The smallest, oldest and most traditional-est of the Cambridge colleges, Peterhouse further tots up the superlatives, boasting the biggest gardens of any college and its inhabitants are among the happiest and friendliest of Cambridge students. The gardens are beautiful and extend to the college's own (now deerless) deer park. With high standards and fierce competition for places, even for Cambridge, Peterhouse sucks in the academic elite and spits them out into top jobs. It’s rich, well respected and, although less factually true today, the ‘old boys’ club’ jibes from fellow colleges still get hurled around. The College has a long history of invention, laying claim to the jet engine, the hovercraft and the computer among its impressive output.It is also ranked 14th in the Baxter Table.
| Sex ratio (M:F): 60:40 |
Founded: 1284 |
| Full-time u’grads: 258 |
Part-time: 0 |
| Postgrads: 145 |
Mature: n/a |
State:private school: 54:46
|
Disabled: n/a |
| Academic ranking: 18 |
International: 22% |
Ents: The Common Room has recently been refurbished with leather sofas and a flat screen TV. Music room (cap. 100) for clubbing and student bands, but College tutors disapprove if it gets too boisterous. Theatre (cap.180) for drama and classical concerts and a biennial ball. Peterhouse is one of only two colleges to host a white tie ball. Renowned theatre society (Heywood) produces and funds films. Assorted drinking and debating societies. Active JCR (known historically, as the Sexcentenary Club, and, irreverently, as ‘the Sex Club’) puts on bops every few weeks in the bar with themes ranging from Outer Space to drag queen's dream Miss Peterhouse. Borderline tasteless termly mag 'The Sex'.
Library: Huge library with 80,000 books, network points and five reading rooms. A light and airy place to work with lovely maple desks. Specialist Medieval Library the Pearne too. 16 computers, with net access all over the shop.
The CofE chapel is noted for its collection of Pre-Raphaelite stained glass.
Sports: Students are fairly athletic types on the whole, making use of eight acres of sports fields shared with Clare College a mile away, a croquet lawn, squash court and a gym on site plus a boathouse.
Accommodation: Accommodation is guarenteed for all undergraduates. Most students live in catered College-maintained or arranged housing (£65–120 a week – only paid in term-time), but there are a few self–catered halls or flats available for the fastest fingers. Most eat in the gorgeous dining hall and formals are a daily occurence, costing £4.50 with candles chucked in for good measure.
- Nurse
- Women’s advisors
- Hardship fund, prizes and scholarships. Alternative prospectus online.
FAMOUS ALUMNI
Thomas Campion (poet); Stephanie Cook (Olympic gold medallist); Richard Eyre (TV/theatre director); Augustus Fitzroy (Georgian PM); Colin Greenwood (Radiohead); Michael Howard MP (Con ex-leader); James Mason (actor); Dan Mazer (Ali G/Borat producer); Sam Mendes (director); Christopher Meyer (chair, Press Complaints Commission); David Mitchell, (comedian, ‘Peep Show’); Max Perutz (Nobel Prize winner); Michael Portillo (former Con MP and Cabinet Minister); Frank Whittle (jet engine inventor); Peregrine Worsthorne (journalist).