The Cambridge College Guide

Welcome to our Cambridge College guide where you can learn more about the history, location and everything you would need to know about living and studying at Cambridge Summer School.

With its celebrated history and culture, few places can capture your imagination as much as the city of Cambridge. As well as being home to Cambridge University, the city is also world-renowned for being home to some of the most exciting and innovative tech start-ups. This blend of tradition and innovation makes it one of the most exciting places to study.

The City of Cambridge

The city of Cambridge itself is located on the River Cam about 50 miles from London, and has an estimated population of 129,000, including 25,000 students. This makes it the second-largest city in Cambridgeshire and the 54th largest city in the U.K. overall.

The River Cam winds through the centre of the city and is best explored by punting, where you can get off and explore Cambridge’s shops, parks and museums.

London Stansted is south of the city and is roughly an hour away and Cambridge is well connected by train to the capital.

Of all of the university towns throughout England, Cambridge is the one which has that quintessential University town feel and there’s plenty close by for students to explore in their free time.

Places to explore  

During their free time students will be spoilt for choice for places to explore. Whether students are eager to broaden their cultural horizons with museums and galleries, are looking to take in the city’s unique atmosphere over a coffee, or are simply excited by shopping and souvenirs. Cambridge has something for all.

• Cambridge University – Although Cambridge College does not take place at the university itself nor is part of it, you certainly shouldn’t miss King’s College, which is famed for its choir and towering Gothic chapel, as well as Trinity, founded by Henry VIII, and St John’s, with its 16th-century Great Gate. On foot, King’s College and the delightful Clare Bridge are about half an hour walk from the student accommodation.
• Cambridge Science Museum – Our scientists, engineers and medics will love the interactive exhibitions, workshops and shows celebrating science and technology just ten minutes round the corner from their accommodation.
• Parker’s Piece – Cambridge’s most famous green space, perfect for throwing a frisbee, chilling with new friends, and if it rains there’s a Starbucks opposite. With its 25 grassy acres of pathways and pitches, legend has it that Parker’s Piece is reputed to be the birthplace of the rules of football.
• Cambridge University Botanic Garden – What better place for our Natural Scientists? Or for anyone with a love of nature. A treasure trove of over 8,000 plant species is a short 10 minute walk away from Tripos Court.
• The Fitzwilliam Museum – See everything from Egyptian coffins to Impressionist masterpieces. Home to over half a million objects, the Fitzwilliam has an amazing variety of beautiful artefacts and art from all around the globe.
• Market Square coffee & cake – In the city centre students can enjoy Market Square where stalls have been trading at this historic market since the middle ages.
• Relevant Record Cafe – For those with an ear for great music, there’s a fantastic independent record shop and cafe close by.
• The Centre for Computing History – On the same side of the city students will love the computer and video game museum with a collection of vintage computers and retro game consoles.
• Rose Crescent – For students looking to fill their suitcases with stylish clothes they will have a great time checking out this 19th Century street full of unique shops.
• Grand Arcade – At the heart of Cambridge, the Grand Arcade is an award-winning shopping mall spread over two stories and houses a John Lewis department and Apple store.
• Sarah Key, The Haunted Bookshop – There are no end of great bookshops to choose from in Cambridge, but are they all haunted? If you’re a fan of the supernatural why not take a visit and discover for yourself if the bookshop is truly haunted!

Sancton Wood Alumni

Among its alumni at Sancton Wood, the school can be enormously proud of rising star Alice Hewkin, who has in recent years starred in hit Netflix series Sex Education, The Crown and Emily in Paris. Alice did the final year of her GCSEs at the school.

You’ll take part in an entrepreneurial Design Sprint to put everything you’ve learned into practice by starting your own business or inventing a new product. Authentic Industry Experience, meeting specialists in the field of business, and visiting genuine workplaces are also a benefit of this course.

Budgeting and finance, marketing, sustainability and growth, as well as the development of communication skills vital for corporate success are all topics covered in during the Business course.

Accommodation and school

Students attending our Cambridge Summer School will reside in a purpose-built student accommodation building called Tripos Court.

Tripos Court

At Tripos Court students will be able to unwind in their cosy en suite single rooms, whilst enjoying all of the modern comforts of everyday student living. Tripos Court is under a mile away on foot from Sancton Wood School, and has walking distance access to the local shops and town centre.

Facilities

Tripos Court comes with communal social and study areas, on-site laundry, communal kitchenettes, in-room safes, and WiFi.

Cherry Hinton

At Cherry Hinton, students have the option to socialise in the on-site common room or relax in their comfortable single en-suite bedrooms, at a site which serves all year round as an International School.

Sample Excursions

Each year our excursions may vary as we continually look at providing the most exciting and educational excursion programme for our students, but in previous years students get to enjoy visits to:

Oxford

In Oxford, we’ll visit some of the city’s most famous colleges as well as the unmissable Radcliffe Camera and The Bridge of Sighs, and a trip to Oxford cannot go without punting on the River Thames. So by the end of your visit you will be able to be a good judge on whether you prefer Oxford or Cambridge.

London

In London, students will have the opportunity to explore some of the capital’s most famous landmarks including: The Knightsbridge Museums (Science, Natural History, V&A), Covent Garden for shopping, Greenwich – National Maritime Museum, Meridian Line, Cutty Sark, Greenwich park, views over London, AThames boat trip as well as some free time for shopping in Covent Garden.

Conclusion

We hope our guide to SBC’s Cambridge Summer Schools has got you as excited about the coming summer as we are, and we hope you have a much clearer picture of all the fantastic opportunities on the horizon in this truly unique and historical university city.

If there are any questions or queries in which you would like more information on then our dedicated admissions team are always on hand to answer any of your queries and are here to help you every step of the way.