Undergraduate Admissions: Latest news

Swine Flu and Interviews (October 2009)

Applicants displaying the symptoms of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus should not travel to Cambridge for interview. In cases where applicants are unable to travel to Cambridge due to illness, contingency arrangements will be made if possible. For more information on the virus, please refer to the National Pandemic Flu Service.

Applicants unable to travel to Cambridge should inform the relevant College as soon as possible.

29 October 2009

Swine Flu and the 2010 Entry Application Deadline (October 2009)

The University of Cambridge anticipates that applicants will still be able to submit their applications electronically by the 15 October deadline, even if their school or college has been closed to students. Where schools or colleges have been required to close because of the pandemic, we would ask the referee to note this in the applicant's reference.

If an applicant finds it impossible to submit their UCAS application by 15 October for reasons relating to swine flu, then they/their school or college should contact the Cambridge Admissions Office (01223 333308) as a matter of urgency.

13 October 2009

Postal strike in the Cambridge area (August 2009)

Please note that communications by post may be slightly delayed because of on-going postal strikes in the Cambridge area. Decisions are being communicated to UCAS as soon as they are made, so applicants are advised to consult UCAS Track rather than contacting the University or Colleges by telephone at this busy time.

If no decision is showing on UCAS Track this means that you are still under consideration. Applicants in this situation are advised to continue checking UCAS Track rather than telephoning the University or Colleges, as decisions are communicated to UCAS as soon as they are made

19 August 2009

Cambridge’s use of personal statements in UCAS applications (May 2009)

Recent media reports about the use of personal statements and their value in the admissions process have created a number of misleading impressions which we want to rectify.

We would like to assure all applicants and their advisers that, when making our admissions decisions, we take into account all the information available to us, including that contained in personal statements and references.

Our admissions decisions are based upon careful, holistic assessment in which paper applications are scored by assessors in advance of interview. This involves a close reading of personal statements and references as well as consideration of examination record.

Personal statements allow students to tell us about their subject interest and this is something we almost always pursue at interview. Moreover, the University recognises that the process of writing a personal statement can help a student better understand their academic interests and intellectual motivations. This in itself is an important element in the preparation for any interview.

Our Supplementary Application Questionnaire includes specific questions that allow students to expand on or fill in gaps in their personal statements. In this way we try to ensure that we have consistent, salient information about all our applicants.

Teachers' references often play a significant role in our judgements because they represent the views of people who know an applicant well academically. Contrary to some comment, references are far from all the same and they really do help us distinguish among our many very good applicants.

29 May 2009

Changes to the application process from 2009 entry

Previously, Cambridge applicants have had to submit both a UCAS application and a Cambridge Application Form (CAF) by 15 October, followed by a paper Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ).

From 2009 entry onwards, if you are a UK or EU applicant, you will only need to submit a UCAS application naming Cambridge as one of your choices. After your UCAS application has been received you will be asked to provide additional information through an online SAQ. The associated £10 fee for UK and EU applicants will also be discontinued.

The process of applying will therefore be as follows:

The decision to simplify the application process has been made because of a number of benefits it brings to applicants, their advisers and staff within the University and Colleges of Cambridge:

Applicants now only have to submit one form/application making the process more straightforward.
The process of applying to Cambridge is now the same as applying to other UK universities.
Administrative procedures associated with admissions will be made more efficient through greater use of electronic data transfer.

It is now possible to make the change because UCAS are able to process the information supplied in the UCAS application quicker and send it to universities electronically.

Questions you may have...

I wish to apply through the Cambridge Special Access Scheme, what do I need to do?
The Cambridge Special Access Scheme (CSAS), for applicants whose schooling has been severely disrupted or disadvantaged or whose family and school have little history of higher education, will continue. More information about the CSAS can be found at: www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/apply/#csas.

If you wish to apply through this Scheme you should submit a UCAS application in the normal way and your teacher/tutor should submit a CSAS form. The CSAS form is available from any College admissions office, the Cambridge Admissions Office and the Undergraduate Admissions website (www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/apply/). It should be returned by 15 October to the College to which you are applying or the Cambridge Admissions Office in the case of Open applicants.

I am living in a country outside the EU, is the application process the same?
If you are living in a country outside the EU, you should complete a Cambridge Overseas Application Form (COAF) as well as a UCAS application. This applies to all applicants (standard age, mature, affiliated) who are currently living in a country outside the EU and is regardless of fees status or nationality.

COAFs are available from any College admissions office, the Cambridge Admissions Office or from the Undergraduate Admissions website (www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/apply/).

Your COAF should be completed and sent to the College to which you wish to apply or the Cambridge Admissions Office in the case of Open applicants. The deadline for receipt of your COAF is 15 October. If you would like to be considered for interview as part of one of the University’s overseas interview schemes, your COAF must be received by the earlier deadline of 20 September. More information about these schemes can be found at: www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/international/apply.html

I’m a UK citizen but go to school/college outside the EU. Do I need to submit a Cambridge Overseas Application Form (COAF)?
Yes. The application process to Cambridge is dependent on where you are at school/college. Even though you are a UK citizen, because you are attending a school/college outside the EU you will need to complete and return the Cambridge Overseas Application Form (COAF), along with the application fee of £45, by 15 October (or by 20 September if you wish to be considered for interview overseas). You will also need to submit a UCAS application.

COAFs are available from any College admissions office, the Cambridge Admissions Office or from the Undergraduate Admissions website (www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/apply/).

I am from outside the EU but am studying at a school/college in the UK or EU. What forms do I need to complete to apply to Cambridge?
As you will be studying in the UK/EU when you make your application to Cambridge you only need to submit a UCAS application by 15 October.

I am from the Channel Islands/Isle of Man, and am therefore classed as an Island student. What do I need to do to apply?
If you at school/college in the Channel Islands or on the Isle of Man the process of applying to Cambridge is the same as that for applicants in the UK or EU. To apply you will only need to submit a UCAS application by 15 October.

How do I apply for the Graduate Course in Medicine (A101)?
As well as a UCAS application, applicants for the Graduate Course in Medicine (A101) will need to submit the special Cambridge Graduate Course in Medicine Application Form. Copies of this form are available from the admissions offices of the participating Colleges or from the Undergraduate Admissions website (www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/apply/).

I wish to apply for a Choral or Organ Award, is the application process the same?
If you wish to apply for a Choral or Organ Award you need to complete a Choral and Organ Award Application Form as well as submit a UCAS application. The Choral and Organ Award Application Form must be received by your first-preference College by 1 September (Organ Scholarships) or 5 September (Choral Awards). Your UCAS application does not have to be submitted until the 15 October deadline.

Choral and Organ Award Application Forms are available from any participating College admissions office, the Cambridge Admissions Office or from the Undergraduate Admissions website (www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/apply/).

What is the closing date for applications?
The closing date for UCAS applications (and the Cambridge Overseas Application Form where applicable) will remain 15 October. This is to ensure we have sufficient time to assess all applicants equally and fairly. A key element of this is interviewing every realistic applicant, which results in the organisation of over 20,000 interviews.

Applicants wishing to be interviewed as part of one of the University’s overseas interview schemes should submit both their UCAS application and COAF by 20 September. More information about these schemes can be found at: www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/international/apply.html.

Does the later closing date for some mature applicants still apply?
Yes. The four Colleges for mature students only (Hughes Hall, Lucy Cavendish, St Edmund’s and Wolfson) recognise that those students on one-year Access and one-year A level courses may need to apply after 15 October in order to supply adequate references. Applications from students in such circumstances will continue to be considered by these Colleges until 17 November and possibly later while places are available. Please note that this concession applies to UK/EU mature applicants only. It does not apply to either Open mature applicants or anyone applying as an affiliated student. Students intending to apply after 15 October should contact their chosen College’s admissions office for advice as soon as possible. Please note that we cannot be flexible about closing dates for applications to Architecture, Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine as the number of places available across the whole University is strictly controlled. Applications from mature students in these subjects must be made by the 15 October closing date.

Is there still the option to add a Cambridge-specific personal statement?
Yes. You will have the opportunity to add a Cambridge-specific personal statement as part of the Supplementary Application Questionnaire that you are asked to complete once your UCAS application has been received.

Can schools/colleges still submit an additional Cambridge-specific reference?
As we receive a copy of UCAS reference you supply, there is no need for you to provide an additional reference for Cambridge. However, if you have any particular comments to make that relate to Cambridge specifically you are welcome to do so and you should send this direct to the relevant College.

In order to ensure that any additional reference arrives at the right place we would advise you to address your letter to the Admissions Office at the College concerned and to make sure that the applicant's full name, date of birth, course applied for and, if possible, UCAS Personal ID number are clear. In the case of an Open application, this information should be sent to Cambridge Admissions Office. Contact details for the Colleges can be found at: www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/colleges/contacts.html.