Britain’s second oldest university, in the town of Cambridge in eastern England. It has a high reputation for academic achievement. The university consists of a number of independent colleges, the oldest of which is Peterhouse (established 1284). Other famous colleges include Corpus Christi, King’s, Magdalene, Queens’ and Trinity. Most take both male and female students. Among the university’s famous buildings are King’s College chapel, the Bridge of Sighs and the Fitzwilliam Museum. Since the 19th century the university has been a major centre of scientific research, particularly at the Cavendish Laboratory .
See also Backs , tripos . Compare Oxford University . ➡ note at Oxbridge .