Interviews at Cambridge

Additional Resources
Cambridge Interviews: the facts This leaflet aims to set out the facts about Cambridge interviews.
Mock admissions interviews courtesy of Emmanuel College.

The University of Cambridge interviews the majority of its undergraduate applicants. The information and resources in these pages are intended to make the process as transparent as possible and contain everything you need to know about admissions interviews.

Interviews in Action Interviews in Action is a 25-minute film designed to give undergraduate applicants a better idea of what to expect when they come to Cambridge for interview.

About the interviews

Contrary to what you may have heard there are no ‘tricks’ at interviews. Interviewers know you may be nervous. They are not trying to catch you out, but to challenge you to think for yourself. Often there are no right or wrong answers to the questions, and the way you arrive at an answer may be of greater interest than the answer itself. The key thing to remember is to be yourself.

The exact form and length of interviews varies from College to College, and between subjects, but typically you will have two interviews of 20–30 minutes. Your College will send you full details, explaining what will be involved. You may be asked to stay overnight, in which case the College will provide accommodation.

You will probably want to prepare for your interview but it is not a good thing to be ‘over-rehearsed’ – it will be obvious to the interviewers. It can, however, be helpful to have some experience of discussing your work and your interests with a stranger, and to get some practice at expressing your ideas and opinions as if you are at an interview.

We would also encourage you to read around the subject you have applied for, and explore beyond the specifications of the qualifications you are studying. You’ll need to know about major developments in the subject, and be able to explain why you want to study it and why you want to study it at Cambridge. If you are applying for a subject that is new to you, such as Law, you will need to demonstrate that you have undertaken some research to find out what it will entail.

Interviewers may also ask about other interests or experience that you mentioned in your application. If you have expressed a particular interest – in an author perhaps, or a recent article or programme, or some work or travelling you’ve done – expect to be asked about it.

If you have questions about Cambridge interviews, please email interviews@cao.cam.ac.uk.