A thriving community in the heart of Cambridge

Why St John's?

If you’re reading this, you might be thinking about becoming a student at the University of Cambridge and applying to one of its 31 Colleges. Picking the place where you will live, study and socialise for the next few years, however, is no easy task. So, how do you choose and where do you start?

The good news is that whichever College you go for, you will still end up on the same course as everyone else. No Colleges are 'better' for certain subjects, and the trick is really to choose the one that suits you. In fact, if you ask students at St John’s about what inspired them to apply here, many of them will tell you that more than anything, it just felt right.

In spite of this, no two Colleges are exactly the same and each has its own distinctive identity. What’s more, because you live, sleep, eat, make friends and do a lot of your studying in College, the choice you make will define your Cambridge experience. So before you apply, it’s important to know what you’re getting.

New students having a picnic near New Court

The Study Here section of this website tells you a little more about what it’s like to be a student here at St John’s. With more than 300 new students joining us every year from all sorts of schools and backgrounds, we are one of the biggest Colleges in Cambridge, with a lively mix of people from all over Britain and across the world.

No matter who you are or where you come from, you will find like-minded people here with whom you will develop new ideas and forge lifelong friendships. You will also be living alongside academics who are undertaking world-changing research. However small your subject, there is someone here who can help you on your chosen path.

Partly because all our students are guaranteed accommodation throughout their time here, there is a strong sense of community. You will rarely be able to get from your room to the gym, the laundry, or to dinner, without running into someone you know, while the remarkable range of student-run clubs and societies means that there is always plenty going on.

Whatever your circumstances, if you think that you have what it takes to become part of our College, then we want to hear from you. Over the past few centuries, we've taught Nobel Prize winners, medics, engineers, artists, novelists, actors, statisticians, astronomers, entrepreneurs, Prime Ministers and many more - our Famous Johnians page gives a few examples. If you fancy joining that family, take a look around our website, or contact us to arrange an in-person visit.

A graduate outside the Great Gate