Undergraduate admissions statistics issued for the 08/09 admissions cycle

Details can be found in a special edition of the Reporter – the official journal of the University of Cambridge.  Please follow link at side bar.

The proportion of Home students from state schools and colleges admitted in the 08/09 admissions cycle is 58%.

While this represents a small decrease of 1 percentage point, the University is pleased that the gains made in this area last year, when it was able to report an increase of 4 percentage points, have, to a large extent, been retained.

Dr Geoff Parks, Director of Admissions for the Cambridge Colleges, said:

“Obviously there are minor fluctuations in these figures, year-on-year, and a one percentage point change is not statistically significant. But, while we’re pleased that the figures remain reasonably stable, we’re equally conscious of the need to keep reinforcing the message that Cambridge is a welcoming and inclusive place that anyone with the required academic ability should consider as a university choice.”

The highly competitive nature of the Cambridge Admissions process is once again reflected in the number of unsuccessful applicants who went on to achieve three A grades or more at A Level, excluding General Studies. This was 5,817 – an increase of more than 300 on the previous year’s, 5,494.

Jon Beard, Director of Undergraduate Recruitment, added:

“The University and Colleges of Cambridge continue to take our responsibilities in this area very seriously. This year alone we have almost doubled the number of places available on our Sutton Trust summer schools which are aimed specifically at students in the state sector, and we’re trialling new ways of offering support to students with widening participation backgrounds to make sure they achieve their offers.”