A message from the Master

If you are interested in applying to Selwyn College or have been offered an interview, your next step into university life is starting to become very real. So perhaps you are thinking: what is life at Selwyn really like?

We combine academic excellence with a strong, diverse community. This means you will be supported to stretch yourself academically, be among other people equally keen to learn from the brilliant academics who teach here, and have opportunities to explore your interests, whatever they are.

Here are a few things which make Selwyn stand out:

Academic support that works

Selwyn's academic results are some of the strongest in Cambridge, and we rank consistently in the top five. In 2025, Selwyn was ranked second in the Baxter Table and a close third in the Tompkins Table of Cambridge colleges. Some 38.2% of Selwyn undergraduates were awarded firsts, compared with a university average of just below 30%, a result only surpassed by Trinity. In 2025, sixteen students won University prizes and six were awarded starred firsts. Our female students achieved firsts at almost exactly the same rate as our male students – there is hardly any attainment gap. This contrasts with the pattern across the University where 25.3% of female candidates obtained firsts as opposed to 34.7% of males.

These results are possible because Selwyn's students are given the right support and guidance by our Fellows. Our academics are world-leading researchers and committed teachers who work closely with you. When you're thinking over a concept or approaching an essay, there's help available from your Director of Studies, your tutors, and the college staff, who create an open and friendly community which makes a real difference to your life here.

Who studies here

In 2024/25, 80% of our U.K. undergraduates came from state schools—one of the highest proportions in Cambridge. We've also met or exceeded all regulator targets for widening participation, welcoming students from areas with historically low university attendance. We also welcome students from across the world.

Selwyn was founded to make Cambridge accessible to students who could not otherwise afford it, and was one of the first colleges to admit women from 1976. This vision still shapes how the college works. For example, we have launched a short bridging course to help students prepare for what life here will be like before they start.

What community actually means

Selwyn is known for having a strong community, with people interested in different subjects and from different backgrounds all living and working together. It is an incredibly welcoming and warm place to be.

Cambridge can be intense and demanding. You need people around you who want you to succeed academically and as a whole person. It means college staff remember your name and notice if you're having a difficult time. It means being able to ask for help with confidence.

The practicalities

Selwyn has a fantastic location, right next to the Sidgwick site where humanities are taught, and close to the new West Cambridge science and technology site. The town centre is a 15-minute walk or five-minute cycle. We have beautiful gardens which are quiet and peaceful and accessible to the public.

Accommodation is guaranteed throughout your undergraduate course. First-years live in Cripps Court with en-suite rooms, and there are rooms in Old Court and Ann's Court. The library and auditorium opened only a few years ago. The kitchens prepare great food, and tea and coffee are available.

We also have fun

Selwyn has the full range of Cambridge facilities and activities so whatever your interests we will be encouraging you to get involved.  Students here take part in college and university-wide sport, act, write, make music and run societies.  We have a vibrant college choir which has been featured on the BBC frequently.  We believe in making time to pursue what matters to you alongside your studies.

If you're applying

Our admissions page and the Selwyn College Prospectus have the detailed information you need. Do visit if you can - nothing replaces seeing the place for yourself. You can follow us on Instagram or Facebook.

Suzanne Raine
Master