Frequently asked questions concerning applications and assessments can be found on our applicants' FAQ page.
How can we find out more about Peterhouse?
Parents and carers are welcome to attend our Open Days, however please note that if sessions are oversubscribed then priority will be given to prospective applicants. Unfortunately it is not possible to offer parents accommodation on our Open Days. If you can't make it to one of our Open Days, the Admissions Team are happy to show you and your son or daughter around Peterhouse at another time, or to answer any questions by phone or email. Please do get in touch if you would like to arrange such a visit.
How can we help our son or daughter choose the right course?
The choice of course will have arguably the biggest impact on your son or daughter's time at university. They should consider their own interests and abilities and choose a subject because they want to study it. Peterhouse offers a range of courses and further information on each can be found on the University website and on the websites of the individual faculties and departments. The BeCambridge website offers more resources on how to approach course choice.
What kind of job can my son or daughter get after they graduate?
It is also important to bear in mind that their choice of course won't limit their options later and Cambridge graduates go on to an incredible range of careers from each of our courses, thanks in part to the range of transferable skills all of our courses develop. A Cambridge degree requires hard work and intelligence, and this is recognised by employers all over the world. All Cambridge students are automatically life-long members of the University Careers Service, so whether your son or daughter is looking for work placements over the University vacation, or needs help with their CV after graduation, or decides they want a career change 10 years after graduating, the UCS's doors are always open.
My son or daughter has additional needs - will they be able to find support?
We encourage all applicants to disclose any disabilities/learning difficulties they have as part of their application. If they declare this on UCAS, we will send them an adjustment form so we can make appropriate arrangements for interview (access requirements, larger print, longer time in tests, etc). If your son or daughter has been disadvantaged through circumstances outside their control which have limited their academic achievements, they can ask a teacher/doctor/lawyer/social worker or other relevant professional to submit an Extenuating Circumstances Form on their behalf. This allows us to assess their achievements in the appropriate context. The University also provides additional support for applicants and current students, for example through the Disability Resource Centre.
How should candidates prepare for interview?
Details of what to expect at interview can be found on our pages for current applicants. In general, candidates should be able to tackle the questions they are asked based on the knowledge they have through their schoolwork and no extra preparation is required. The interviewers will be looking to see how the candidates can apply their existing knowledge to new and unfamiliar problems, and if they can back up their arguments logically and with evidence, rather than looking to test their depth of their knowledge.
What financial support is available?
Information about financial support is available on our Finance at Peterhouse and Student Support pages. Most support is organised centrally, through the government, Student Finance and the University, but Peterhouse does provide hardship grants, scholarships and book and travel grants to students. The University has made a commitment that no Home student should be deterred for financial reasons. In fact, since accommodation is provided by Colleges for the entire length of the undergraduate courses, being a student of Cambridge can often work out cheaper than being a student elsewhere.
What other support is available at Peterhouse?
We are proud of our tight-knit community and we look to provide as much support as necessary, in whatever form we can. As a small College we are able to pay a lot of attention to detail, so your son or daughter will be looked after as an individual rather than just another student. All students are assigned two members of academic staff at the beginning of their time with us who remain responsible for that student until they graduate. One of these is a Director of Studies ('DoS'), who is a Fellow in the student's subject, responsible for the student's academic progress. The other is a Tutor, who is Fellow in another subject, and is responsible for the student's pastoral care, who can represent the student should they face difficulties. Your son or daughter's Tutor is there to act as the first port of call for any problems relating to finance, health or personal issues or indeed academic issues which cannot be discussed with the Director of Studies. Finally, the Cambridge University Students' Union and the Peterhouse JCR (i.e. College Students' Union) both elect members of the student body to act as Welfare Officers, who represent the best interests of students to the University or College.
What is the accommodation like?
Information about the accommodation can be found in our 'Life at Peterhouse' section. At Peterhouse we guarantee our students accommodation onsite for the length of their undergraduate course. All of our undergraduate accommodation is within 3 minutes walk of the dining hall, bar and common room and less than 10 minutes walk from the centre of the city. Most rooms are singles with bathrooms and kitchen facilities shared with around 4 other students, other rooms are en-suite or have shared living areas (with separate bedrooms) so students can choose to live with a friend after their first year. We will never make students share, and there is no shared first year accommodation.
We work on the assumption that all students will live in so students don't have to apply for accomodation as at other universities. We will email offer-holders in June/July to ask about their preferences so we can find a room which will suit.
Being on the College site means that our accommodation is very secure. The Porters' Lodge is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and our Porters carry out regular patrols of the site, as well as acting as friendly figures about College who can give advice on where to go in town, how to fix a broken bike, deliver post, or administer first aid if necessary.
What is the food like?
Information about meals can be found in our 'Life at Peterhouse' section.