Guide to Applying to University of Cambridge as an International Student for an Undergraduate Degree
The University of Cambridge, which is also well-known as “Cambridge University” is situated in Cambridge, England. This esteemed and prominent university is one of the oldest universities in the world and is usually ranked in the world’s top five universities. Established by a group of scholars in 1209, it is located in the center of the ancient city of London.
This University is a confederation of Schools, Faculties, Departments, and Colleges. It serves more than 18,000 students from diverse cultures and all corners of the world. This leading place of learning also has many sports clubs and societies to nurture students for different fields and overall personality development. Most importantly and the major highlight of the University of Cambridge is that it has given us exceptional skillful scholars from which 89 of them have bagged the prestigious honor of the world i.e. Nobel Prize. The details and overview of undergraduate admissions are mentioned below:
English Proficiency Test Requirements
Fluency in reading, writing, and speaking the English language is the mandate requisite for getting admission into illustrious Cambridge University. If you are applying to study for an undergraduate certificate, diploma, or advanced diploma and your native languages are other than English, then you are required to attempt a language proficiency test and score standardized grades to fulfill the eligibility criteria.
- 110 and above on the TOEFL iBT
- 7.5 and above on the IELTS Academic
- 200 and above on Cambridge English: C2 Proficiency
- 193 and above on Cambridge English: C1 Advanced
However, if you are unable to meet the language requirements for the approved test, the applicant is referred for an additional assessment at the University of Cambridge Language Centre for which the fee is £80.00.
ACT/SAT Requirements
For standardized testing, every school and college has its benchmark scores. But, in Cambridge, they don’t have any explicit requirements for SAT and ACT. Also, there are no published average scores for SAT/ACT.
Tuition Fee and Cost of Living
The tuition fee and the average cost of living for international students applying to UCL are mentioned below. Make sure you check the university’s official website for any changes in the tuition fee.
| Annual Cost | In US Dollars | In Indian Rupees* |
| Tuition Fee | £ 30,678 | ₹ 27,61,020 |
| Living Expenses | £ 9,420 | ₹ 8,47,800 |
| Total | £ 40,098 | ₹ 36,08,820 |
*The conversion from GBP to INR has been made with £1 = ₹90. The cost may vary with the varying exchange rate.
Scholarships/ bursaries are available for international students based on merit.
Essay Prompts
Add-on to transcripts, GPA, applications, extracurricular activities, varied valued documents, and letters of recommendation, the University of Cambridge provides an option for the applicants to submit an additional essay.
For some courses, mainly for arts and social sciences courses, you may be asked to submit one or two examples of your written work from a relevant A Level/IB (or equivalent) course.
Cambridge Colleges typically ask for written work that can be found in the relevant course information. They assess your application and notify you about where you have to send and the deadline for its submission.
Application Portal
The applicants of Cambridge University can apply through the UCAS website. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service or UCAS is the organization that operates the application processes for the universities in the United Kingdom.
After you have submitted your application and are done with all the necessary details and document submission, the Applicant Portal is the progress tracking of your application where you can look at it constantly if you are made an offer for admission.
If you have been made an offer of admission, you will be assigned a Self-Service account. It tells you everything you need to know about the progress of your offer and College membership. This account allows you to view your offer conditions, print a certificate of your offer, accept or decline, and provide documents to meet the required conditions.
College Application Deadlines
As a part of the application process, international students are advised not to wait until the day of the deadline to submit their application and apply as early as possible. The deadlines given below are for international students:
| Start Date | Deadline | |
| Application Submission | Mid-May | October 15 |
Conclusion
Cambridge has welcomed and nurtured students for hundreds of years. It isn’t just the world-leading education that makes this small UK city a prominent place for students – Cambridge has a wealth of incredible attractions that capture the hearts of many.
You can sign up for free at UniRely and talk to student mentors studying at the University of Cambridge. You can also take their help in completing your application. For more details on application requirements and admission process, visit UniRely.
