Childcare Office
Accommodation
Finding accommodation in Cambridge that is suitable for families can be problematic. Not all Colleges have accommodation suitable for parents and children and it is worth checking whether you will be able to live in College accommodation for the duration of your course, which will offer you some security. If your College cannot provide you with appropriate accommodation, the University's Accommodation Service could help you find somewhere to live. They deal with the central University-owned flats and houses that can be rented to students with families as well as private rental properties.
The private rental market in Cambridge is very expensive. However, you may be eligible to claim Housing Benefit with private rental as well as College or University-owned properties.
College Family Accommodation
For a rough overview of which Colleges provide family accommodation please see the table below. For further insight into College accommodation, contact the Colleges individually (many include accommodation details on their websites).
| College | 2010-11 | College | 2010-11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christ's | Magdalene | ||
| Churchill | *** | New Hall | |
| Clare | * | Newnham | |
| Clare Hall | ** | Pembroke | |
| Corpus Christi | * | Peterhouse | * |
| Darwin | ** | Queens' | |
| Downing | Robinson | ||
| Emmanuel | St Catharine's | ||
| Fitzwilliam | * (1 unit) | St Edmund's | ** |
| Girton | * | St John's | *** |
| Gonville & Caius | * | Selwyn | * (1 unit) |
| Homerton | Sidney Sussex | ||
| Hughes Hall | Trinity | *** | |
| Jesus | X | Trinity Hall | |
| King's | * | Wolfson | ** |
| Lucy Cavendish | * |
Key
| No family accommodation available | |
| * | Limited family accommodation available (less than 5 units) |
| ** | Up to 20 units of potential family accommodation |
| *** | 20+ potential family units |
| X | Building work is taking place in 2011 which is causing major disruption to the availability of accommodation. For more information please contact the college directly. |
The information provided in this table is based on data obtained by the Childcare Information Service from Colleges, 2011. Please contact the Childcare Information Adviser with any discrepancies. If you are able, it's a good idea to ask to look around the different College-provided family accommodation as standards and sizes vary. A family accommodation “unit” at a College can be anything from a house with 3–4 bedrooms to (more commonly) a small flat with 1 double and 1 small bedroom.
Finding Accommodation Outside College: University and private sector
The University Accommodation Service can help you find a suitable place to live. Register to enable a full search of their online property database. They have a large selection of University properties, including the West Cambridge residences which are located near to the University Nursery at West Cambridge. They also have a large database of private properties, although the Service does not advise that you take any private property sight-unseen. Many of their clients either visit ahead of their stay or ask a local contact to view properties on their behalf.
The Accommodation Service welcomes enquiries either by email, phone or in person. See contacts for opening hours, location and contact information.
Other information on accommodation can be obtained from property agencies in Cambridge, from noticeboards in the University Centre and the Graduate Union and the Cambridge Evening News property section. The University website has a discussion forum that includes accommodation advertisements. The Cambridge Accommodation Notice Board may also be helpful.