Best Student Accommodation near University of Cambridge, Cambridge

Studying at Cambridge means learning through a teaching model that few universities can match. Alongside lectures and practical classes, students take part in supervisions, small-group teaching sessions where they discuss ideas, solve problems, and receive personalised feedback from leading academics. This approach encourages independent thinking while providing close academic support throughout your degree.

Cambridge also offers exceptional research and career opportunities. Located at the heart of the Cambridge Cluster (Silicon Fen), the university has strong links with research institutes, biomedical organisations, global technology companies, and innovative startups, providing valuable opportunities for internships, research, networking, and graduate careers.

Student life is equally distinctive thanks to Cambridge's collegiate system. Each college has its own accommodation, dining hall, library, sports clubs, and societies, creating a welcoming community while giving students access to the resources of a world-renowned university. Combined with the city's walkable streets, cycling culture, and rich academic heritage, Cambridge offers a student experience that successfully blends tradition with innovation.

Cambridge offers programmes across six academic schools, covering a broad range of disciplines from the arts and humanities to medicine, engineering, and technology:

• School of Arts and Humanities
• School of Biological Sciences
• School of Clinical Medicine
• School of Humanities and Social Sciences
• School of Physical Sciences
• School of Technology

The University of Cambridge offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Some of its most popular courses include:

• Medicine
• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Mathematics
• Natural Sciences
• Law
• Economics
• English

The University of Cambridge provides a supportive environment while offering students access to its extensive academic, research, and extracurricular opportunities across the city.

Clubs & Societies(more Cambridge-specific)

Cambridge is home to hundreds of student-run clubs and societies, ranging from debating, music, and theatre to entrepreneurship, coding, and sustainability. Many are linked to individual colleges as well as the wider university, giving students plenty of opportunities to meet people beyond their course. Traditions such as the Cambridge Union Society, college music groups, and rowing clubs are an important part of student life.

Libraries & Study Spaces

Students have access to one of the world's largest academic library systems. Alongside the historic Cambridge University Library, each college has its own library, while faculties provide specialist collections, quiet study spaces, laboratories, and research facilities. This means students are rarely far from a place to study, whether they're preparing for supervisions or conducting research.

Sports & Fitness

Sport is deeply embedded in Cambridge life, with students able to represent both their college and the university. Alongside gyms, sports halls, squash courts, athletics facilities, and boathouses, rowing remains one of Cambridge's most iconic traditions, culminating in the annual Boat Race against Oxford. Students can also participate in hundreds of recreational and competitive sports through the Cambridge University Sports Service.

Food & Social Life

Every Cambridge college has its own dining hall, café, and social spaces, creating a strong sense of community. Many colleges also host Formal Hall, where students enjoy traditional candlelit dinners, while annual events such as May Week, college balls, and the May Bumps rowing races are highlights of the academic calendar. Beyond college life, students spend time in independent cafés, riverside pubs, museums, and along the River Cam, where punting is a favourite pastime.

The University of Cambridge provides a wide range of services to support international students to settle into academic and everyday life.

• Visa & Immigration Support: Guidance on visas and immigration.
• Orientation & Transition Support: Pre-arrival guidance, welcome events, induction programmes, and resources to help students settle into life at Cambridge.
• Personal tutors, Directors of Studies, and supervisors: Provide academic and pastoral support.
• Health & Wellbeing Services: Counselling, mental health and wellbeing support, disability services, and guidance on registering with a local GP and accessing NHS healthcare.
• Career Support: Guidance through the University of Cambridge Careers Service, including careers advice, internships, employer events, and graduate opportunities.

Student accommodation near the University of Cambridge  includes a range of options, including flats available for single or shared use, with prices starting at around £800 per month.

• Scholars View: A modern student accommodation offering various en-suites and studios with accessible options. Amenities include Wi-Fi, laundry, and social areas.

• Student Castle Cambridge: Shared apartments, studios, and twin studios, ideal for different student budgets. Offers a range of facilities, including Wi-Fi, laundry, study rooms, and an on-site gym. 

• Stellaris: A practical accommodation option of en-suite rooms and studios, with access to Wi-Fi, laundry, an on-site cinema room, study rooms, and an on-site gym.

• Castle Hill: An affordable option for students on a budget, with essential amenities such as Wi-Fi, laundry, a gym, and CCTV for added security.

• Anglia House: A student housing offering en-suites and studios, with student-friendly facilities such as Wi-Fi, laundry, a communal games room, a garden, study rooms, and CCTV.

Cambridge City Centre

Typical Monthly Student Rent: £800 - £1,200

Cambridge City Centre is the most convenient location for many University of Cambridge students, with easy access to colleges, faculties, libraries, shops, cafés, and cultural attractions. Most university buildings are within walking or cycling distance, making it ideal for students who want to minimise any sort of commuting. Despite accommodation in the city centre being among the city's most expensive, the central location, historic surroundings, and student atmosphere make it among the popular places to live in Cambridge. Students can also relax by the iconic King's College Chapel or enjoy punting along the River Cam between lectures.

Mill Road

Typical Monthly Student Rent: £700 - £950

Mill Road is one of the most popular student neighbourhoods in Cambridge, with a lively, multicultural atmosphere featuring independent cafés, restaurants, supermarkets, and local shops. Located around a 10-20 minute cycle from most university colleges, it remains well connected to the city centre while maintaining a student-friendly vibe. Its mix of shared houses and student accommodation makes it suitable for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. You can explore Mill Road's independent cafés, international restaurants, artisan bakeries, and vintage shops during your free time, which give the neighbourhood its distinctive character.

Newnham

Typical Monthly Student Rent: £750 - £1,000

Newnham is a peaceful residential neighbourhood located just west of the city centre. Popular with postgraduate students and those seeking a quieter lifestyle, it offers green spaces, riverside walks, local cafés, and convenient cycling routes to many university departments and colleges. The area's relaxed atmosphere and strong sense of community make it an attractive option for students who value a balance between study and city life. Students are also within easy reach of Lammas Land, a popular riverside park with open green spaces, walking and cycling paths, and scenic views along the River Cam.

Chesterton

Typical Monthly Student Rent: £650 - £900

Chesterton is a well-connected neighbourhood north of the city centre, offering a range of student housing at comparatively affordable prices. The area features supermarkets, cafés, parks, and everyday amenities, with excellent cycling routes and regular bus services to the university. Its quieter residential feel and good value for money make it a popular choice for students looking to manage their living costs while remaining within easy reach of campus. Students can easily visit Jesus Green, a popular riverside park that's ideal for picnics, sports, and relaxing outdoors.

Overall Typical Monthly Student Rent

Student Accommodation Costs

Average Monthly Living Expenses for Cambridge Students

Here is an average monthly estimate for living expenses for students in Cambridge:

Note: These figures are based on the University of Cambridge's estimated undergraduate living costs and are intended as a general guide. Your actual expenses may vary depending on your lifestyle, accommodation choice, and whether you remain in Cambridge during university vacations

Getting around the University of Cambridge is relatively easy thanks to the city's compact layout and excellent cycling infrastructure. Most colleges, faculties, libraries, and student accommodation are within walking or cycling distance of one another, making bicycles the preferred mode of transport for many students. Cambridge also has a reliable bus network and convenient rail connections for travel within the UK.

Public Transport

Cambridge is served by an extensive bus network operated primarily by Stagecoach East and Whippet, connecting the city centre, university sites, residential neighbourhoods, and nearby towns. Whippet also operates the university's Universal (U1 and U2) bus services, linking key locations such as Eddington, West Cambridge, Cambridge railway station, and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

The Cambridge railway station provides regular rail services to London, Birmingham, Norwich, Stansted Airport, and other major destinations across the UK. Students can also save on train fares by using a 16-25 Railcard or 26-30 Railcard, subject to eligibility.

Cycling

Cycling is the most popular way to travel around Cambridge, with dedicated cycle lanes, bike parking, and largely flat streets making it easy to get between colleges, lecture halls, libraries, and accommodation. Most students own or hire a bicycle, and the university provides cycle parking across many of its sites. The city's cycling culture makes commuting both convenient and environmentally friendly.

Walking

Many parts of Cambridge can be explored on foot, particularly within the city centre where colleges, museums, libraries, cafés, and shops are located close together. Students living in central neighbourhoods such as Cambridge City Centre, Newnham, or Mill Road can often walk to lectures, social events, and university facilities in under 30 minutes.

Airports & Travel

Cambridge is well connected for both domestic and international travel. London Stansted Airport is the closest major airport and can be reached by direct train in around 30-40 minutes, making it a popular choice for international students. London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport are also easily accessible by rail and coach. From Cambridge railway station, students can reach London King's Cross in around an hour, making weekend trips and travel during university holidays simple and convenient.

• King's College Chapel: One of Cambridge's most iconic landmarks, renowned for its Gothic architecture, famous choir, and stained-glass windows.
• The Fitzwilliam Museum: A free museum showcasing impressive collections of art, antiquities, manuscripts, and historical artefacts from around the world.
• The Backs: A picturesque riverside area behind several Cambridge colleges, offering scenic walking routes, green spaces, and some of the city's best views.
• Cambridge University Botanic Garden: A 40-acre botanical garden home to thousands of plant species, providing a peaceful setting for walks, study breaks, and seasonal displays.
• Market Square: A lively city-centre marketplace where students can browse food stalls, independent traders, handmade crafts, and fresh produce.
• River Cam: Cambridge's most famous waterway, where students can enjoy punting, riverside walks, cycling routes, and views of the city's historic colleges.