A little over 500m from King’s Parade is the elegant Downing College, a welcoming expanse of spacious lawns and neoclassical architecture from the last 200 years. It’s sat roughly where town meets gown geographically speaking, a tad further out than the other city centre colleges – perhaps this is why its students are more down-to-earth. The College is noted for sporting achievements, but if your idea of exertion is feeding the vast squirrel population then fear not, there’s plenty more on offer, including a thriving music society. Social indulgence can take precedence over banner-waving, but Downing students are active on the University-wide hack scene as well.
| Sex ratio (M:F): 53:47 |
Founded: 1800 |
| Full-time u’grads: 438 |
Part-time: 0 |
| Postgrads: 218 |
Mature: 1% |
| State:private school: 46:54 |
Disabled: 25 |
| Academic ranking: 3 |
International: 10% |
Large, plush student-run bar, longest hours in the University; popular baguette bar; student bands, jazz, orchestra, cabaret, films and drama in Howard Building (cap 120), luvvied-up drama soc shows in the Dining Hall; weekly bops in Party Room, cheesy/jazz/theme discos and karaoke; music practice rooms; annual ball. Bi-termly college mag, Griffin. Library (47,000 books); 40 computers, 24-hr access; intranet sockets in most bedrooms (£25 a term). CofE chapel; Student community action group. Sportilicious – strong on rowing, football, rugby and hockey; swanky boathouse plus nine acres of playing fields a mile away, gym on site. Everyone lives in; quality rooms (£57-£110 per week); CCTV, entry phones; two flats for couples; pay-as-you-eat meals; three candlelit formals a week; LGBT, Women’s, Men’s, Mature, International, Postgrad and Ethnic Minorities Officers; nurse, physio and nearby medical practice; free pregnancy tests and attack alarms; fortnightly women’s council meeting; good access, adapted rooms; hardship fund, travel grants.
FAMOUS ALUMNI
Michael Apted (director); Mike Atherton (former England cricket captain); Quentin Blake (illustrator); John Cleese (comedian); Nick Griffin (one-eyed BNP goon); Andy Hamilton (comedian & script writer); John RF Jeffreys (WW2 code-breaker); Clive King (author, Stig of the Dump); FR Leavis (critic); Thandie Newton (actress); Trevor Nunn (theatre director); Michael Winner (bad film director/restaurant critic/insurance peddler).