A
residential college is an organisational pattern for a division of a
university that places academic activity in a
community setting of students and faculty, usually at a
residence and with shared meals, the college having a degree of autonomy and a
federated relationship with the overall university. The term
residential college is also used to describe a variety of other patterns, ranging from a
dormitory with some academic programming, to
continuing education programs for adults lasting a few days. In some parts of the world it simply refers to any organized on-campus housing, an example being
University of Malaya.