If you have college accommodation…
Generally, college accommodation as of good quality, most of them are inside or close to your College, and problems are sorted out fairly quickly by informing the Porters or contacting College Maintenance directly. The kitchen facilities are normally good and usually there are laundry facilities too.
If you do not have college accommodation (including temporary accomodation/ accommodation outside term time)…
Should you choose to stay in Cambridge over the holiday (Christmas break, Easter Break or in the Summer), you should arrange for accommodation in advance. Some colleges may allow international students to stay over the holidays- again you should check and arrange this with your own colleges. During term time, most undergraduate students will have their accommodation covered by their colleges. Graduate students on the other hand may only have limited provision of housing (eg. college accommodation provided in their first year). Below are some advices regarding accommodation search:
Where to look for accommodation?
1. University Accomodation Service
Address: Kellet Lodge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QJ
Tel: +441223 333316 and +441223 338099
Email: accommodation.service@admin.cam.ac.uk
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00-12:45 and 14:00-16:45You can register with the University Accommodation Service at their website. Alternative, go visit their office and they will be able to give you a list of places with rooms to rent and contact numbers, all for the cost of photocopying.
2. Ring other colleges.
Some Colleges have a surplus of accommodation and will accept students from other Colleges. Almost all of the College accommodation is subsidized, although this is soon to gradually start changing with many Colleges’ rents approaching market prices.
3. Cambridge Accommodation noticeboard
This is a very useful notice board with constant postings of rooms/flats/houses for rent.
4. Physical noticeboards
You can find them at the Graduate Union, the University Centre and in colleges and departments.
5. Cambridge Letting agencies – Database
Letting Agencies will find you somewhere for a fee of about £100. You will also need to collect references from your bank, which will cost you even more money. It is important to shop around the agencies to find the best deal and make sure you get a receipt for any payments you make. Also note that they cannot charge you for a list of available accommodation or circulating your name(s) to landlords.
6. Others
Check out the Cambridge Evening News (the most extensive ‘To Let’ listings)
Accommodation Costs
Market rents in Cambridge are not cheap. You should expect to pay approximately the following, or maybe even higher:
* estimated figures – for general reference only
It is possible to find cheaper accommodation if you are prepared to travel and do not mind the area you live in.
More information on how to find a place to live in Cambridge can be found on the Cambridge University Graduate Union website.
Accommodation for Temporary Stay
There are several places where you can stay whilst sorting out your permanent accommodation for your stay in Cambridge.
1. College guest room
It may be possible to rent college guest rooms (depends on college) for a few nights while you find somewhere to live. These rooms are usually conveniently located on College grounds.
2. Youth Hostel
Cambridge Youth Hostel (YHA)
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YMCA
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3. Look up at the websites below for available listings:
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