How to Get Into Cambridge University

In Brief

Cambridge admits roughly 20% of applicants overall, but around 16% of international applicants, with rates varying widely by college and course. The most competitive subjects include Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Medicine, Law, and Mathematics.
Cambridge assesses everything through an academic lens, weighing subject-related potential above all else and paying little attention to extracurriculars unrelated to the course.
“Super-curricular” engagement is central to a strong Cambridge application: sustained reading, research, and independent thinking in your subject, built over years rather than months.
The Cambridge application runs on an earlier timeline than most universities, with a mid-October UCAS deadline, a supplementary “My Cambridge Application,” subject-specific admissions tests, and interviews in December.
The Cambridge interview mirrors the university’s supervision system, testing how a candidate thinks through unfamiliar problems on their feet.

For over 800 years, Cambridge University has been home to minds as renowned and varied as Isaac Newton and Lord Byron, Charles Darwin and Stephen Hawking. Today, Cambridge remains one of the world’s most esteemed universities, where students can delve into their academic passions within the same halls that have shaped centuries of scholars, scientists, and statesmen.

That also means that applications to Cambridge are tremendously competitive.

The University of Cambridge acceptance rate was roughly 20% in the 2025 cycle, but that number doesn’t reflect the lower level of acceptance among international students, which stands at around 16%. Even among UK-based students, Cambridge acceptance rates vary considerably by college and by course (a student’s academic subject of choice).

Every element of the Cambridge application – transcripts, “super-curriculars”, admissions tests, and both a UCAS and an optional Cambridge-specific personal statement – is intended to assess applicants’ potential within a specific academic subject. This article guides UK-based and international students alike through every aspect of the application process and what you need to know about applying to Cambridge University. To discuss your own potential application, reach out to us at Fortuna for a free 30-minute consultation.

The Competitive Context of Cambridge

How competitive is Cambridge? The honest answer is: it depends heavily on the course. Cambridge receives, on average, around six applications for every place across all subjects, but Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Medicine, Law, Mathematics, and Psychological and Behavioral Sciences are consistently among the most competitive subjects.

However, applicants to Cambridge should never select a course because it looks more accessible on paper. The right starting point is always the course that fits the applicant’s academic strengths and long-term intellectual interests. Above everything, Cambridge expects a high level of genuine commitment to the academic subject a student is pursuing; a mismatch between course and interest tends to surface quickly.

What to Know About Cambridge Admissions

Like Oxford, the Cambridge application process is very different from that of most universities, even similarly highly competitive institutions. It’s essential to begin your application journey with a full, clear understanding of what to expect.

Applying to Cambridge Through UCAS

All applications to Cambridge are submitted through UCAS: the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, the UK’s centralized undergraduate application platform. That means that all applications are subject to UCAS’s rules and deadlines. For applicants outside the UK, UCAS is likely an unfamiliar system, so understanding how it works is an early priority.

You Can’t Apply to Both Cambridge and Oxford

Be aware that you cannot apply to both Cambridge and Oxford (together colloquially known as “Oxbridge”) in the same application cycle. If you’re interested in both, early conversations and research are critical to understand which university, as well as which college and course, might be the right fit for you. If you would like support considering and navigating your options, consider reaching out to a Fortuna coach.

Prepare for Earlier Deadlines

Be aware that the Cambridge application deadline typically falls in mid-October, nearly three months before the standard January application deadline for other UK universities and two weeks earlier than the early application deadlines for most US-based schools. Therefore, applicants should plan to prepare their personal statement, academic reference, predicted grades, and admissions tests with plenty of time.

For international applicants, who may also be managing additional college applications due around the same time, it’s particularly essential to plan your Cambridge application well in advance of the deadline.

Cambridge’s College System

Cambridge consists of 29 distinct undergraduate-admitting colleges; each college largely determines who tutors you, where you live, and your Cambridge community. Applicants may either request admission to a specific college, or (as 15% of applicants do) submit an open application, in which Cambridge allocates your application to a college with fewer direct applications. Cambridge also has a separate system to redistribute strong applicants to undersubscribed colleges.

Acceptance rates can differ widely across colleges, so a choice of college can significantly impact an applicant’s chances of admission. Deciding whether to pick a college – and if so, which – or to submit an open application is one of the most crucial choices when applying to Cambridge. As you consider your options, a Fortuna coach can help you understand and decide on the wisest course of action for your specific situation and course.

The Supervisory System

Academically, what sets Cambridge apart is its supervision model: intensive, one-on-one or small-group sessions with an academic specialist in your subject. This approach is very different, and requires different engagement, than the primarily lecture-based university courses that some applicants may be more familiar with.

That’s why, in addition to exemplary academic potential, Cambridge looks for students who can think independently, engage with challenging ideas, and hold their own in a rigorous academic conversation. Admissions officers looking at transcripts, personal statements, admissions tests, written work where required, and especially the interview are all considering one question: does this applicant have the intellectual disposition to thrive in a Cambridge supervision?

Li Li Tan, Fortuna coach and former Cambridge interviewer and supervisor, comments: “The supervision is one of the great gifts of a Cambridge education. To sit in a group of two or three, or even just by yourself, and think through your subject with a leading scholar who is giving you their full attention is a rare privilege, and one that very few universities can offer. It stretches and challenges you, certainly, but that is exactly what makes it so enriching.”

Cambridge UCAS Points Requirements by Course

For candidates receiving their final high school grades after university applications take place, Cambridge makes conditional offers, meaning that a place depends on achieving specified final grades. This is why the university publishes minimum qualification requirements: they signal the standard applicants will be expected to meet.

Applicants are unlikely to be seriously considered for a course unless their predicted A-level, IB results, or international equivalent reach a minimum standard. The table below outlines the 2026 Cambridge A-level requirements, alongside the minimum IB Diploma scores applicants are typically expected to achieve for admission.

The figures for those qualifications shift year by year and course by course, but successful applicants often achieve scores well above these minimum levels. In addition, many courses – including Medicine, Law, Economics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, Natural Sciences, and History – require applicants to take an additional admissions test or submit additional written work.

Before beginning an application, applicants should always confirm the latest Cambridge entry requirements for their chosen course and college.

Subject Area	Minimum Offer A-levels	Minimum Offer IB Scores	Required Admissions Test or Assessment
Medicine	AAA	41 to 42 points, with 776 at Higher Level	UCAT
Law	A*AA	41 to 42 points, with 776 at Higher Level	LNAT
Economics	AAA	41 to 42 points, with 776 at Higher Level	TMUA
Computer Science	AAA	41 to 42 points, with 776 at Higher Level	TMUA; CSAT may be required by some colleges
Mathematics	AAA	41 to 42 points, with 776 at Higher Level, usually with STEP conditions	TMUA
Engineering	AAA	41 to 42 points, with 776 at Higher Level	ESAT
Natural Sciences	AAA	41 to 42 points, with 776 at Higher Level	ESAT
History	A*AA	41 to 42 points, with 776 at Higher Level	Submitted written work required; some colleges have additional conditions

Source: University of Cambridge Undergraduate Admissions Statistics, 2025 Cycle. Always confirm on Cambridge’s official admissions pages before applying, as requirements can change.

Beyond grades, which classes you take also impact your eligibility for Cambridge. For example, if the applicant’s high school offers it, a strong candidate for engineering will have taken Mathematics, Physics, and Further Mathematics to AS or A level. Medicine applicants need Chemistry and one or two additional science or mathematics subjects, depending on the College. Each course at each college may have its own requirements.

For international applicants, Cambridge assesses equivalent qualifications on a country-by-country basis. We cover this in more detail in the International Applicants section below.

Cambridge Admissions Tests

In addition to A-levels or IB scores, most competitive Cambridge courses require a subject-specific admissions test or assessment. Because Cambridge is highly competitive and attracts interest from applicants worldwide, the tests help admissions tutors compare applicants across different schools, countries, and qualification systems on a common basis.

Test results are often a significant factor in deciding whether to invite an applicant for interview, so strong preparation, leading to a strong result, can be crucial to advancing to the next stage. Cambridge’s assessments are designed to go beyond factual recall: they draw on what you have already learned and ask you to apply it to unfamiliar problems, testing your ability to work through complex questions clearly, use established concepts in new ways, and reason through material you have not seen before.

Cambridge’s admissions assessments include:

TMUA: Test of Mathematics for University Admission: Mathematics, Computer Science, and related courses
ESAT: Engineering and Science Admissions Test: Engineering Science, Physics, Biomedical Sciences, and related courses
UCAT: University Clinical Aptitude Test: Medicine
LNAT: Law National Aptitude Test: Law

As you prepare to take the relevant application test, be aware that most applicants must take their tests in September or October in the year when they are applying. But the strongest applicants build the underlying problem-solving and reasoning skills these tests assess over time, rather than cramming test format in the final weeks. For the most competitive subjects, where predicted grades among applicants are often near-identical, test performance can be a genuine differentiator.

For international applicants, the UAT-UK (University Admissions Tests UK) tests are delivered online via Pearson test centers globally. Center availability varies by country, so registering well ahead of the October deadline is important. Preparation materials are available through the UAT-UK website.

Fortuna coach and Cambridge admissions expert Li Li Tan adds, “Don’t view the admissions test as an obstacle – view it as an opportunity to prove your academic ability beyond your school curriculum.”

Building “Super-Curriculars”

When Cambridge evaluates a candidate for admission, they prioritize one quality that is both essential and the hardest to convey without sufficient, long-term preparation: genuine intellectual engagement. The strongest applicants have spent years, not months, reading, questioning, and thinking about their subject of choice, far beyond what their school curriculum requires.

Cambridge refers to this as “super-curricular” engagement: activities that extend a student’s knowledge of a subject. It can take many forms – advanced reading, independent research, academic competitions, lectures, or online courses – but the common thread is real, sustained engagement, visibly shaping how the applicant thinks about their field.

International students may be less familiar with Cambridge’s expectation of “super-curriculars” and intellectual pursuit outside the high school classroom. But regardless of their origins, applicants who have read widely and thought critically about their subject have an advantage at every stage.

Practically, super-curriculars might include:

Reading critically and expansively, including the essential texts of your field and the most recent updates, research, or news
Researching, independently or otherwise, the ongoing debates, data, and development in your field, especially if they engage with your subject’s core questions
Writing analyses, articles, or other material; even if it’s unpublished, practice your ability to construct and defend an intellectual position
Joining academic competitions such as Olympiads and essay prizes

Cambridge looks for the kind of intellectual flexibility that comes only from years of sustained engagement. At Fortuna, our expert Oxbridge coaches work with students to develop this academic foundation – fearless curiosity, scholarly depth, and intellectual confidence – that they’ll require at Cambridge. Schedule a free consultation to learn how we can support you on this path.

My colleague Caroline Diarte Edwards, a Cambridge grad, comments: “Cambridge is an intensely intellectual environment, where people are really passionate about their subject. The admissions process is trying to identify students who already have that orientation, who pursue their intellectual interests for their own sake.”

Written Work and What It Means

To apply to select Cambridge courses, there’s sometimes an additional requirement: submitting examples of written work. Admissions tutors will be assessing how well a candidate can construct and sustain an argument, engage critically with evidence, and write at an appropriate academic level.

This is a significant and often underestimated component of the process, particularly for humanities and social sciences courses. Cambridge is explicit that submitted work should not be a piece written specifically for the application: it should be existing work, marked by a teacher, with their comments included. However, if no existing essay, written for school or similar, feels appropriate, it’s worth inquiring with your chosen college if they’d accept an independently written essay, graded by your teacher.

Practically, the piece must be written in English (or translated into English with verification by your school or a third party), and must be under 2,500 words.

The UCAS Personal Statement

Like every other UK university, Cambridge applications are submitted through UCAS and require submitting a core personal statement. Since September 2025, the UCAS personal statement has moved away from a single free-form essay to three structured questions:

Why do you want to study this course or subject?
How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?
What else have you done to prepare outside of formal education, and why are these experiences useful?

The total character limit remains 4,000, shared across all three answers (around 650-700 words), with a minimum of 350 characters per question (roughly 60 words). While Cambridge has no preference for how applicants split their statement between the three sections, it does expect a candidate’s personal statement to focus mostly on academics and supercurricular activities.

International applicants sometimes expect the UCAS statement to be similar to the Common App essay in the US, with an emphasis on personal storytelling and growth. But in the UCAS personal statement, Cambridge admissions tutors are looking for evidence of genuine intellectual engagement: a specific account of how the applicant thinks about their subject, grounded in reading and inquiry. Focus on your academic foundation: what you want to study, how you discovered it, how you’ve pursued it, and what you’ve learned from it.

Be sure to keep a copy of your final draft. If you’re invited for an interview, some questions often relate to your essay, so Cambridge recommends re-reading your work beforehand. If you want support in understanding how to craft a UCAS statement without conflating it with a Common App statement, reach out to Fortuna for a free consultation.

What is “My Cambridge Application”?

In addition to UCAS, undergraduate applicants to Cambridge must fill out “My Cambridge Application”. This is the mechanism Cambridge uses to understand an applicant’s qualifications, school context, and preparation in more depth than UCAS alone provides.

Applicants receive a link to My Cambridge Application within 48 hours after submitting their UCAS application, which falls in mid-October.

For international students in particular, this stage carries real weight, since Cambridge may need additional detail about an unfamiliar curriculum, grading system, or subject structure. Every detail must be accurate and consistent with the rest of the application.

In order to successfully complete My Cambridge Application, prepare materials in advance, including:

A certified school transcript.
Details of the topics you studied at high school.
Scores and dates of any English language tests you’ve taken, such as IELTS
Scores and dates of your SATs, if they’re required qualifications for your application (cross-reference your preferred college and course to check)
An optional Cambridge-specific personal statement. This is an opportunity to explain why you want to study your course specifically at Cambridge.
If you’re an international student, be aware that My Cambridge Application may ask for details of how your studies will be funded.

The optional MyCApp statement is only 1200 characters (roughly 200 words). The MyCApp statement shouldn’t overlap with material in the UCAS personal statement; instead, it’s an opportunity for applicants to connect their academic interests with their proposed course of study specifically at Cambridge. For instance, if your chosen course is only offered at Cambridge, the optional MyCApp statement would be an excellent place to say so, and to explain why that unique course is in line with your academic interests.

The Cambridge Interview

At Cambridge, the interview is one of the most essential, and one of the most challenging, parts of the application process. Not everyone interviewed receives an offer, but everyone who receives an offer will have been interviewed. It’s also a very different type of interview from, for example, US university admissions interviews.

That makes preparation for the interview particularly important. What helps set successful interviewees apart is understanding the core intention behind Cambridge’s process.

At Cambridge, a significant proportion of classes are led through supervisions, or small group conversations with a supervisor. So in interviews, the admissions committee is evaluating how a candidate would perform in that context: how they respond to an unfamiliar scenario in their subject, talk through a tricky problem in the field, or discuss an intellectual argument. The interview is intended to be an academic conversation, not an interrogation.

Yet international applicants, in particular, often approach the conversation from the wrong angle. Many students have been taught to prioritize confidence and polish in interviews, carefully honing answers to anticipated questions in advance. But Cambridge rewards something different: the willingness to think out loud when uncertain, the ability to stay engaged when pushed, and the ability to balance critical, independent thinking with curiosity and openness to new ideas.

Practically, Cambridge typically invites applicants to interview in the first three weeks of December. Most applicants have one or two subject-specific interviews totaling 35 minutes to an hour; some, depending on course and College, have three or four interviews. The format varies by College too: some interview entirely online, some entirely in person, and several offer applicants a choice depending on where they’re based.

Fortuna coach and Cambridge admissions advisor Li Li Tan adds: ‘Successful applicants tend to approach the interview as a genuine intellectual exchange. To prepare, consider practicing challenging conversational exercises such as mock interviews, subject discussions with someone willing to push back, and talking through genuinely unfamiliar problems out loud. Coaching can be particularly useful to develop or hone this essential skill in anticipation of a Cambridge interview.”

Cambridge University Admission Requirements for International Students

International students make up a substantial share – currently 25% – of Cambridge’s undergraduate applicant pool. The largest international cohorts come from China, the US, and India, but 91 countries are currently represented.

What international applicants need to know is that while Cambridge is undoubtedly competitive for all, it’s significantly more so for international students. In the 2025 cycle, 3,669 international students were accepted to Cambridge out of 22,513 applications, an acceptance rate of 16%

Region	Applications (2025)	Accepted (2025)	Acceptance Rate
UK	14,213	2779	19.6%
International	22,513	3669	16.3%

Source: University of Cambridge Undergraduate Admissions Statistics, 2025 Cycle

International Qualifications for Entry

Cambridge requirements for international students vary by qualification system, and the university accepts a range of international credentials for entry:

US applicants: Typically a minimum of five AP scores of 5, including subject-specific requirements for the chosen course, is recommended. In addition, AP Capstone projects are highly encouraged. For the SAT, most courses have a minimum combined score of 1460 (with a minimum Reading and Writing score of 730), but a few – primarily in Sciences or Economics – require an SAT score of at least 1,500 (Mathematics 750+). For the ACT, the same Science and Economics courses suggest an ACT score of 33 (Science +33); most other courses have a minimum score of 32. When considering Cambridge GPA requirements, US applicants should be aware that a high overall GPA is essential, but will not be sufficient on its own.
IB students: Cambridge IB requirements typically range from 41–42 points overall, with 776 or 777 at Higher Level in relevant subjects, depending on the course.
Other national qualifications: Many national qualifications are accepted, but treatment varies significantly by country and sometimes by College. China’s Gaokao, for instance, is accepted by most Colleges, though the specific rank or score required differs from College to College. Other qualifications, including Japan’s Kōtō Gakkō Sotsugyō Shōmei Sho, are not considered sufficient preparation on their own, and students are encouraged to pursue additional qualifications before applying. Check Cambridge’s country-specific guidance for the applicant’s exact qualification before applying.

Please note that international entry requirements vary meaningfully between colleges; a score that’s acceptable to apply to one college may be insufficient to apply to another.

Non-English Speakers

Cambridge requires all applicants to be fluent in English. If an applicant is from a country without an English-speaking majority, their language skills are expected to be sufficient to participate in the interview or, eventually, an English-taught Cambridge course. Non-native English speakers should expect a minimum IELTS Academic score of 7.5, usually with 7.0 or above in each element.

Tuition and Funding Options

International students should be aware that Cambridge tuition fees for international students are substantially higher than fees for those for domestic students. Financial support for international undergraduates is limited: partial scholarships for international offer-holders may be available through the Cambridge Trust, but applicants cannot apply for Trust funding until after they’ve been offered a place.

Given the limited nature of undergraduate funding at Cambridge, we strongly advise you to investigate financing options as early in the process as possible. In addition, international applicants should be aware that the MyCApp section of the application asks international students for details of how their study will be funded.

International Medicine Students

Cambridge Medicine is subject to a government-imposed cap on the number of international students that can be admitted annually. With a current maximum of around 22 places, potential Medicine applicants should be aware that competition among international applicants is exceptionally intense.

What Separates Admitted Candidates from Qualified Applicants

Successful Cambridge applicants have typically demonstrated true, sustained academic interest and passionate intellectual ambition in their subject of choice. The following factors consistently define the strongest applications:

Giving Yourself Time

The UCAS deadline is mid-October, but everything that feeds into a Cambridge application – academic profile development, super-curricular engagement, admissions test preparation, and written work – requires months, if not years, of sustained effort.

Start planning your application far before the deadline; the strongest candidates often begin 12 to 18 months before their applications are due. International applicants, who may be less familiar with the UCAS system or international entry requirement options, are especially advised to begin early.

Academic Success

Strong grades are the foundation. For Cambridge, applicants are expected not only to be at the top of their class, but also to have done the utmost to push themselves academically and intellectually in their subject of choice. A candidate who achieves the minimum offer grade should be aware that competitive candidates may have achieved higher scores. For international students, understanding exactly how your credentials might apply to Cambridge’s entry requirements – or whether you’ll need further study to be considered a competitive candidate – is an essential early step.

Super-Curricular Engagement

In addition to academic ambition, Cambridge selects students with genuine passion for their subject. Competitive candidates can demonstrate “super-curricular” engagement, highlighting that they’ve sought knowledge far beyond the school curriculum through pursuits like advanced reading, independent research, academic competitions, or relevant projects. Unlike US colleges, the university does not look at extra-curriculars unrelated to the course subject.

Preparing for Supervision

If a student shows that they can thrive intellectually within Cambridge’s small, rigorous supervisions, it’s likely that they’re a highly competitive candidate. This requires a particular kind of preparation. Applicants should be comfortable and confident thinking through thorny academic problems, analyzing and defending their positions, and investigating new concepts with curiosity and rigor. These skills are not necessarily taught in school, but with coaching and practice, an applicant can master them.

Crafting a Cohesive Application

A Cambridge application has many distinct parts: academic transcripts, entry test scores, a UCAS personal statement, and the interview. The strongest candidates ensure that every part works together. Cambridge is looking for applicants who are genuinely driven by their academic passion, and each aspect of the package should come together to make an argument that the applicant is a powerful mind in the making.

Let’s Get You In.

Cambridge is tremendously competitive, and the arduous application process reflects that. But when candidates truly understand what Cambridge is looking for, their application process becomes easier.

The grades and entry tests confirm an applicant’s academic capability. The supercurriculars, personal statements, and, especially, the interview establish a successful applicant’s melding of intellectual passion with rigorous curiosity.

At Fortuna, our coaches include former Oxbridge admissions professionals, with deep experience and understanding of UK and international university admissions. If you’re considering Cambridge and looking for honest support on how you stand as a candidate, schedule a free 30-minute consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is it to get into Cambridge as an international student?

International students face significantly more competitive admissions rates than domestic applicants to Cambridge. In the most recent admissions cycle, around 20% of UK applicants received offers, compared to roughly 16% of international applicants. The academic process is the same for all applicants, but many international applicants struggle because they have a weaker understanding of Cambridge’s admissions process.

What qualifications do international students need to apply to Cambridge?

Cambridge accepts a wide range of international qualifications. US students typically present five or more AP scores of 5 in relevant subjects, as well as a qualifying SAT or ACT score. IB students should aim for at least 41-24 points with strong Higher Level scores in relevant subjects. Applicants from other systems should check course-specific requirements on Cambridge’s official admissions pages.

Can you apply to both Oxford and Cambridge?

For undergraduate entry, applicants cannot apply to Oxford and Cambridge in the same admissions cycle. Students must choose one, which makes course fit, teaching style, and admissions strategy especially important early on.

What is UCAS, and how does the Cambridge application work?

UCAS stands for the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. Applying to Cambridge University starts with UCAS, as all undergraduate applications are submitted through the centralized platform rather than directly to Cambridge. The UCAS application includes your personal statement, academic reference, predicted grades, and course choices. The Cambridge UCAS deadline is October 15, several months before the standard January deadline for other UK universities.

What is the new UCAS personal statement format?

From 2025 onward, the UCAS personal statement has changed from a single free-form essay to three structured questions. In the personal statement, applicants should address three questions: why they want to study the course, how their qualifications have prepared them, and what they have done to prepare outside formal education. The total character limit remains 4,000 characters across all three questions, with a minimum of 350 per question.

What Is My Cambridge Application (MyCApp)?

In addition to UCAS, Cambridge requires a supplement with additional information, and one optional short essay, called My Cambridge Application. The optional essay has a maximum of 1200 characters, and offers students an opportunity to explain why they hope to pursue their course of choice specifically at Cambridge.

What is the UCAS Tariff, and does Cambridge use it?

The UCAS Tariff is a points-based system that converts different UK qualifications into a numerical score. For example, an A* at A-level is worth 56 points, and an A is worth 48.

Cambridge does not use the Tariff to assess applicants. Instead, Cambridge evaluates the specific grades achieved in the required subjects for each course. This is why applicants to Cambridge should be aware that what classes they choose throughout high school are a significant factor in their application.

Which Cambridge courses require written work to be submitted?

Select courses, including social science courses like History, humanities courses like English, and arts courses, require a sample of written work, marked and graded by the appropriate teacher. The essay is considered one part of your holistic application, and may be assessed alongside the personal statement and admissions test. Applicants are advised to reread any submitted written work before their interview, as their tutors question them about some aspects. Applicants should confirm the specific requirements for their course on Cambridge official course pages.

Does Cambridge care about extracurricular activities?

Unlike colleges in the US, extracurriculars like sports, the arts, volunteering, or leadership are much less relevant to a Cambridge application. Cambridge is primarily interested in academic potential and subject fit, so if an activity didn’t actively contribute to an applicant’s pursuit of their chosen academic subject, it’s of limited utility. On the other hand, extracurriculars relevant to the chosen subject – research papers, independent reading, academic competitions, independent projects – may be considered “supercurriculars”, and can enhance an applicant’s chances.

Does Cambridge require SAT or ACT scores from US applicants?

Typically, US applicants are expected to submit a combination of high AP scores and high SAT or ACT scores to meet the minimum requirement. For most non-science courses, Cambridge requires a minimum combined SAT score of 1460 or a 32 on the ACT, with some courses having higher minimum requirements. For many science and economics courses, applicants should have a 1500 minimum (+750 math) or an ACT 33 (Science 33+). Applicants should review the current course-specific requirements on Cambridge’s official pages before applying.

Does Cambridge interview all applicants?

No. Cambridge offers interviews to many strong candidates, based on the strength of an applicant’s academic record, admissions test performance, submitted work, and overall fit for the course. Not all interviewees are successfully admitted; however, all successful applicants receive an interview offer.

What happens after submitting the UCAS application?

After submitting the UCAS application, applicants to Cambridge will receive a link to submit their My Cambridge Application supplement within 48 hours and must submit it within a few days. Documents required to complete the MyCAap form include a school transcript, details of the topics you covered in high school, scores and dates of any English-language tests taken, scores and dates of the SAT (if applicable), and a Cambridge-specific personal statement. International students should also note that the MyCAap form asks how your studies will be funded.

After submitting the MyCAap, interviews take place in December, with decisions released in late January.

Is it better to make an open application to Cambridge?

An open application is neither an advantage nor a disadvantage in itself. It can suit students without a strong college preference, but the priority for every applicant should be choosing the right course and building a strong academic application, regardless of route.

Can you reapply to Cambridge if rejected?

Yes. Reapplicants should be realistic about what’s genuinely changed since the previous application, and use the intervening time to strengthen their academic profile, subject preparation, test readiness, and understanding of the course.

What can I do to prepare for my Cambridge application?

The strongest applications to Cambridge take time, management, and deep awareness of what admissions tutors will be looking for. Start preparing your application, including building your super-curriculars and ensuring you know your required tests, as soon as possible. At Fortuna we advise students on how to prepare; sign up for a a free 30 minute consultation to discuss further.

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