1317, the second after Peterhouse. King's Hall was established by King Edward II to provide chancery clerks for his administration, and was very rich compared to Michaelhouse, which occupied the southern area of what is...
, founded in 1317, and combined with Michaelhouse to form Trinity CollegeTrinity College, CambridgeTrinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
in 1546. - MichaelhouseMichaelhouse, CambridgeMichaelhouse is the name of one of the former colleges of the University of Cambridge, that existed between 1323 and 1546, when it was merged with King's Hall to form Trinity College. Michaelhouse was the second residential college to be founded, after Peterhouse...
, founded in 1324, and combined with King's Hall to form Trinity CollegeTrinity College, CambridgeTrinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
in 1546. - Gonville Hall, founded in 1348, and re-founded in 1557 as Gonville and Caius CollegeGonville and Caius College, CambridgeGonville and Caius College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college is often referred to simply as "Caius" , after its second founder, John Keys, who fashionably latinised the spelling of his name after studying in Italy.- Outline :Gonville and...
. - God's HouseGod's House, CambridgeGod's House is the name of one of the former colleges of the University of Cambridge, that existed between 1437 and 1505, when it was reformed as Christ's College. It was established in 1437 by William Byngham on land now occupied by King's College Chapel....
, founded in 1437, and re-founded in 1505 as Christ's CollegeChrist's College, CambridgeChrist's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
. - Cavendish College, founded in 1873, a failed attempt to allow poorer students to sit the TriposTriposThe University of Cambridge, England, divides the different kinds of honours bachelor's degree by Tripos , plural Triposes. The word has an obscure etymology, but may be traced to the three-legged stool candidates once used to sit on when taking oral examinations...
examinations, whose buildings were bought by HomertonHomerton College, CambridgeHomerton College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England.With around 1,200 students, Homerton has more students than any other Cambridge college, although less than half of these live in the college. The college has a long and complex history dating back to the...
in 1895. - University College, founded 1965, and re-founded in 1972 as Wolfson CollegeWolfson College, CambridgeWolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. Wolfson is one of a small number of Cambridge colleges which admit only students over the age of 21. The majority of students at the college are postgraduates, with around 15% studying undergraduate...
- University HallClare College, CambridgeClare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
, founded 1326, refounded as Clare Hall in 1338, renamed as Clare College in 1856. - New HallNew Hall, CambridgeMurray Edwards College is a women-only constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It was founded as "New Hall" in 1954, at a time when Cambridge had the lowest proportion of women undergraduates of any university in the United Kingdom, and when only two other colleges admitted women...
, founded 1954, and re-founded in 2008 as Murray Edwards College
See also
- List of Oxbridge sister colleges
- List of fictional Cambridge colleges
- Oxbridge scarf colours
- Colleges of the University of OxfordColleges of the University of OxfordThe University of Oxford comprises 38 Colleges and 6 Permanent Private Halls of religious foundation. Colleges and PPHs are autonomous self-governing corporations within the university, and all teaching staff and students studying for a degree of the university must belong to one of the colleges...