- Libraries:
- The University library is one of five copyright libraries in the country and as a result has the right to claim a copy of every new book published in the UK. Its collection is in excess of 6 million books and every year the number of new additions, if laid end to end, would stretch over a mile. Furthermore, every college has its own library and there are over 30 specialist libraries. Having said that, we couldn't find a copy of 'Calvin and Hobbes', so either it has been checked out, or the library is crap!
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- Computing:
- Computing facilities are generally pretty good, but this varies between colleges. The best bet is to try to bring your own.
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- Sports:
- Cambridge certainly has more than its fair share of sporting heros, including rugby and cricket captains, and world famous rowers. Every college has its own facilities to a varying degree, and besides acres of sports fields the university has little to call its own. All sports and societies are catered for (even some we hadn't heard of) and there is plenty of funding to redress any deficiencies.
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- Disabled Students:
- Cambridge wasn't really built for wheelchair access, and as many of the buildings are listed, access remains a problem. However, the University have tried to make the newer buildings as accessible as possible. Bridget's Hostel on Tennis Court Road, has special facilities for disabled people with ground floor accommodation and a care attendant. Professor Steven Hawking is a regular sight around university in his electric chair.
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- Student Welfare:
- CUSU does not have full time welfare staff, prefering to leave this job to the colleges. Each student has a tutor, who can refer students to the university welfare service. Most colleges have their own doctors and nurses, and the university operates a dental service.
The university does not have a creche, but it supports a local one, which is used by students. But beware, places are limited. Cambridge also has the largest Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Society in the UK.
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- Parking:
- We don't advise that you take a car to Cambridge. For a start the colleges (with the exception of the more remote colleges) ban students from parking cars at college. The city is largely pedestrian and being so small a car really isn't worth it. Rail and bus links to the rest of the country are good.
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- University Shops:
- There is a shop in the Cambridge University Student Union (CUSU), which sells stationery, newspapers and other basics. As for CUSU's other facilities, these include a photocopier, fax, condoms and minibus hire! CUSU really only exists to provide for the Junior Common Room's (JCRs) which provide amenities for students.
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- University Bookshops:
- Cambridge is full of bookshops with everything from 'just published', to 'published before records began'. Secondhand bookstores are popular and the University bookstore has a large range of academic resources.
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- Banking:
- All the major national chains have a branch or two in Cambridge.
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- Transport Policy:
- Cambridge is too small to bring a car and buses run regularly. Taxis are quite cheap (because you don't have to travel far) and some colleges have free taxi arrangements at night.
The Cambridge student on a bike, college scarf flapping in the wind is a cheesy stereotype, but the police have tried to put a stop to this by imposing a bike ban in the city centre. We are pleased to say that students largely ignore this, but beware of police citations for having no lights.
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- Green Areas:
- There are some lovely walks along the River Cam. Also, within each college there are plenty of grassy courts which are popular during the summer for studying...and unlike many other universities, they do study!
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