Collegiate Universities Explained

As a proud graduate of the University of Cambridge, where I studied at St John’s College, I often get asked about the unique, and sometimes confusing, collegiate system. St John’s, with its stunning courtyards, well established choir, and world famous may-ball , was known for its mix of tradition and academic excellence. But what really makes Cambridge (and a few other UK universities) different from the rest? Let’s break it down.

In the UK, universities generally fall into three categories:

1. Collegiate – Like Cambridge, Oxford, and Durham, where the university is made up of smaller, self-governing colleges.
2. City – Such as UCL or Manchester, where departments and facilities are spread across a city rather than a single site.
3. Campus – Like York or Warwick, where everything is contained in one location, often with a more modern feel.

Collegiate universities offer a unique blend of tight-knit community (through your college) and access to the wider university’s resources.

What Exactly Is a College?

Your college is your home base, where you’ll live, eat in the dining hall, and meet people from different subjects. Each has its own traditions, societies, and even sports teams. When applying to Cambridge or Oxford, you can either pick a college or submit an “open application” and be assigned one.

What Are Different Colleges Known For?

While all colleges provide a great education, lots have distinct, and sometimes downright wacky, reputations. King’s College, Cambridge, is famed for its choir and postcard-perfect chapel, while Trinity flaunts Nobel Prize winners, a towering library, and the dubious tradition of “trashing” (throwing flour and glitter) after exams. Over at Oxford, Christ Church doubles as a Harry Potter set, but its rival, Magdalen, steals the show with a deer park and a choir that sings from a medieval tower at dawn.