St Catherine’s College is a modern college and most of its buildings are accessible. It is located near to the city centre, the Science Area and most University faculties and libraries (the English, Law and Economics faculties are literally next door) yet is surrounded by meadows and parks. The College has admitted students who were wheelchair users and would gladly consider changes to buildings thought necessary by a disabled applicant.

College Site

The car park is on the left as you enter the College from Manor Road. The Porters’ Lodge in the Arumugam Building, to which there is level access, is next to the car park. Members of the College with the disabilities, who need to use a car, are eligible for car parking permits, and will be given priority in the allocation of car parking spaces. There is flat access from here to the Main Quad off which most facilities are found. All the staircases are opened with a keypad that is at a suitable height for those in a wheelchair.

The Library has flat access from Main Quad through two heavy wooden doors. Whilst many of the books are stored on the upper level the Librarian is willing to fetch them if necessary. The Bernard Sunley Building is next to the Library and has flat access to the Middle Common Room, a teaching room and to the base of the lecture theatre. There is a wheelchair platform lift  to the teaching rooms and law library on the first floor. The computer rooms adjacent to the Junior Common Room and  in Staircase 18 adjacent to the car park have flat access. All of the administrative offices are adjacent to the Senior Common Room and have flat access from the car park.

The Dining Hall and Junior Common Room (spacious college bar, TV area, email room and music practice room) are located in a separate building that has flat access from the Main Quad and car park. Inside, they all have flat access and moveable chairs or benches. The laundry is in a separate building which also has flat access. The College gym also has ramped access.

The Bernard Sunley Building, Mary Sunley Building and JCR lecture theatres have induction loops that can be enabled on request.

Automated door access is present in the Lodge, Staircase 20, JCR entrance, Library external entrance and Bernard Sunley Building east entrance.

Accommodation

The vast majority of undergraduates live in college for three years. There are ground floor bedrooms suitable for wheelchair users. All study-bedrooms have internet access and the possibility of a telephone connection.

There are six bedrooms with en-suite facilities and adapted shower rooms which are situated in Staircases 17, 18 19 and 20 adjacent to the car park. The College has a further 40 ground floor bedrooms with en-suite shower rooms for students.

Catering

Students eat in Hall on a ‘pay as you eat’ basis.