2012entry

Applying to Cambridge: advice for teachers, tutors and HE advisers

Welcome

Please note

This guide is intended to be used inconjunction with the informationprovided in the Undergraduate Prospectusand on the Undergraduate Admissionswebsite (www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/).

Contents

2 Why Cambridge?

3 Applying to Cambridge

7 The selection procedure

12 Working with schools and colleges

Inside back cover Further information and advice

Dear Teacher, Tutor or HE AdviserWelcome to the latest edition of Applying to Cambridge. We value enormously the support andencouragement that you give to students who may be thinking of applying here, and hopethat this brief compendium of information and advice will be a helpful companion to theUndergraduate Prospectus and Undergraduate Admissions website.

Following last year’s general election, the education sector as a whole is facing a period of fast-moving change and uncertainty. The pace of change is such that we have been forced topublish our 2012 entry Undergraduate Prospectus and associated literature before key details,such as fee levels and fee waiver/bursary support arrangements, are known. We will, of course,publish this important information on our website as soon as we can. Meanwhile the need foreffective communication between HE and schools and colleges has never been greater.

With this in mind, I would like to draw your attention to the area of our UndergraduateAdmissions website dedicated to teachers and advisers. This is being updated and extendedon a regular basis. I would also encourage you to go there to sign up for our E-newsletter forteachers, tutors and HE advisers, if you have not done so already.

I’m sure you will be interested in hearing our experience of the new A* grade at A Level. Asyou will know, we changed our standard offer for 2010 entry to A*AA. The students we madeoffers to rose to this challenge magnificently: Cambridge offer-holders obtained an average of2.5 A* grades each and accounted for 10 per cent of all the A* grades awarded nationally.Importantly, and contrary to what many commentators predicted, our offer-holders from thestate and independent sectors did equally well.

In my foreword to last year’s edition, I mentioned the high incidence rate of misleading orinaccurate information about the University being published in the media. Disappointingly therate has not reduced over the past 12 months. In an effort to communicate our side of thesestories we have set up an area on our website called Behind the Headlines, where you can readour perspective on these issues.

Finally, we look forward to welcoming many of you at our annual HE Advisers’ Conference inSeptember 2011. Further information will be available on our website from Easter and onlinebooking will open shortly afterwards. In the meantime, if there is anything you want to knowabout Cambridge admissions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Dr Geoff ParksDirector of Admissions for the Cambridge Collegesgtp10@cam.ac.uk

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The University of Cambridge has around18,000 full-time students, including about12,000 undergraduates

The undergraduate male:female ratio is 53:47.Around 11 per cent of undergraduates arefrom overseas (outside the EU)

Cambridge has one of the highest retentionrates in the UK, with the latest figuresindicating that only one per cent ofundergraduate students drop out

The University has extensive, up-to-dateresources, including 114 libraries

In the 2008–09 undergraduate admissionsround (ie applications for entry in October2009 and deferred entry in October 2010)*:

• around 15,700 applications werereceived for approximately 3,500undergraduate places

• 98 per cent of those accepted with threeor more A Levels achieved at least threeA grades, and a further 5,800 applicantswith three or more grade As at A Levelwere unsuccessful

• the state:independent school ratioamongst UK/EU accepted applicants was58:42

• 14 per cent of accepted applicants fromthe UK/EU were from ethnic minoritybackgrounds

Admissions PolicyThe principal aim of the Admissions Policy of the Colleges of the University of Cambridge isto offer admission to students of the highest intellectual potential, irrespective of social,racial, religious and financial considerations.

Two further aims are:

• aspiration – to encourage applications from groups that are, at present, under-representedat Cambridge

• fairness – to ensure that each applicant is individually assessed, without partiality or bias,in accordance with the policy on Equal Opportunities, and to ensure that, as far aspossible, an applicant’s chance of admission to Cambridge does not depend on choiceof College

Once students are admitted, we ensure that they are given the academic, personal and,where appropriate, financial support necessary for successful completion of their course atCambridge.

You can find the full Admissions Policy online at:www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/info/policy.html.

Application timetable

March – SeptemberUndergraduate Prospectus available online and from the Cambridge Admissions OfficeHE fairs, Oxford and Cambridge Student Conferences, open days and residential events

SeptemberUCAS applications, which must be completed by all applicants applying to Cambridge, may be submitted from early September

30 Deadline for Medicine and Veterinary Medicine applicants to register for the BMATOctober15 UCAS closing date for most applications to Cambridge22 Deadline for most applicants to complete and submit their online

Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ, see p4)November

2 Applicants for Medicine and Veterinary Medicine sit the BMAT December

The majority of interviews are held in the first three weeks of December (some may be earlier)

JanuaryIn early January, decisions are sent to applicants and the winter pool takes place (selected applicants may be called for a further interview)By the end of January, most applicants should have heard whether they have been accepted conditionally or unconditionally, or have been unsuccessful

March1 Closing date for second application round for some mature and affiliated

applicants (see p5)May – June

A Level, IB and other examinations taken August

Examination results published and confirmation of conditional offers that have been met. All conditional offers must be met by the deadline set by UCAS

OctoberUniversity term begins

Key facts and figures

*Updated figures for the 2009 –10 admissions round willbe added to the website as soon as they are available.

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Why Cambridge?

The University of Cambridge is one of the world’s great universities, which provides a challenging, flexibleand individual learning experience, and is consistently rated at the top of national league tables. Beloware 10 reasons why we feel your students should consider applying to the University.

1 Academic excellenceCambridge’s teaching and researchexcellence have led to outstanding results inboth the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)Institutional Audits and in the ResearchAssessment Exercise (RAE). Our teaching staffincludes many national and world subjectleaders, so students have the excitingopportunity to be taught by experts in theirfields.

2 The collegiate structureThere are 29 Cambridge Colleges that admitundergraduate students and provide a placefor them to live, study and socialise (thoughstudents in all Colleges take the same courseand examinations). The collegiate systemoffers a huge amount of support for eachstudent individually.

3 Flexible learningOur degree courses (referred to at Cambridgeas Triposes) generally cover subjects broadlyin the first year, before becoming increasinglyspecialised in later years. This can be veryadvantageous for students as it allows themto explore their subject widely beforechoosing an area on which to focus.

4 More personal tuitionIn addition to lectures, practicals andseminars, which are organised by theappropriate department or faculty, studentsreceive regular small-group tuition (often inpairs). This more personal tuition, known as a‘supervision’, is one of the most distinctivefeatures of the Cambridge system and allowsstudents to explore course material in muchgreater depth, investigate new approachesand clarify anything they are unclear of.

5 Outstanding educational andpersonal supportTo help our students to succeed we provideexpert teachers and lecturers, excellent libraryand computing facilities, superb labs and lotsof support. Within their Colleges,undergraduates have a Director of Studies(DoS) who looks after their academic welfare,and many Colleges also allocate students aTutor who can advise on any personal orfinancial matters. Our extensive welfare andsupport systems ensure that students’individual needs can be recognised and met– as a result we have one of the higheststudent retention rates in the UK.

6 Accommodation guarantee The Cambridge Colleges1 guaranteeaccommodation to single undergraduateswithout a family for three years (many alsoprovide for fourth-year students) so very fewstudents have to pay commercial rents. Theterms at Cambridge are also short (aroundeight weeks in length), and students are onlycharged rent when they are in residence(usually 24–30 weeks, rather than a full year).

7 Low cost of livingCambridge is a relatively inexpensive placeto study. Transport costs in the city areminimal as it is easy to get around on foot orby bicycle; and study costs are kept lowbecause we are fortunate to have excellentcomputing and library facilities.

8 Substantial financial supportThe University is committed to the principlethat no UK student should be deterred fromapplying or have to leave because offinancial considerations. At the time of goingto press (March 2011), discussions are stilltaking place regarding the financial supportthat will be available for students from 2012entry. Information will be added to theUndergraduate Admissions website as soonas it is available.

9 Everyone ‘fits in’There is no such thing as a typical Cambridgestudent. We have students from all parts ofthe country (and the world) and from allbackgrounds. Our students work hard andplay hard. In fact, there are over 600 clubs andsocieties for them to choose from in additionto everything the city has to offer.

10 Excellent career prospectsCambridge graduates go into a very widerange of occupations, and are highlyemployable and greatly sought after aroundthe world – illustrated by our having one ofthe highest graduate employment rates inthe UK. The flexibility, teaching style anddemands of our degree courses ensure thatstudents develop a range of transferableskills which are crucial to any successfulcareer.

1 With the exception of St Edmund’s College.

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Applying to Cambridge

The process of applying to Cambridge is much the same as applying to other universities. However, atCambridge applicants are admitted by the Colleges, rather than by departments or faculties. Studentsmust either choose a College or make an open application.

Choosing a CollegeStudents should be advised not to agonisefor too long over which College to choose,as they are more alike than they are different.The differences that do exist lie in theambiance rather than the educationalopportunities.

When choosing a College, students mightwish to take the following into account:

• course – many Colleges take students inall subjects, but some do not

• selection procedures – admissionscriteria are very similar for all Colleges.However, there can be small differencesin arrangements before and at interview.Please see our website for more details

• age – four Colleges are exclusively formature students (aged 21 or over), andtheir facilities are geared accordingly

• gender – three Colleges exclusivelyadmit women

• College size (number of students),location and type of buildings

• particular facilities

Information about the different Colleges canbe found in the Undergraduate Prospectusand Colleges produce their own brochuresand websites (www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/colleges/). Students may alsofind it helpful to visit Colleges, either byattending an open day or arranging aseparate visit.

Despite occasional rumours to the contrary,there is no problem with more than onestudent from the same school applying tothe same Cambridge College. We are alsoaware of a number of other misconceptionsthat exist about ways of choosing a College(eg based on application statistics, specialismsof College Fellows etc). Therefore, adviceabout how not to choose a College isavailable on our website as well (www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/colleges/).

Please note that students can only submitone application to the University, eitherspecifying a particular College or making anopen application. If a student has unusualqualifications or has specific needs, it isadvisable to apply to an individual Collegeafter seeking advice, rather than to make anopen application.

Open applicationsIf a student does not mind at which Collegethey end up, it is worth recommending anopen application. After the closing date,each UK/EU open application is randomlyallocated by a computer program to aCollege which happens, in that year, to havereceived fewer applications per place in thatsubject than the average number across allColleges. Applicants from outside the EU areevenly distributed across Colleges in eachsubject. Once allocated, open applicationsare treated exactly the same as any otherapplication to that College and the successrate for equally well-qualified UK/EUapplicants making open applications is thesame as for those applying directly to aCollege.

Before submitting an open application,students should be sure they will be quitehappy whatever the outcome of theallocation, as it cannot be changed once it isdone.

UCAS applicationTo apply to the University students mustsubmit a UCAS application, listingCambridge as one of their options in the‘choices’ section as well as entering theappropriate College (UCAS campus) code or‘9’ if they are making an open application.

In addition to a UCAS application, studentswill need to submit another application ifthey are:

• living outside the EU (www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/apply/)

• applying for the Graduate Course inMedicine (www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/apply/forms/medgrad.pdf )

• eligible to be considered under theCambridge Special Access Scheme (seep5)

• also applying for a Choral Award orOrgan Scholarship (www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/musicawards/)

Please note

It is not possible for students to apply toboth Oxford and Cambridge in the sameyear.

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Application deadlineThe deadline for applying to Cambridge formost students is 15 October1.

This deadline ensures that there is sufficienttime for all applicants to be assessed equallyand fairly. This includes interviewing everyapplicant with a realistic chance of beingmade an offer (over 80 per cent of applicants)– a process involving over 20,000 interviewsevery year.

Because of the earlier deadline, werecommend that students be encouraged tothink about Cambridge as one of theiruniversity options at an early stage, ideallybefore the end of Year 12 or equivalent. Thiswill then enable them to attend open daysand prepare their application well before the15 October deadline.

Supplementary ApplicationQuestionnaire (SAQ)In order to ensure that we have completeand consistent information about allapplicants, students will be asked via email tocomplete a Supplementary ApplicationQuestionnaire (SAQ) online after receipt oftheir UCAS application. The SAQ enables us tocollect information that is not part of theUCAS application but is useful when assessingapplications, for example, topics covered aspart of AS/A Level (or equivalent) courses(which helps interviewers decide whichquestions to ask).

To make a valid application to the Universityof Cambridge, applicants must submit theirSAQ by the deadline set. In the majority ofcases this deadline will be 22 October 20112.More information about the SAQ can befound on the Undergraduate Admissionswebsite (www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/apply/saq.html).

Application outcomeFollowing the assessment of each application(see ‘The selection procedure’, p7–11), thereare three possible outcomes:

1. applicants may be made an offer. If theyhave already gained the qualificationsrequired, they may be made anunconditional offer. If they are stillstudying, an offer will usually beconditional and dependent on themachieving particular grades in thosequalifications

2. applicants may be ‘pooled’ for otherColleges to consider their application (seebelow for details)

3. applicants may be unsuccessful. Onaverage, we receive around fiveapplications for each place, so every yearwe have to turn down students withgood grade predictions whom we wouldlike to have taken. Disappointing thoughthis is, we hope that all applicants findthe process a useful experience. We hopestudents will not to be deterred fromapplying by the prospect of not beingsuccessful – we can only offer places tothose who apply to us

The winter poolThe ‘winter pool’ is designed to ensure thatthe best applicants are offered places, nomatter which College they applied/wereallocated to. If a College is over-subscribed ina particular course, strong applicants are‘pooled’ for other Colleges to consider.Applicants will also be pooled if they needreassessment and to give Colleges theopportunity to consider applicants pooled byother Colleges as a ‘calibration check’ beforefinalising their offers.

As a result of being placed in the winter pool,applicants:

• may be asked to attend another interviewat a different College, usually in January

• may be offered a place at another College(or the College that pooled them) withoutfurther interview

• may be unsuccessful1 Please note that an earlier deadline may apply forapplicants wishing to be interviewed in particular overseascountries, and a later deadline may apply to some maturestudents applying to one of the mature Colleges (see p5).

2 If a different deadline applies, the applicant’s College willnotify them of the date. If a student is in any doubt aboutthe deadline by which they must complete the SAQ, theyshould contact the College as soon as possible to check.

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Normally, around one in five applicants ispooled and, of these, around one in fourreceives an offer. A second smaller pool (ofapplicants who have narrowly missed theconditions of their original offer) takes placein August when examination results arereleased and places are confirmed; this againhelps to ensure that the best applicants gainplaces.

Clearing and the adjustmentperiodThe University of Cambridge does not enterClearing nor will places be available in theAugust 2012 adjustment period. If applicantsdecide that they wish to try for a place atCambridge after receiving their examinationresults, they will need to apply in thefollowing year’s admissions round.

Feedback on decisionsMany Colleges provide written feedback toschools/colleges after decisions have beenmade as a matter of course, and all Collegesare happy to discuss the outcome ofapplications by telephone or letter, providingthe applicant has given us permission to doso. This is a requirement of the DataProtection Act, and applicants will normallybe asked for their consent in a pre-interviewquestionnaire. Feedback is not, in general,sent to students or their parents/guardians,and teachers should decide what informationit is appropriate to pass on.

Deferred entryAbout one in 10 students take a gap yearbefore coming to Cambridge. This year outcan be a useful time to improve skills, earnmoney, travel and generally gain maturity.Please note:

• a number of Colleges encourageEngineering applicants to take a year out,to gain industrial experience

• most Colleges generally preferMathematics applicants not to take a yearout, but to apply for immediate entry

• it is not possible to defer entry to theGraduate Course in Medicine

Students intending to defer entry shouldindicate this on their UCAS application andbe prepared to answer questions about theirplans at interview.

AgeThe vast majority of undergraduates are aged18 years or older when they come intoresidence. A student who will be aged 21 orover on commencing a course is classified asa mature student.

All students need to demonstrate that theyhave the maturity and personal skills to copewith university level study, and will be able togain full benefit from the course whenadmitted. Applicants who will be under theage of 18 on admission should seek advicefrom a College Admissions Tutor as early aspossible to discuss their application. If theyare considering Medicine, they should alsoread the advice regarding age requirementsfor this course on the website.

Applicants who would be under the age of16 on admission may also be subject toadditional requirements and restrictions inorder to comply with legislation.

Mature studentsMature students with Access to HE Diplomas,A Levels, OU or other qualifications arewelcome to apply to any of the CambridgeColleges. Cambridge has four Colleges formature students only (Hughes Hall, LucyCavendish, St Edmund’s and Wolfson) whichhave the most experience in assessingapplicants with Access to HE qualifications.

The standard closing date for applications is15 October 2011. However, the matureColleges will also consider some applicationssubmitted as part of a second applicationround, the deadline for which is 1 March2012. Please note:

• all mature applicants wishing to makean open application, as well as thoseapplying to a standard-age College,must submit their application by the 15October deadline

• all applicants for Architecture; History ofArt; Law; Medicine; Music; Philosophy;Politics, Psychology and Sociology; andVeterinary Medicine (regardless ofCollege choice) must submit theirapplication by 15 October

When writing references for applicantsstudying towards an Access to HE Diplomaor other qualifications please give as much

information as possible about assessmentprocedures and the grading system for thecourse, as well as details about theapplicant’s performance so far. We are awarethat this can be difficult, as some studentsmay have only just started their courses.

If applicable, please make it clear that thestudent is on a one-year course and give asmuch information as you can about theiracademic achievement. Admissions Tutorsmay also find it useful for you to write asecond reference at a later date. Pleasecontact College admissions offices forfurther advice.

Cambridge Special AccessScheme

The Cambridge Special Access Scheme(CSAS) ensures that the Colleges receivesufficient information about applicantswho have experienced particular personal,social or educational disadvantage in orderfor them to be assessed fairly and forappropriate levels for conditional offers tobe set.

The CSAS is supported by all standard-ageColleges and students are eligible to applythrough the CSAS if either of the followingcriteria apply:

• their school/college has a low level ofentry into higher education AND thestudent’s family has little or notradition of entry into higher education

• the student’s education has beensignificantly disrupted ordisadvantaged through health orpersonal problems, disability ordifficulties with schooling

To be considered under the Scheme, thestudent should apply in the normal wayand the school/college referee (not theapplicant) should complete the SpecialAccess Scheme form. The completed formmust be submitted by 15 October 2011 tothe College to which the student isapplying or the Cambridge AdmissionsOffice if they are making an openapplication. The form is available online at:www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/apply/.

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Care leaversAll Colleges welcome applications fromstudents who are or have previously spenttime in care, and the University was awardedthe Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark in 2010 inrecognition of our commitment tosupporting care leavers.

As well as the support that is available to allstudents:

• care leavers are entitled to year-roundCollege-owned accommodation, shouldthey wish to stay in Cambridge over thevacations

• Colleges are keen to support care leaversshould any financial or pastoral issuesarise

Students who are or have been in care canfind more information and guidance aboutvisiting or studying at the University on thewebsite (www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/care/), or by contacting theCambridge Admissions Office (telephone:01223 766872; email: care@cao.cam.ac.uk).

Disabled studentsThe University of Cambridge welcomesapplications from disabled students and/orthose with a chronic illness, and thecollegiate system ensures we can provide ahigh level of individual attention to all ourstudents. Many Colleges have specialfacilities and will try to accommodateparticular needs as far as possible, forexample, adapting rooms for wheelchairusers and offering accommodation forcarers.

The University’s Disability Resource Centre(DRC) provides advice, information andsupport to both applicants and studentswith a disability or specific learning difficulty.Applicants, and their parents or teachers, areinvited to contact the DRC to arrangeindividual visits and to talk informally abouttheir support needs. The DRC also givesadvice on the accessibility of Colleges anddepartments, and the facilities thatCambridge offers for those with particulardisabilities or chronic illnesses. Contactdetails for the DRC can be found on theinside back cover.

Disabled students/those with a chronicillness who are considering Cambridge areadvised to get in touch with the DRC and aCollege admissions office as early as possibleto discuss their application and any specificrequirements they may have. Should theythen decide to apply to Cambridge, westrongly recommend that applicants alsodisclose their disability in their UCASapplication. This is so we can contact themto discuss their specific needs and ensureappropriate adjustments are in place, suchas scheduling interviews in accessiblerooms.

Applicant Toolkit

The Cambridge Admissions Office hasdeveloped an Applicant Toolkit, designedto provide Cambridge applicants andtheir supporters (teachers, HE advisers,parents and others) with information andresources to guide them through theapplication process. You can access theToolkit on our website at: www.cam.ac.uk/applicant-toolkit/.

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There is no blueprint for an ideal Cambridgestudent, but there are certain academicqualities that Admissions Tutors look for:

• ability and potential – in addition totheir academic record, selectors areassessing how well applicants candiscuss their ideas and opinions, whetherthey are capable of logical andindependent thought, and whether theyshow intellectual flexibility and arewilling to engage with new ideas

• motivation and suitability for the chosencourse – applicants should showenthusiasm and commitment for theirchosen course and for educationgenerally. This could be demonstrated,for example, by the exploration of theirsubject beyond the school curriculumand by wider reading

• commitment and self-discipline –successful applicants are self-motivated,self-disciplined and academicallycommitted. This could be shown bygood time-management in the balanceof their various academic and personalcommitments, for instance

1 Academic recordSuccessful applicants are amongst the mostable students in their school/college in thesubjects most closely related to their chosenuniversity course.

GCSEs/IGCSEsWith the exception of Medicine (includingthe Graduate Course) and VeterinaryMedicine, there are no GCSE/IGCSErequirements for entry to Cambridge.

An applicant’s GCSE/IGCSE results are lookedat as a performance indicator, but within thecontext of the school/college performance.It is generally expected that the applicantwill have achieved high grades in subjectsrelevant to their chosen course; and moststudents who apply do have at least four orfive As or A*s at GCSE/IGCSE. However, thereare always exceptions: for example, a brilliantmathematician whose only A* at GCSE/IGCSEis in Mathematics. One of the strengths ofthe Cambridge admissions system is itsability to assess all applicants individually.

AS and A LevelsStudents should choose a combination ofAS and A Level subjects which give a goodpreparation for their selected course atuniversity. Advice about AS and A Levelsubject requirements for our courses is givenin the Undergraduate Prospectus and on theUndergraduate Admissions website. Inaddition, Admissions Tutors are alwayshappy to give general and subject-specificadvice to potential applicants.

Most applicants to Cambridge are studyingthree or four subjects at A Level. This isusually sufficient to show the breadth of anapplicant’s interests and their abilities tomanage a range of differing academic tasks.We would rather applicants develop broaderand deeper knowledge of the subjects mostrelevant/closest to their chosen course thanaccumulate additional A Levels.

As has been the case for the last two years,the standard conditional A Level offer for2012 entry will be A*AA. The subject inwhich the A* is to be achieved is unlikely tobe specified in most cases.

We recognise that predicting the A* may stillbe difficult for schools/colleges. Therefore,we do not place any weight on whether ornot an applicant is predicted an A*.

All Colleges modify offers to take account ofindividual circumstances. For example, loweroffers may be made to students applyingthrough the Cambridge Special AccessScheme (see p5). On the other hand, morechallenging offers may be set where somedoubt exists and the alternative is no offer.

International Baccalaureate DiplomaProgrammeOffers are regularly made on the InternationalBaccalaureate, requiring scores between 40and 42 points out of 45, with 776 or 777 inthe Higher Level subjects. See the websitefor advice about suitable subject choices for

The selection procedure

Admission to Cambridge is highly competitive and admissions staff are required to make very difficultdecisions when choosing between applicants. Applicants are assessed on their suitability for the chosencourse and their potential to most benefit from and flourish in the Cambridge environment. Eachapplicant is considered individually, using all the information available as outlined (1–6) below.

Post-16 subject choices

The AS and A Level/IB subject choices made in Year 11 (or equivalent) can have asignificant impact on a student’s higher education options. When assessing applicants, weconsider not only the individual A Level/IB Higher Level (or equivalent) subjects beingoffered but also the combination of these. We generally prefer applicants to have takencertain subjects, or combinations of subjects, because we believe that they are more likelyto provide an effective preparation for study at the University.

Many Cambridge courses require prior knowledge of certain subjects and Colleges willexpect such subjects to be passed, normally with at least an A grade at A Level/grade 6 or7 at Higher Level of the IB (or equivalent). Students who have decided on a universitycourse are recommended to look at the course requirements before finalising their ALevel/IB Higher Level subject choices to check their suitability for entry.

Those students unsure about the course they would like to study should note that thereare certain A Level/IB Higher Level subjects that are considered either ‘essential’ or’desirable’ for a number of courses at Cambridge. Therefore, choosing one or more of thesecan help keep higher education options open. Further advice can be found in our SubjectMatters leaflet, available online at: www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/.

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particular courses. Please note that for thesepurposes, Standard Level subjects arebroadly comparable to AS Levels, and HigherLevel subjects to A Levels.

Scottish qualificationsWe normally expect applicants with Scottishqualifications to have achieved a minimumof four A grades at Higher Grade, plusAdvanced Highers. Offers will usually requireAAA in three Advanced Highers. In somecases two Advanced Highers and anadditional Higher may be acceptable.

Applicants studying towards a ScottishBaccalaureate qualification are expected tooffer three Advanced Highers as part of it.

Applicants who are prevented from studyingmore than two Advanced Highers due toreasons outside their control are consideredon a case-by-case basis and are advised tocontact the College to which they intend toapply as early as possible.

Welsh BaccalaureateApplicants taking the Advanced Diploma inthe Welsh Baccalaureate are expected tohave studied three subjects at A Level aspart of their qualification. Offers areconditional on achievement in the A Levelswithin the qualification rather than theoverall Baccalaureate award.

Irish Leaving CertificateFor applicants studying towards the IrishLeaving Certificate, a typical offer will beAAAAA at Higher Level. Applicants forMedicine and Veterinary Medicine may beasked to take an IGCSE (or equivalent) in thescience subject not taken within the IrishLeaving Certificate.

Extended ProjectWe encourage students to undertake anExtended Project in order to help themdevelop independent study and researchskills which will ease the transition fromschool/college to higher education.However, completion of an Extended Projectwill not be a requirement of any offer made.

AQA BaccalaureateApplicants taking the AQA Baccalaureateshould note that this is an acceptablequalification for entry to Cambridge.However, offers are conditional onachievement in the A Levels within thequalification rather than the overallBaccalaureate award.

Cambridge Pre-U DiplomaStudents who are studying towards eitherthe full Cambridge Pre-U Diploma or certainPrincipal Subjects within the qualificationalongside A Levels are eligible to apply.Conditional offers are set on an individualbasis but are likely to include achievingDistinction level grades (D2 or D3) inPrincipal Subjects.

Access to HE DiplomaApplicants to Cambridge studying theAccess to HE Diploma are generallyexpected to achieve to a standardequivalent to conditional A Level offers.Therefore, a typical offer would requireattainment of the Access to HE Diplomawith Distinctions in all relevant subject units.Applicants may be asked to meet certainsubject-specific requirements as well, suchas an additional A Level in Mathematics ordemonstration of an aptitude for languages.Please see the website for further information.

DiplomasWe will be considering the acceptability ofthe new Diplomas for our courses on a case-by-case basis. Of the Advanced Diplomascurrently available we accept:

• the Advanced Diplomas in Engineeringand in Manufacturing and ProductDesign for our Engineering course aslong as the applicant has taken specifiedoptions within the Additional SpecialistLearning component (see the websitefor details)

• the Advanced Diploma in Environmentaland Land-based Studies for ourGeography, Land Economy and NaturalSciences (Biological) courses as long asthe applicant has taken two appropriateA Levels within the Additional SpecialistLearning component (see the websitefor details)

Vocational qualificationsVCE A Levels, Applied A Levels, GNVQs andBTECs are not an ideal preparation for mostCambridge courses, where the emphasis ismore academic than vocational. However,certain combinations of A Levels andvocational qualifications may be acceptablefor some courses. Potential applicants takingthese qualifications are advised to seekfurther advice from an Admissions Tutor.

Sixth Term Examination Papers inMathematics (STEP)STEP Mathematics is used to assessapplicants’ aptitude for the Mathematicscourse at Cambridge. Papers are based onmaterial that is common to the core of ALevel Mathematics and so require no furtherknowledge. The questions are designed totest qualities such as insight, originality, andthe ability to use standard techniques inunusual ways and situations.

Colleges use STEP as part of almost allconditional offers that they make forMathematics (including Mathematics withPhysics) and Computer Science withMathematics. Some Colleges also includeSTEP in conditional offers to applicants forcourses which require strong mathematicalability (see the Undergraduate Prospectus orwebsite for details). More information aboutSTEP, including past papers, can be found onthe STEP website at: www.stepmathematics.org.uk.

Applicants studying a mix of qualificationsWe are happy to consider applicants whoare taking a combination of qualificationsdrawn from different examination systems,for instance a mixture of Scottish AdvancedHighers and A Levels or of A Levels and IBHigher Level subjects, provided that theindividual qualifications are acceptable andany subject requirements are met.Conditional offers normally ask forachievement in line with typical offers madeto applicants taking a single type ofqualification. However, the exact details ofsuch conditional offers depend on theapplicant’s individual circumstances.

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2 School/college referenceThe school/college reference is usefulbecause it tells us about an applicant’sabilities and potential. Comments fromsubject specialists that show evidence ofintellectual flexibility and curiosity, analyticability, logical reasoning and the ability tolearn quickly are most useful.

The majority of our applicants are predictedto achieve top grades in the qualificationsthey are studying and words such as‘outstanding’ appear in very many references.Instead, it is helpful if remarks aboutacademic performance and potential aremade as specific as possible. The followingcan be particularly useful:

• comments from subject teachersindicating a rank order in class (such as‘top of 20’ or ‘in the top four out of 23’) ora comparison with current or previousapplicants (eg ‘one of our top 10 universityapplicants this year’)

• updated information about an applicant’sprogress or personal circumstances, aslong as it is received before the Decemberinterview period

• where an applicant has underachieved inpreviously sat qualifications, the reasonswhy this might have happened

• any health or personal circumstances thatmight affect performance at interview

• evidence of a willingness to explore anddiscuss ideas outside the confines of thesubject specification, if applying for asubject studied at school/college

• evidence of steps taken to find out aboutthe subject, for a non-school/collegesubject

For applicants with a particularly difficulteducational or personal background anadditional reference for the CambridgeSpecial Access Scheme should be completed(see p5).

There is no need to write a special referencefor Cambridge as we receive a copy of theUCAS reference you supply. However, if youwish to make any Cambridge-specificcomments you are most welcome to sendthese direct to the Admissions Tutor at theCollege to which the student applied or tothe Cambridge Admissions Office in the caseof open applicants. Please ensure that theapplicant’s name, course and UCAS PersonalID are clearly stated.

3 Personal statementPersonal statements allow students to tell usabout their subject interest and the processof writing a personal statement can oftenhelp a student better understand theiracademic interests and intellectualmotivations. This in itself is an importantelement in the preparation for any interview.

What should a personal statementcontain?Students are advised to follow the UCASadvice about what to include in theirpersonal statement. At Cambridge, alladmissions decisions are based solely onacademic criteria (ability, commitment andpotential). Therefore, in their personalstatement, we are looking for applicants to:

• explain their reasons for wanting to studythe subject at university

• demonstrate their enthusiasm andcommitment for their chosen course

• express any particular interests within thefield

• outline how they have pursued theirinterest in the subject in their own time

Such information is often used as a basis fordiscussion at interview.

How important are extra-curricularactivities?As our admissions decisions are based onacademic criteria, a student’s participation (ornot) in specific extra-curricular activities is nottaken into account (unless it is relevant to thecourse applied for) and does not affect theirchances of being made an offer of a place atCambridge.

Instead, we look at how extra-curricularactivities demonstrate other characteristicsthat will aid students’ transition to life atuniversity, such as how they balance theiracademic and personal commitments, andhave developed particular skills or qualities(such as perseverance, independence,leadership or team-working).

However, students should be advised toconsider the importance that their otheruniversity choices may place on extra-curricular activities when composing theirpersonal statement.

Cambridge-specific commentsApplicants can, if they wish, make additionalcomments particularly relevant to theirCambridge application on their SAQ. This isan opportunity to highlight particular featuresof the Cambridge course that attracted them.This additional personal statement is optional.Applicants will not be disadvantaged if theyhave nothing to add to this section of theSAQ and should be advised not to repeatinformation they have provided in their UCASpersonal statement here as we will havealready received a copy of this.

10 www.cam.ac.uk

4 Submitted workApplicants may be asked to submit examplesof their written work from a relevant A Level/IB(or equivalent) course, particularly for arts andsocial sciences subjects. A discussion of thismay then form part of the interview.

Details of the Colleges that ask for writtenwork, and for which courses, can be found onour website (www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/tests/). However, if this isrequired the College will advise the studentas to what sort of work this should be, whereit should be sent and the deadline for itssubmission.

If requested, we recommend that studentssubmit work that they are enthusiastic aboutand will be happy discussing during theirinterview. Schools/colleges are asked tocomplete a cover sheet confirming that it isthe applicant’s own work and detailing thecircumstances in which it was written.

5 Test resultsApplicants for some courses are required tosit additional tests, designed to supplementthe information available on their applicationand assess particular abilities, such as thinkingskills and logical reasoning.

Bio-Medical Admissions Test (BMAT)All applicants for Medicine and VeterinaryMedicine are required to sit this test in theirschool/college, or other approved centre,after making their application and beforeinterview. The test is administered byCambridge Assessment, and applicants mustregister for the BMAT with CambridgeAssessment by 30 September. The test itselfwill be taken on 2 November 2011.

The BMAT is used to assess scientific aptitudeand focuses on abilities relevant to the studyof Medicine and Veterinary Medicine atCambridge. It is based on the factualknowledge of GCSE/IGCSE Mathematics andDual Award Science, and does not requirespecial teaching or preparation. Furtherdetails are available at: www.bmat.org.uk.

Please note that there is a fee associated withtaking the BMAT. Any UK students who areconcerned about meeting the cost of thistest should refer to the BMAT website foradvice about available financial support.

Cambridge Law TestMost Colleges require applicants for Law totake the Cambridge Law Test. The test lasts forone hour and is taken by applicants whenthey are in Cambridge for interview. For

further details about the test, includingspecimen papers, see the Faculty of Lawwebsite at: www.law.cam.ac.uk/admissions/.

No prior knowledge of law is required orexpected. Students do not need to register inadvance for the Cambridge Law Test and thereis no charge associated with taking the test.

Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA)The Thinking Skills Assessment aims to testcritical thinking and problem-solving skills,which are highly relevant to successful studyat degree level. It is taken by applicants whenthey come to Cambridge for interview.

A number of Colleges use the TSA to assessapplicants for the following courses:

• Chemical Engineering • Computer Science• Economics• Engineering• Land Economy• Natural Sciences• Politics, Psychology and Sociology

Details of which Colleges use the test forwhich courses can be found at: www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/tests/. Furtherinformation on the nature of the test,including sample questions can be accessedat: www.tsacambridge.org.uk.

Students do not need to register in advancefor the TSA (Cambridge) and there is nocharge associated with taking the test.

6 InterviewsWho do we interview?Interviews form an important part of ourselection procedure. We try to interview allapplicants with a realistic chance of beingoffered a place and every year we interviewover 80 per cent of our applicants. Applicantswith a good examination record and afavourable reference are likely to be asked toattend an interview. However, due to thelevel of competition for places, there areapplicants each year who are not interviewed.

When do the interviews take place?Most interviews take place in the first threeweeks of December and students are stronglyadvised not to make any unbreakablecommitments for this period.

How long are the interviews and what arethe arrangements?The exact form and length of interviews varyfrom College to College and betweensubjects, but typically applicants have twointerviews of between 20 and 45 minuteseach. All Colleges send out detailedinformation and advice about interviews toapplicants, explaining where to go, theformat, and what will be expected of them,including whether any written work will beset. Applicants may be asked to stayovernight, in which case they will notnormally be expected to pay foraccommodation or meals.

What are the interviewers looking for?The main focus of interviews is to explore theapplicant’s academic potential, motivationand suitability for their chosen course.Interview questions are designed to assessapplicants’ problem-solving abilities, theirassimilation of new ideas and information,and their intellectual flexibility and analyticalreasoning.

It is important for applicants to realise thatinterviewers will not be trying to ‘catch themout’, but will be challenging them to think forthemselves and to show how they can applytheir existing knowledge and skills laterally toless familiar problems, in a mannercomparable to that demanded by thesupervision system. Interviews help selectorsto gauge how an applicant would respond tothe teaching methods used at Cambridge,while also giving the applicant theopportunity to experience this style ofteaching.

Helping students prepare for interviewsYou can help students prepare for theirinterviews by encouraging them to talk withconfidence and enthusiasm about theirsubject and their wider interests. A mockinterview given by a teacher or someone thestudent does not know can be helpful to givethem the experience of expressing their ideasand opinions to a stranger. However, studentsare not expected to have ready-preparedanswers – over-rehearsed answers can becounterproductive and are obvious to theinterviewers.

Students should be encouraged to readbroadly in the areas of their A Level/IB HigherLevel (or equivalent) subjects that they findparticularly interesting and about topicalissues and developments connected to theirchosen course. Students must be prepared tothink quite hard in their interviews but shouldalso be reminded that often there are noright or wrong answers to the questions theyare asked. It is the process of reaching theiranswer that is generally of most significance,rather than the answer itself.

We have produced a short film calledInterviews in Action and a booklet calledCambridge Interviews: the facts to providemore information about the interviewprocess. These resources are available on ourwebsite at: www.cam.ac.uk/interviews/.

www.cam.ac.uk 11

Please note

We are aware of private companies whooffer, at a charge, information and adviceon our admissions process and interviews.

We DO NOT support or encourage any ofthese commercial enterprises. None ofthese companies has access to anyinformation that is not already readilyavailable free of charge to all schools,colleges and individual students fromCollege admissions offices, the CambridgeAdmissions Office or CambridgeUniversity Students’ Union.

Please contact the admissions office atany College or the Cambridge AdmissionsOffice for more information.

12 www.cam.ac.uk

The University and Colleges of Cambridge offer an extensive range of outreach and wideningparticipation initiatives – from subject enrichment to events aimed at attracting applications from groupscurrently under-represented at Cambridge.

College Area Links SchemeThe Area Links Scheme connects every LocalAuthority (LA) in England to a specificCambridge College. There are also linksbetween Cambridge Colleges and Wales,Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Schemewas established in order to providespecific/defined contact points throughwhich teachers can communicate with theUniversity, and the University cancommunicate with them, and to help buildeffective relationships with schools andcolleges across the country.

As part of the Scheme, each College offersits own programme of activities. Forexample, Admissions Tutors and SchoolsLiaison Officers may visit schools/colleges,run masterclasses and/or organise visits toCambridge in order to raise aspirations.

There is no expectation or obligation forstudents to apply to the relevant link Collegeand participation in Area Links Schemeinitiatives does not influence whetherColleges invite applicants for interview oroffer them places. Please also note that theArea Links Scheme does not precludeschools/colleges from contacting, or beingcontacted by, a College other than their linkCollege. Please contact the College linked toyour LA for more information(www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/arealinks/).

Subject enrichmentDepartments and faculties at the Universityoffer a range of events and activities whichprovide resources to enrich the educationalexperiences of students of all ages, across anumber of subject areas. Details of all ofthese projects can be accessed from theCambridge in the Community Directorywebsite at: www.cam.ac.uk/cambforall/.

Cambridge Admissions Office(CAO)The Cambridge Admissions Office organises/attends various initiatives throughout the UKeach year to encourage students to considerthe University of Cambridge, including:

• school visits and HE fairs • Oxford and Cambridge Student

Conferences• Cambridge Open Days• residential events• Challenge Days• Subject Masterclasses • Subject Matters events• events for specific groups of students,

including mature students, FE students,BAME students (through GEEMA – theGroup to Encourage Ethnic MinorityApplications) and care leavers

More information about all these activitiescan be found online at: www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/events/.

Cambridge University Students’Union (CUSU) CUSU is involved in widening participationactivities through the Target Campaign. Eachyear about 1,000 Cambridge students visitstate schools across the country to give up-to-date information to those who areconsidering applying, and provide anopportunity to hear about the Universityfrom a student’s perspective. In addition,CUSU organises a popular ShadowingScheme and other initiatives. For moreinformation about all these activities pleasecontact the CUSU Access Officer (seeopposite).

Events for teachers, tutors and HEadvisersYou are welcome to attend most of ouropen days and events with your students.However, we also organise a number ofevents specifically for teachers, tutors and HEadvisers throughout the year. See thewebsite (www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/teachers/) or contact CAOfor further information. Some Colleges runteachers’ and HE advisers’ events as well.

Working with schools and colleges

Further information and advice

Additional publicationsIn addition to the Undergraduate Prospectusand this guide, the University produces arange of publications about undergraduatestudy and the application process whichyou may find helpful:

• Cambridge Student Finance: the facts• Cambridge Interviews: the facts• What if I have a disability?• Studying at Cambridge: a guide for

parents and supporters• Subject Matters• Guide to Completing the SAQ

All these publications, as well as otherinformation about applying to and studyingat Cambridge, are available from CAO andon our website (see right).

E-newsletter for teachers, tutorsand HE advisersThe University produces a twice-termly e-newsletter for teachers and advisers whowish to be kept up-to-date withdevelopments at Cambridge. Each editionfeatures, for example, information regardingour admissions process, support availablefor applicants, and a guide to forthcomingevents. You can subscribe to receive the e-newsletter at: www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/teachers/enewsletter/.

Differences between Cambridgeand OxfordThe Universities of Cambridge and Oxfordare frequently cited together by journalists,politicians and the world at large. Whilstthere are many similarities between theapplication and admissions processes, thereare a number of notable differences betweenthe two institutions. A summary of thesedifferences can be found on our website(www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/teachers/).

Details are correct at the time of printing (March 2011) but should be checked against the University website for the mostup-to-date information.

© University of Cambridge, 2011.Design and print management by iDentityCreative

Printed on 80% recycled content.

We are committed to ensuring that all relevant information and guidance about the Cambridgeadmissions process is freely and readily available to all.

Cambridge Admissions Office (CAO)

Telephone: 01223 333308Email: admissions@cam.ac.uk

CAO can help with general enquiries about theapplication process and studying at Cambridge.www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/

College admissions offices

All Colleges offer information on their own websites andAdmissions Tutors are happy to give advice to teachersabout College admissions policies and other matters.Most Colleges welcome teachers’ visits during open daysor by appointment at other times. In addition, manyColleges have Schoolteacher Fellowships or vacationstudy-visit programmes for teachers.www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/colleges/

Disability Resource Centre (DRC)

Telephone: 01223 332301Textphone: 01223 764085Email: disability@admin.cam.ac.uk

The DRC provides advice, information and support todisabled applicants and students and those with achronic illness or specific learning difficulty.www.cam.ac.uk/disability/

Cambridge University Students’ Union (CUSU)

CUSU Access OfficerTelephone: 01223 333313Email: access@cusu.cam.ac.uk

CUSU offers advice and guidance, as well as organisingevents and initiatives for prospective applicants. www.cusu.cam.ac.ukwww.applytocambridge.com

Cambridge Admissions OfficeFitzwilliam House32 Trumpington StreetCambridge CB2 1QY

Telephone: 01223 333308Fax: 01223 746868Email: admissions@cam.ac.uk

www.cam.ac.uk