University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world, with one of the most selective sets of entry requirements in the United Kingdom.

Admission

Undergraduate admission to Cambridge colleges used to depend on knowledge of Latin and Ancient Greek, subjects taught principally in Britain at fee-paying schools, called public schools. This tended to mean that students came predominantly from members of the British social elite. Since the 1960s, the admission process has changed, and aspiring students are now expected to have the best, or nearly the best, possible qualifications at A-level relevant to the undergraduate course they are applying for and to impress college fellows at interview. In addition, in recent years admissions tutors in certain technical subjects, for example mathematics, have required applicants to sit the more difficult STEP papers in addition to achieving top grades in their A-levels. However, there is still considerable public debate in Britain over whether admissions processes at Oxford and Cambridge are entirely meritocratic and fair, and whether enough students from state schools succeed in gaining entry. Almost 50% of the successful applicants come from public schools, but the average qualifications for these successful applicants are higher than for successful applicants from state schools.

Related Topics:
Latin - Ancient Greek - Public schools - 1960 - A-level - STEP papers

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Graduate admission is decided by the faculty or department relating to the applicant's subject — following this, admission to a college (not necessarily the applicant's preferred choice) is guaranteed.

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