All colleges have such basic facilities as a library, dining room, common room, bar, laundry and computing facilities. Most colleges provide their students with accommodation for at least two years. Colleges vary in their size, age and location, but most are within easy walking distance of the city centre. The Undergraduate Prospectus contains detailed information about each college and is a good starting point for students to make a shortlist of colleges in which they are interested. While most subjects are taught at most colleges and the colleges do not specialise in certain subjects, not every college offers every subject.
Some colleges offer undergraduates accommodation for the entire length of their degree.
The number of candidates applying to any one college can vary considerably from year to year and subject to subject. These ratios are openly available in the appendices at the back of the Undergraduate Prospectus. All subjects operate a pooling system whereby promising applicants to over-subscribed colleges are also considered by less well subscribed colleges. The number of places offered for each subject will vary between colleges. Students may wish to be in a larger or smaller group studying the same subject at the same college.