For most Indian students, one university that stands out among the best UK institutions is the University of Cambridge, which has the highest number of Nobel Laureates associated with them. The University of Cambridge uses a holistic selection process to choose all of its students, so admission is not a simple task. The university also conducts strenuous interviews. This is why this college has one of the lowest acceptance rates in the UK. If you’re wondering how to ace your application to Cambridge University, keep reading because we’ll cover the acceptance rate, selection process, and more!
What You need to know about the University of Cambridge
Cambridge, England is home to the collegiate research university known as The University of Cambridge. The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209 and given a royal charter by King Henry III in the year 1231. It is the fourth-oldest surviving university in the world and the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world after Oxford University.
After a disagreement with the locals at Oxford University, a group of academics who had left the university formed the University of Cambridge.
Oxford and Cambridge, the two historic universities in England, are frequently referred to collectively as “Oxbridge” due to their many shared characteristics.
Cambridge is made up of a number of institutions, including over 150 academic departments, faculties, and other organizations arranged into six schools, as well as 31 constituent colleges that are semi-autonomous. Within the university, each college is a self-governing organization that controls its own membership and has its own internal structure and activities. All students are members of a college.
The university lacks a main campus, and its colleges and administrative buildings are dispersed across the city. The main method of instruction for undergraduates at Cambridge is weekly small-group supervisions in the colleges, which usually consist of 1-4 students. Many people view this intensive teaching style as the “jewel in the crown” of an Oxbridge undergraduate education.
Furthermore, the central university faculties and departments offer lectures, seminars, laboratory work, and occasionally additional supervision. Postgraduate teaching is provided predominantly centrally.
There are currently 13,342 undergraduate students enrolled at the university, and 11,800 graduate students.
What is the Cambridge University Acceptance Rate For American Students?
Please be aware that admission offers for applicants from the United States are typically made on an individual basis.
The best way for applicants who are American citizens to be accepted into Cambridge University is to obtain at least five (5) or more Advanced Placement (AP) Scores at grade five.
Additionally, candidates must achieve high passing grades on their academic coursework, and an excellent SAT (I) Reasoning Test or ACT score is expected.
Be aware that SAT II (Subject) tests are not typically thought of as being comparable to AP tests.
You must disclose the results of every test you’ve ever taken as a candidate.
The University of Cambridge USA students’ acceptance rate is 12%.
University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate for Undergraduate Students
The University of Cambridge’s undergraduate acceptance rate is 21%.
University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate GPA
The average GPA for admission to the University of Cambridge is at least 3. 7 based on the 4. 0 system.
Cambridge University Transfer Acceptance Rate
When it comes to accepting applications from students wishing to transfer from their current institution to Cambridge University, Cambridge has a strict policy. These policies have made the transfer acceptance rate comparatively very competitive.
Therefore, it is crucial that you make sure you adhere to all requirements and instructions if you are applying as a transfer student.
However, the Cambridge University Transfer Acceptance Rate is 7%
Cambridge University Undergraduate Programs
The undergraduate programs at the University of Cambridge with at least 15 applicants are listed below, with the most competitive, least competitive, most popular, and programs with the fewest applicants, along with their corresponding acceptance rates.
Most Competitive Cambridge University Undergraduate Programs
| MB,BChir Medicine (Graduate Entry) | 10% |
| BSc Computer Science | 10% |
| BA Architecture | 15% |
| BA Economics | 16% |
| MEng Engineering | 18% |
| BA Law | 19% |
| BA Psychological and Behavioural Sciences | 20% |
| MB,BChir Medicine | 20% |
| BA Human, Social, and Political Sciences | 22% |
| BA Philosophy | 23% |
Least Competitive Cambridge University Undergraduate Programs
| BA Classics | 60% |
| BA Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic | 60% |
| BA Archaeology | 59% |
| BA Music | 52% |
| BA Classics | 51% |
| BA Asian and Middle Eastern Studies | 48% |
| BA Modern and Medieval Languages | 47% |
| BA Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion | 47% |
| BA Geography | 44% |
| BA Linguistics | 40% |
Cambridge University Undergraduate Programs with Most Applicants
| BA/MSci Natural Sciences | 2922 |
| MEng Engineering | 2250 |
| MB,BChir Medicine | 1584 |
| BA Mathematics | 1518 |
| BA Law | 1498 |
| BSc Computer Science | 1330 |
| BA Economics | 1143 |
| BA Human, Social, and Political Sciences | 1089 |
| BA English | 766 |
| BA History | 616 |
Cambridge University Undergraduate Programs with Fewest Applicants
| BA Classics | 57 |
| BA Archaeology | 58 |
| BA Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic | 60 |
| BA History and Modern Languages | 92 |
| BA Linguistics | 100 |
| BA History of Art | 122 |
| BA Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion | 124 |
| BA Classics | 134 |
| BA Asian and Middle Eastern Studies | 143 |
| BA Education | 153 |
Cambridge University Postgraduate Programs
The postgraduate programs at the University of Cambridge with at least 15 applicants are listed below, with the most competitive, least competitive, most popular, and programs with the fewest applicants, along with their corresponding acceptance rates.
Most Competitive Cambridge Postgraduate Programs
| MPhil Machine Learning and Machine Intelligence | 5.9% |
| MPhil Basic and Translational Neuroscience | 6.8% |
| MPhil Public Health | 10% |
| MPhil Machine Learning, Speech and Language Technology | 12% |
| MPhil Finance | 14% |
| MPhil Management Science and Operations | 16% |
| MPhil Engineering | 17% |
| MAST Mathematical Statistics | 18% |
| MPhil Development Studies | 18% |
| MPhil Bioscience Enterprise | 18% |
Least Competitive Cambridge University Postgraduate Programs
| MEd Researching Practice | 98% |
| MEd Counselling | 91% |
| MPhil Human Evolutionary Studies | 85% |
| MPhil Clinical Science | 84% |
| MPhil Assyriology | 82% |
| MPhil European Literature and Culture | 77% |
| MPhil Biological Science | 73% |
| MPhil Criminological Research | 73% |
| MPhil Medieval and Renaissance Literature | 72% |
| MPhil Medieval History | 72% |
Cambridge University Postgraduate Programs with Most Applicants
| Master of Law (LLM) | 1167 |
| MPhil Development Studies | 679 |
| MPhil Machine Learning and Machine Intelligence | 577 |
| MPhil Real Estate Finance | 436 |
| MPhil Economics | 433 |
| MPhil Public Policy | 414 |
| MPhil International Relations and Politics | 411 |
| MPhil Management | 391 |
| MAST Applied Mathematics | 366 |
| MPhil Finance | 325 |
Cambridge University Postgraduate Programs with Fewest Applicants
| MPhil Biological Science | 15 |
| MPhil Assyriology | 17 |
| MPhil Theoretical and Applied Linguistics | 17 |
| MPhil Medical Science | 17 |
| MEd Master of Education | 18 |
| PgDip Conservation of Easel Paintings | 18 |
| MPhil Primary Care Research | 19 |
| MPhil Geographical Research | 19 |
| MPhil Land Economy Research | 19 |
| MASt Earth Sciences | 19 |
What is the University of Cambridge Graduate Acceptance Rate?
The Cambridge University Graduate acceptance rate is 42%.
University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate for International Students
One of the top universities in the world for research is the University of Cambridge.
Since the university’s founding, more than 25 percent of undergraduates—or roughly 3,100 students—come from countries other than the United Kingdom, representing more than 100 different countries. The average acceptance rate for international students at the University of Cambridge is 34. 6%.
University of Cambridge Acceptance Admission Requirements.
Note that offers are typically made on an individual basis to applicants from the USA.
Typically, five or more Advanced Placement (AP) scores at grade 5 would be considered sufficient proof of preparation for entry. A high score on the SAT (I) Reasoning Test or the ACT, as well as high passing marks on your educational credentials (such as the applicable US High School Diploma), are also expected. * Candidates who take these exams must disclose all tests they have taken and their results, including retakes. Cambridge Colleges reserve the right to get in touch with the ACT, College Board, or your institution to confirm your results if you fail to disclose any scores.
Colleges will consider an applicant’s unique circumstances as well as the policies of their school (which were taken as part of their standard curriculum), including the number of years it took to complete the declared APs, when evaluating applicants with qualifications that include APs. Therefore, additional information might be requested from an applicant or an applicant’s school as part of their application.
For more details on applying with College Board qualifications, please see the advice below. For details on applying with the full IB Diploma or three or more A-Levels, please see the relevant sections on our Entrance Requirements page.
The ability of applicants from the USA to submit application profiles that combine a variety of qualification types (such as AP Tests, A-Levels, and IB Higher Level Courses) is sometimes known to colleges. Colleges will evaluate these individually, but applicants should be aware that a very high level of achievement will be necessary.
Applicants also often apply as affiliated applicants having completed the first degree. In some circumstances, our Colleges may consider an application from a student who is undertaking the first year of an undergraduate degree at a university outside the UK. Please contact the College to which you wish to apply for further guidance on the suitability of your University qualifications for following one of these routes.
Advanced Placement (AP) Tests
Our requirement is for at least five AP Test scores in grade 5. Applicants do not have to complete five AP Courses to meet this requirement, as a Test can be sat without completing the relevant Course. Advice on how to study for and take AP Tests is available on the College Board AP website.
We encourage applicants to enroll in AP Research and Seminar courses as well as AP Capstone because they will help students develop independent study and research skills that are important for success in higher education. However, AP Capstone courses won’t typically be a prerequisite for any offer made, and AP Capstone scores won’t typically count toward the minimum of five grade 5 scores.
When choosing which AP Tests to sit for, prospective applicants should consult the course pages on the Cambridge website to identify close subject matches. Please note that for Cambridge courses that ask for Mathematics and Further Mathematics A Level, Calculus BC is strongly preferred. For courses that ask for Physics A level, the two Physics C Tests are preferred.
This requirement does not require the completion of an AP Test in a single sitting.
SAT (I) Reasoning Tests
For most Science courses and Economics (Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine), a high pass is equivalent to scores of 750 in each component, giving a combined score of 1,500; and for all other courses, it is equivalent to scores of 730 in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and 730 in Mathematics, giving a combined score of at least 1,460.
Instead of sending in sectional scores from different SAT sittings, applicants are asked to send in results from the entire test.
More information on SAT I Tests can be found on the College Board SAT website.
ACT Tests
An ACT composite score of at least 32 (for Arts and Humanities) or 33 (for Sciences) out of 36 is accepted as equivalent to the SAT Reasoning Test scores outlined above. Further information can be found on the ACT website.
*SAT Subject Tests are typically not considered to be equivalent to AP Tests and cannot typically be substituted to meet the typical offer level for AP.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language then any offer made is likely to include English language requirements. See which English language qualifications we accept on our English language requirements page.
Fees and finance
As an international student, fees vary between different courses. You may be eligible for a US federal loan; and limited financial support may be available from the Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trust, or College funds.
If you’re unsure as to whether your fee status would be Home or international, please see our fee status page.
Applying To Study at Cambridge University
Interviews are held in Cambridge and a number of overseas locations, including in Canada (Toronto). Please refer to the information on our overseas interviews page for full details.
Cambridge University Admissions Assessments
Please also refer to the information about admission assessments. If the course you’re applying for requires you to take a pre-interview written assessment, you must be registered in advance for the assessment. The assessment center where you’ll take the assessment must register you (you can’t register yourself) by the relevant assessment registration deadline.
How to get into Cambridge University
- Obtain a minimum SAT or ACT score of –
- Maintain a GPA of at least 3.7.
Join Extracurriculars that Align with Cambridge College’s Values.
- Join a sports team, the school band, or some other group activity. For instance, if Cambridge College places a high value on music, consider joining a group that focuses on that subject.
- Volunteer in your hometown. Beyond the college, Boston offers a wealth of opportunities for involvement. Cambridge College seeks applicants who will serve as good representatives for the institution by giving back to the neighborhood and the greater Boston area as a whole.
- Spend your summer engaging in activities that reflect your values, personal development, leadership skills, and other less tangible qualities. Beyond your grades and test results, Cambridge College must be convinced that you will be a valuable contributor to their community. Your experiences should show that you are more than just your grades and test results.
- Write a fantastic essay that demonstrates something to Cambridge College that they can’t tell from the rest of your application.
- Get teacher recs that speak to your character. Try to get at least one recommendation from a professor in your intended major if you are aware of it and include it on your Cambridge College application.
- Apply Before the Deadline. Too many students submit their applications at the last minute, and a lot can go wrong in this limited amount of time. It’s possible that Cambridge College’s own system will crash because so many students are submitting applications on the final day. Avoid the additional stress this may bring by submitting your application a few days early.
FAQ
The frequently asked questions and their responses are provided below for the benefit of potential applicants.
What is the University of Cambridge undergraduate acceptance rate?
The University of Cambridge’s undergraduate acceptance rate is 21%.
What is Cambridge University GPA acceptance rate?
The minimum acceptance rate for GPA is 3. 7 based on the 4. 0 grading system.
What is the Cambridge University graduate acceptance rate?
The Cambridge University Graduate acceptance rate is perked at 42%.
What is the Cambridge University USA student Acceptance Rate?
The University of Cambridge USA students’ acceptance rate is 12%.
References
Being ranked #2 among the best universities in the Uk, the University of Cambridge is one of the top student choice study preferences in the UK. As a result, admission to the University of Cambridge has become somewhat competitive.
However, the University of Cambridge has a relatively low acceptance rate, so potential students must be prepared to meet all requirements before being admitted. Students who are accepted also get to experience an interesting campus and student life.
We hope the data above aids in your decision to enroll in a course at the University of Cambridge.
Good Luck And Success!!!
[ENG SUB] Grad School Decisions Reaction
FAQ
Is it hard to get into Cambridge grad school?
The University of Cambridge has rigorous academic entry requirements because postgraduate study there is challenging and intellectually demanding.
What GPA do you need to get into Cambridge graduate school?
Entering Class of 2022: GPA Range: 3. 4 – 4. 0. Average MCAT Score: 514. MCAT Range: 499 – 522.
How hard is it to get into Cambridge as a US student?
Although the average Cambridge acceptance rate is 15. 7%, this rate is inevitably lower for its most competitive courses These programs include law, medicine, computer science, architecture, and economics. The acceptance rate for Computer Science, for example, is just 10%
How hard is it to get into PhD at Cambridge?
A Cambridge PhD is intellectually challenging, so you must be highly accomplished and motivated to continue this course of advanced study and research.