University of Cambridge offers admission to students from 141 different countries around the world. Out of about 24,500 students, 41.16% are of international origin, contributing to the diversity of the university. This by no means indicates any relaxation in their selectivity. Its acceptance rate is still among the world’s lowest at around 23% and admission to the University of Cambridge is not a cakewalk. Out of the total enrollment last year 14,380 were domestic and the remaining students came from different EU and non-EU nations. Among the 31 autonomous colleges of the university, Trinity College enrolled the maximum number of 900+ students.

International aspirants should aim to score well in their TOEFL-iBT (minimum 110) or ELTS (minimum 7.5) Exams to secure admission in Cambridge University. Along with that, students have to do well in their GMAT exams (minimum 630). Getting admitted to the University of Cambridge requires a lot more than 90% of your grades. A vibrant but genuine CV and an engaging statement are a must. The requirement of a personal statement for UK colleges will differ from your country’s, depending on your program, goals, and prior work experience.

How do the University of Cambridge and the colleges work?

• Cambridge has 29 undergraduate colleges. If anyone wants to apply to Cambridge, the process starts earlier than at other universities to allow time for all the application information to be gathered and considered.
• Graduates apply first to the university and choose a college preference on their application.
• If anyone’s considering a Cambridge Ph.D. then applications are considered on a rolling basis. An answer can be expected within eight weeks of submitting the application for most Ph.D. programs at the University of Cambridge.

Please ensure if the applied course needs an admission assessment. If a pre-interview is required, students will need to register well in advance. This should be done before the given deadline with the help of the assessment center.

Check Out: University of Cambridge Admission 2022 (Spanish)

University of Cambridge Admission Deadlines

31 autonomous colleges and six schools offer admission to more than 30 undergraduate and 167 master's programs at the University of Cambridge. University of Cambridge admission requirements of some of the popular ones amongst them are as follows:

Applicants are shortlisted based on the above documents and invited for the second round ie. interview. It is conducted either via skype or telephone. University shortlists approximately 75% of the total application for the interview round every year.

Note: CTMUA stands for the Cambridge Test of Mathematics for University Admission. It is conducted in late October or early November at the applicant’s school or a nearby center.

University of Cambridge Undergraduate Admission

The University of Cambridge comprises 29 full-time degree courses with about 25.7% of its undergraduate students coming from outside the UK. Offering the most coveted programs are Engineering, Management, Medicine, Education, and Sciences, there is a variety of UG courses offered by University of Cambridge.

Undergraduate Enrollments of University of Cambridge in 2020 by College

2023 application process for Univerversity of Cambridge graduate admission is as follows -

• Step 1 - Submit application via UCAS Application Portal.
• Step 2 - Pay the non-refundable application fee of £60 (5,850 INR)
• Step 3 - Submit the required documents within 15 October

Quick Fact: Personal statement or SOP for the UK differs a lot from other SOPs. These should include a maximum of 800 words with 90% of the SOP should be academic. These also differ based on the subject you are applying for.

University of Cambridge Admission Requirements for UG Programs:

• Academic transcripts
• Minimum grades required in at least five relevant subjects -
  • CISCE and NIOS: 90%
  • CBSE: A1
  • State Board: 95%
• English proficiency test scores of IELTS Academic and TOEFL iBT
• Personal Statement or SOP
• LOR provided a teacher/tutor/guidance counsellor
• Passport.

In addition to the completion of Class XII with minimum grades, Indian students have to satisfy the following additional criteria for University of Cambridge admission, depending on the program to which they are applying:

• Chemical Engineering, Engineering, Natural Sciences (Physical): Rank above 2000 in IIT- JEE (Advanced)
• Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics: STEP (minimum grade requirement varies with college)
• All other programs: College Board Advanced Placement Test with grade 5 in more than five tests.

For the majority of other South Asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, the completion of local high school is not enough. Applicants need to complete one of the following qualifications to be considered for admission at the University of Cambridge:

• GCSE:- GCSE results are considered as a performance indicator of the candidate.
• A-Levels: Applicants may be required to achieve A* in a particular subject(s), depending on individual circumstances.
• International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB):- Typical offers are 40-42 points out of 45, with 776 in Higher Level subjects. Applicants may be required to achieve 7 in a particular subject(s), depending on individual circumstances.
• Cambridge Pre-U Diploma:- Conditional offers are set on an individual basis but are likely to require the achievement of Distinction level grades (D2 or D3) in Principal Subjects.

University of Cambridge Graduate Admission

At this university, graduate work is considered highly intense and very intellectually demanding with a large number of academic entry requirements. International students can pursue around 167 PG courses at the University of Cambridge. In 2020-2021 admission, maximum international enrollments came from China, United Staes and India. A total of 1,901 Indian students took admission in graduate programs.

International Enrollments by Countries in 2020-2021

2023 application process for Univerversity of Cambridge graduate admission is as follows -

• Step 1 - Submit application via University Application Portal.
• Step 2 - Pay the non-refundable application fee of 75 GBP (7,312 INR)
• Step 3 - Submit the required documents.

University of Cambridge Admission Requirements for PG programs:

• A bachelor's degree in a relevant field with a minimum of 70%
• Academic transcripts
• English translation of non-English transcripts
• Proof of English proficiency (minimum score varies with the program)
• Personal Statement or SOP
• LOR provided a teacher/tutor/guidance counselor
• Interview (for some courses)

University of Cambridge Admission Requirements for Specific Courses

MBA in University of Cambridge

Admission to MBA in University of Cambridge has some specific requirements. Students are requested to go through the requirements carefully.

• Application Fee - 150 GBP (14,625 INR)
• Academic transcripts
• Work experience - Minimum 2 years, recommended 6 years
• GMAT score - Minimum 630, recommended 687 and above
• Recommendation - 1 recommendation from supervisor
• Student Visa
• Personal Statement - Up to 500 words
• Essay - 3 essays, up to 200 words each
• English language proficiency test scores

English Language Proficiency

Since the medium of instruction is English at the University of Cambridge, non-native English speaker candidates must achieve any one of the formal qualifications given below:-

Visa Application Process for International Students

In order to study in the UK, students coming from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland for more than six months must have a Tier 4 student visa. The visa application must be submitted immediately after receiving the enrollment offer.

Documents Required:

• A copy of a valid passport.
• Necessary Financial Documentation.
• If you are below 18 years of age, proof of parental or other legal guardian consent
• Tuberculosis Test results (as per the country’s requirements).

Candidates need to apply for a Tier 4 student visa at least 3 months before the starting date of their course. The date of the application is the same as the day of paying the visa application fee ie. 348 GBP. Visa applications can be submitted to the respective country of residence.

University of Cambridge Admission Decision

Time taken to assess the application differs a lot depending on the degree type and applicant pool. The Cambridge University admission decision for undergraduate applicants is usually announced before the end of January. If the candidate is offered a place, they will be informed by the respective college and through UCAS applicants need to reply. Admission decisions for graduate programs are announced within 3 months of the deadline. Approval of the following authorities is required for acceptance:

• At least two academic members of the department
• Relevant degree committee
• Postgraduate Admission Office

At the University of Cambridge, admissions decisions are based solely on academic criteria, i.e. the candidate’s ability and potential. All inquiries related to the admission decision are dealt with by the University of Cambridge colleges on an individual basis.

Also Check: University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate!

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