Aristocrat and poet Lord Byron was a student in Cambridge in the early 1800s. Byron wanted to keep a pet dog in his university rooms, but this turned out to be against the rules. So he brought a bear with him instead. Byron was famously described by his amour, Lady Caroline Lamb, as 'mad, bad and dangerous to know'.
Cambridge is home to one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world, giving it a rich intellectual history, and a bunch of extremely pretty buildings.
Best known for its legendary university, Cambridge is one of the most famous cities in merry England. With greenery galore and beautiful old buildings as far as the eye can see, it's a popular getaway-spot for Brits and tourists alike.
The University of Cambridge is one of the world's oldest universities and leading academic centres, and a self-governed community of scholars. Established in 1209, the University is rich in history.
11 Fascinating Facts About University of Cambridge
Is Cambridge older than Harvard?
Cambridge was founded in 1209 by a group of scholars who left Oxford after a dispute with townspeople. Harvard is a newcomer, having been founded in 1636.
The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209, and the University of Oxford over a hundred years earlier; the exact date of foundation is lost to history, though records of teaching date back to 1096.
Cambridge is an ideal student city, offering a unique combination of tradition, innovation and academic excellence. Located on the banks of the River Cam, the city provides students with access to world-renowned universities such as the University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin University.
Harvard University is one of the top private universities in Cambridge, United States. It is ranked #5 in QS World University Rankings 2023 and ranked #1 in US UNI. University of Cambridge is one of the top public universities in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is ranked #2 in QS World University Rankings 2023.
Cambridge is one of the best universities in the world.
Home to over 25,000 students from more than 140 countries, we offer undergraduate degree courses in the arts and humanities, social sciences, sciences and engineering.
Cambridge is a 'collegiate' university, which means it's made up of University faculties/departments in different academic subjects, and 31 Colleges. The University provides teaching and research supervision for postgraduate students, and the Colleges provide pastoral support within a stimulating academic community.
Why is Cambridge the best university in the world?
Its reputation for outstanding academic achievement is known world-wide and reflects the intellectual achievement of its students, as well as the world-class original research carried out by the staff of the University and the Colleges.
Many UK towns and cities are named after the rivers or seas that they grew up next to. Similar to Weymouth meaning “the mouth of the River Wey” or Plymouth meaning “the mouth of the River Plym”, Cambridge (pronounced Came-bridge not Cam bridge) means “the bridge over the River Cam”.
The town was built on the banks of the river Granta, which was only later renamed the Cam in honour of the town that had grown up around it. Originally, the river was called the Granta, so consequently Cambridge was first called ''Granta Brygg', it did not become Cambridge until much later.
Francis Crick's announcement to patrons of The Eagle pub that he and James Watson had "discovered the secret of life", the evening after their determination of the structure of the DNA molecule, has become a part of Cambridge folklore.
According to Varsity magazine, Cambridge is the second-most expensive city after the UK capital in terms of private rent. Cambridge is 39.3% cheaper than London in terms of rent and 15.5% cheaper than London in terms of consumer prices.
Before deciding where to apply, consider what you want to study. Oxford is currently ranked first in the world for English Language, Literature, Geography, History, and Modern Languages, and Cambridge University is most popular for History, Mathematics, and Archaeology.
Cambridge terms, like those at Oxford, are quite unique amongst UK universities, since each term is only 8 weeks long. These intense study periods are packed full of activity, and allow a deep focus on academic matters through lectures, supervisions*, and private study.
The cost of living in Cambridge is expensive. It is one of the least affordable places in the UK. The total cost will come to £1,071 per month excluding tuition fees. For more personalized information, use our cost of living calculator to estimate your desired area's average cost of living.
Cambridge offers intensive, rigorous, and demanding courses, so they want to be sure that the students who gain admission can keep up. The entry requirements for its most competitive courses, including Medicine, Computer Science and Architecture, are A*A*A-A*AA.
Consider, for instance, the inspiring story of one of the oldest students to grace the halls of Cambridge College: 92-year-old Carlos Rezende. Carlos Rezende was born in Guinea-Bissau in 1929 to Cape Verdean parents. At that time, both African colonies were under Portuguese rule, as they had been since the 1400s.
In fact, Cambridge is considered one of the safest cities in the UK, with Travel Safe Abroad giving this English fairy town a ranking of 78, unlike London, which ranks with an index of 68, followed by Oxford with 66.
