Set in lovely tranquil gardens, Selwyn’s been called Cambridge’s best-kept secret. It’s a bit of an exaggeration, but the cluster of pretty neo-Gothic buildings behind the arts faculties and across the road from Newnham College is certainly low-profile compared with the more raucous and renowned river colleges. Like most of Cambridge, it’s scarred with a Cripps building. Despite some interstellar academic results in recent years, it’s one of the more friendly colleges (rather like Pembroke, Robinson or Queens’), with a lively bar scene and not much in the way of any attitude.
| Sex ratio (M:F): 56:44 |
Founded: 1882 |
| Full-time u’grads: 350 |
Part-time: 0 |
| Postgrads: 200 |
Mature: n/a |
| State:private school: 54:46 |
International: 7% |
| Academic ranking: 1 |
Disabled: n/a |
Fun-stuffed bar hosts popular ‘Selwyn Sessions’; theatre and weekly bops in Selwyn Diamond (cap 600), live music in Main Hall and JCR; themed events; famed 'Snowball' at Christmas. 'Kiwi' is the long-running but sporadic College mag. Library (48,000 books); 23 computers. CofE chapel. Strong music scene, competent chapel choir. Sports fields, shared with King’s, are 600m away; rowing is quite a Selwynite forté. All can live in; varied accommodation, including 44 en-suite rooms in tasteful Ann’s Court; web access all over the shop but limited self-catering facilities, and some accommodation for disabled students. Decent college food, however, and two well regarded formal dinners a week. Nurse; free attack alarms. Bursaries, scholarships, and prizes are up for grabs.
FAMOUS ALUMNI
Clive Anderson (TV host); John Gummer MP (Con); Robert Harris (dads' airport author); Tom Hollander (actor); Simon Hughes MP (Lib Dem); Hugh Laurie (Brit comedian turned Hollywood deity); Malcolm Muggeridge (journo, media personality); Rob Newman (comedian, novelist).