Courses at University of Cambridge

Indian applicants applying to the University of Cambridge are required to meet the academic as well as English language requirements in order ro secure an admission in the university. Given below are the University of Cambridge entry requirements:

Undergraduate Courses:

Indians who want to take admission to the University of Cambridge in the undergraduate courses must have completed Class 12. Apart from this, students must have the minimum scores or grades in the number of subjects as applicable to different boards. In short, if students wish to apply to a University of Cambridge undergraduate course, then they need to be studying towards a qualification of an equivalent standard to A levels and be hoping to achieve top marks in it.

Postgraduate Courses:

University of Cambridge minimum requirement for admission to postgraduate courses is a professional bachelor’s (at least 4 years) in professional subjects like Architecture, Agriculture, Business Administration, Business Management, Business Studies, Computer Applications, Fine Arts, Engineering, Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery, Nursing, Law, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Planning and Technology from any institution recognised by Ecctis OR Bachelor of Arts / Science / Commerce (3 - 4 years) from a well-ranked institute with an overall grade of 70% or CGPA 7.3 or higher.

The Cambridge University fees vary between INR 23 L and INR 72 L for first-year. The table below includes the first-year Cambridge University tuition fees of popular programs for Indian students:

Read more about the Cost of Studying in the UK for Indian Students

With a 21% acceptance rate, Cambridge University is quite difficult to get into. However, it is possible to get into if a student focuses on certain factors discussed below:

• Aim for high scores: Students must aim for high scores throughout their college or school and score a high GPA as it is one of the crucial criteria during admission. Also, they must score well in standardized test scores.
• Write a compelling personal statement: Students must write an attractive statement that reflects their passion for the subject, and have relevant experience.
• Indulge in Extracurricular: Students must actively participate in extracurricular activities and indulge in certain volunteer work that is relevant and inclined toward their interests.

According to unofficial sources, the University of Cambridge acceptance rate is between 18% - 21%. In short, getting into the University of Cambridge is extremely difficult. On average across all subjects, the university has itself stated that it usually receives six applications per place, but naturally, there is variation between courses. Generally, admissions tutors at the University of Cambridge consider all of the information available in the application before making any decisions. However, academic performance carries the greatest weight. In all, each application is considered individually and holistically by the University of Cambridge by analyzing all of the information:

• Academic record;
• Personal statement (sop);
• School / college reference;
• Any written work submitted;
• Performance in any written assessment;
• Contextual data; and
• Performance at interview.

Note that at the University of Cambridge, Class 12 school leaving qualifications are not considered to be suitable preparation. Applicants studying towards Class 12 shall be expected on course to obtain grades at a very high level in relevant subjects to the course being applied to. The grades expected depend on the board with which applicants are studying and examples of typical requirements from some of the boards are given below:

• CISCE and NIOS: Applicants will need scores of 90% or higher in five or more relevant subjects
• CBSE: Applicants shall require five or more A1 grades in relevant subjects
• State Boards: Applicants shall be considered on a case-by-case basis. However, applicants will generally require scores of 95% or equivalent in five or more relevant subjects

Applicants taking Class 12 school leaving qualifications from any exam board shall only be considered competitive if they are accompanied by some additional qualifications. In addition to a very high-level performance in Class 12, details about the typical qualifications and levels expected to be achieved are given below:

• College Board Advanced Placement Tests: Offers for all Cambridge courses may be conditional on achieving grades of 5 in five or more Andhra Pradesh Tests
• IIT-JEE (Advanced): Offers for Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Natural Sciences (Physical) may be made conditional on a rank of
• STEP: Offers for Mathematics shall be conditional on achievement in the Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP). STEP shall also be required for offers for other subjects, like Computer Science, Engineering, and Economics, where attainment equivalent to A Level Mathematics and / or Further Mathematics cannot be showcased by any other means. Note that all Mathematics offers shall have a STEP condition attached (including for the applicants taking Andhra Pradesh Tests or IIT JEE)