Nancy Belasko is the American widow of a big business tycoon who leaves L.A. to take her 20 year old son to Cambridge University. It just so happens that her late husband had invested in a college there, and now that she is penniless she hopes to call in a few favours.

Her 20 year old son, Jake, is far from academically brilliant but, as far as Nancy is concerned, he deserves a chance and so, by hook or by crook, she installs him as a student among the brightest young people in England.

Jake proceeds to take his opportunity with both hands, winning the affections of the aristocratic Lucy Courtney, secretary to wacky college master Sir Dickie Hobhouse. Meanwhile, Nancy finds herself a job at the university, working as assistant bursar alongside stick-in-the-mud don Dr. Basil Quinn, and sharing hall residence with tutor Simon Latimer, who helps her through the arcane customs and practices of English varsity life.