Cambridge New Hall - Student Life

Housing: All students housed (£1500 pa for shared room, £2500 for ensuite).

Eats: Cafeteria system (meal costs £2-£2.50 average), excellent vegetarian selection. Formal hall (silver service) on Tuesday evenings and some Fridays. No breakfast provided. 5 mins' walk to shops. Large selection of restaurants in town, eg Browns, Pierre Victoire, Cafe Rouge.

Drink: Revamped college bar very cheap (£1.35 a pint) with weekly happy hour and regular entertainment/bar games to boot.

Nightlife: Reputation for excellent, regular events (incl student bands from all over UK, Dave Clarke, Fierce, Fabio & Grooverider). Student nights at Fez Club, Life, Ballare, Coco. Big events and comedy tours at The Junction.

Locals: Generally OK; occasional town & gown tension. No areas unsafe for students.

Sports: New multigym, squash court, 2 tennis courts, large boat club. Most sports represented by college teams.

Travel: Travel grants and vacation study grants available.

Annual living costs: The minimum amount students say you need to live on each year (covering all living expenses but excluding tuition fees) is £5350.

Financial help: Available.

Jobs: Not allowed during term. 5-10% get work locally out of term, 50% elsewhere.

Best features: Relaxed atmosphere; great ents; friendly and open college.

And worst: The hill from town to college and incorrect perceptions about all-female colleges.

More info: Write to JCR President, Kate Hodges (kah48(at)cam.ac.uk)

Past students: Tilda Swinton (actress), Joanna MacGregor (concert pianist), Sonia Ruseler (TV news presenter), Sue Perkins (comedienne), Claudia Winkleman (presenter), Lisa Burke (Sky Weather), Jane Rogers (author), Jocelyn Bell-Burnell (discoverer of pulsars), Haruko Fukuda (World Gold Council), Barbara Stocking (Director of Oxfam), Frances Edmonds (author & broadcaster), Julia King (Institute of Physics). Deborah Swallow (Director Courtauld Institute).