Discover Downing Prospectus

Undergraduate accommodation

Downing is the newest of the 'old' Colleges and oldest of the 'new', and it is this unique combination of the traditional and contemporary that is reflected in all aspects of college life - especially our accommodation. 

We offer a traditional Cambridge experience, but with a choice of the highest standard of accommodation and exceptional modern facilities.  There are no shared rooms, over half have en-suite facilities, and every one with high-speed network connection and Wi-Fi.  Six purpose-built or adapted rooms are available for students with mobility issues and three rooms have been adapted for those with hearing impairments.  All accommodation includes some kitchen space with cooking facilities for making snacks and hot drinks, and our laundry facilities are free to use. 

Accommodation for undergraduates is either in College or in one of the College houses adjoining the main site. First-year students live in rooms in College near each other. In the second year, rooms are allocated by means of a student-run ballot, which is reversed in the third year to ensure fairness.

No hidden extras

We charge a fixed, all-inclusive College Rent with ‘no hidden extras’.  All electricity, heating, water, cleaning, maintenance, laundry and network services are included in our College Rent.  We do not make a separate termly catering facilities charge. Typically, undergraduate students need only budget for term-time accommodation. Rents for rooms are banded depending on the size of the room and the available facilities; a list of College Rent bands can be found here. 

Downing College students should not need to rent in the private sector.  Renting in the private sector is typically a more expensive and less-convenient option, due to termly or academic year rental contracts, with separate charges for heating, internet and other bills. 

Accommodation for Freshers

We house our first year undergraduates from all subjects together in the same part of college to help you forge new friendships in the first few months.  All our undergraduate rooms are single occupancy. You can view the first-year accommodation in our accommodation pages.

The College offers accommodation for three years of undergraduate study and provides some rooms for undergraduates preferring to remain in College accommodation for their final year of a four-year course.

Rooms at Downing

The different ages of the buildings at Downing means there is no such thing as a typical student room.  Accommodation ranges from modern study-bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms to spacious wood-panelled rooms in older parts of the College. Many rooms have splendid views of the Quadrangle. All rooms at Downing are centrally heated and well furnished, with high-speed internet access. All accommodation has access to kitchen and laundry facilities.

Downing College is signed up to the ANUK code of practice.