Accommodation overview
“You benefit from living in a friendly community that provides you with additional support and access to help whenever you need it”
Miruna, student
We guarantee on-site accommodation for undergraduates on three/four-year courses, and all first-year postgraduate students can be provided with college accommodation too.
Between two-thirds and three-quarters of postgraduate students can be accommodated by the College beyond their first year.
Living on campus means that you can easily access all of your college facilities and support services, leaving you free to concentrate on your studies and enjoy the benefits of life in college and at Cambridge. It’s one of the main advantages of Churchill College and helps build our strong sense of community.
Undergraduate accommodation
Undergraduates live in a communal court within the Churchill’s spacious gardens and sports grounds. Rooms are arranged around mixed staircases, shared by students from different subject and year groups. This means you meet a diverse range of people from across the college from the moment you arrive.
Our rooms are bigger than you might expect, and each comes with a window seat. You’ll never have to share a room and we guarantee all undergraduates accommodation for the duration of their 3-4 year course.
Over 40% of our rooms have en suite facilities – and all rooms have a sink. All have free wi-fi, access to shared bathrooms, laundry facilities and snack kitchens. Snack kitchens contain fridges and combination microwaves (ideal for making snacks, but not intended for complex cooking).
We’re a catered college with subsidised meal options, and cater for a great variety of dietary requirements. Eating in our Dining Hall is encouraged and an important part of life at Cambridge.
Postgraduate accommodation
The vast majority of Churchill’s postgraduate accommodation is part of the main college campus and facilities, alongside undergraduates and Fellows.
Most postgraduates live in large houses around the edge of the site, with their own gardens and communal facilities. Postgraduates can eat at the college dining hall or use the snack kitchens in their house.
Many postgraduates bring their families to Churchill College, and enjoy the gardens and play areas. Churchill has among the best provision for students with partners or families, with 45 flats and maisonettes.
Accessibility
We have five rooms that have been adapted for wheelchair users or those with restricted mobility. Detailed information on Cambridge’s provisions for students with disabilities is available from the University’s Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC). Don’t hesitate to get in touch, with us or the ADRC, if you have any questions or needs that you’d like to discuss.
As a relatively new college, we perform well for physical access. A full accessibility audit, engaging multiple stakeholders informs our strategy and progress.
Transport and parking
Students are usually only permitted a car in Cambridge if it is essential for academic study or for coping with a medical condition. We do have parking on site, but you’ll need to apply for a permit. Bikes are welcome and cycling is a cheap, fast and effective way of getting around Cambridge.
You’ll need to register your bike with the Porters’ Lodge; University regulations require it. This will help you recover your bike if it’s stolen. There are five locked bike stores on campus to keep your bike secure.
We also have a bike repair shop on-site, Cambridge Bicycle Workshop. It’s just off Churchill Road, near the staff car park.
Route U is the University bus for everyone subsidised by the University of Cambridge, and stops at the end of the road.
Insurance
By partnering with Endsleigh, the No.1 student insurance provider, we’ve arranged contents insurance for all our students staying with us in our residence. This insurance policy will cover you inside of your room for fire, flood and theft of your possessions, including your gadgets.
It is important to note that this cover will not provide protection if you were to accidentally damage any of your items, and it will not cover you when you take any of your possessions outside of your accommodation.
Ahead of arriving, it is really important you spend a couple of minutes to confirm your cover by downloading the My Endsleigh app or checking online. You will find all the important information you need to know, including what’s covered and what’s not covered on the policy.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Our Housekeeping and Maintenance team are here to help students keep their accommodation in good shape. Students can expect communal areas like kitchens, toilets, shower rooms and corridors to be cleaned regularly, but you are expected to keep your personal living areas clean and tidy. You’ll have a regular cleaner who visits, who will become a familiar face to you!
Standards
Churchill College is a member of the National Codes of Standards.
This offers students peace of mind in knowing that we follow professional standards of service.
The Code ensures that tenants receive good standards of housing management. Disputes and misunderstandings are rare, and where problems do occur they are resolved quickly. The benefits of living in student accommodation which complies with the Code include:
- Your contract is clearly written stating your rent amount and any other fees that you need to pay for, such as a deposit
- Your accommodation is ready for you at the beginning of term
- Your accommodation, including all furniture and fittings, are in a reasonable condition
- Your accommodation is secure
- Repairs and maintenance will be carried out within agreed timescales
- Your accommodation complies with health and safety standards which covers such things as fire prevention and electrical safety
- If a deposit is charged, you will know what it is for and it will be returned to you promptly at the end of the year with a clear explanation of any deductions
- A set procedure is in place to deal with disputes and complaints effectively.
