Cambridge University Acceptance Rates and Requirements

It doesn’t come as a surprise that the University of Cambridge is one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Ranked 5th in the latest global university rankings, Cambridge is famous for its academic excellence, noble historical footprints, and first-class research. Securing a place at Cambridge is a challenging dream for many students worldwide, but the journey to admission is highly competitive, so what does it take to get accepted? Suppose you’re a UK or an international student in Europe aspiring to study at Cambridge. In that case, this blog will share everything you need to know about Cambridge acceptance rates, and application requirements and give tips specifically tailored for you. The ambitious students and parents will discover that with Crimson Education’s personalised support, students are 2-3 times more likely to gain admission to Cambridge compared to regular applicants. Our expert mentorship, premium guidance and 1:1 application support help students stand out and be successful when applying to the world’s best universities.

Crimson Education’s Cambridge Admissions Success

Crimson Education is proud to have helped hundreds of students gain acceptance to both Oxford and Cambridge. Up to this day, 294 students have secured places at Oxbridge with our support, which is one of the highest success rates globally. This number is set to grow even further in the upcoming admission round. Our results testify to Crimson’s admission expert guidance, which is intensively focused on student success.

Are you interested in learning how we can support you or your child’s academic journey to Cambridge? Book a consultation with one of our academic advisors to explore our personalised, premium programmes. The earlier you start - the more chances you will have!

Cambridge University Acceptance Rates 2024

The latest Cambridge acceptance rate is about 16%. If you compare it to US universities, this rate might seem higher, however, the entry requirements are utterly high and the competition is undoubtedly intense. Another important factor is that students cannot apply to both Cambridge and Oxford, which requires some critical consideration by aspiring applicants.

Let’s have a look at Cambridge acceptance rates and how they have changed over the last 5 years.

Do you think Cambridge University will get a higher or lower number of applicants in the next admission cycle? Follow us on our Instagram to keep up to date with the latest UK university admission news!

We recommend reviewing the most recent Cambridge undergraduate admissions statistics report for updated annual acceptance rates and detailed breakdowns.

The Most and Least Competitive Cambridge Courses

Cambridge offers a broad range of programmes to choose from with some being more and others less competitive to get into. For instance, Computer Science, Medicine and Psychology have one of the lowest rates of acceptance, whereas some humanities programmes such as Archaeology or Modern and Medieval Languages are up to 4 or 5 times easier to get into.

Cambridge Admission Requirements for UK and International Students

To meet minimum entry requirements, UK applicants must demonstrate exceptional academic profiles and a strong passion for the chosen subject. The Cambridge admissions office recognises a wide range of UK and equivalent International curricula. Below are the minimum entry requirements for UK students:

1. A-Levels: Most courses require at least AAA, although some competitive courses such as Computer Science or Medicine may demand even higher. For example, the majority of students applying to Scieneves in general, presented straight A*A*A*.

2. GCSEs: GCSE results are not mandatory, however, demonstrating a strong set of scores can be evaluated and strengthen your application.

3. Course Specific Requirements: Some courses require high performance in additional entrance exams, such as:

   TMUA (Test of Mathematics for University Admissions) or CSAT (Computer Science Aptitude Test) for Mathematics and Computer Science

   LNAT (Law National Aptitude Test) for Law

4. Outstanding super-curricular activities: To demonstrate your enthusiasm and passion for your chosen subject, Cambridge University will be looking for proof of what you have been doing outside of school to showcase your interest in the chosen subject.

5. Personal Statement: Writing a compelling personal statement is another requirement in which you can showcase why you are a perfect candidate. It must demonstrate your skills, academic achievements and activities related to the subject you are applying.

6. Interview: A stellar performance in the admissions interview is one of the last resources for you to prove suitability for the course. There, admissions officers will have a chance to meet you in person and judge your problem-solving abilities, passion and fluency about the subject.

Additional Requirements for International Students from Europe

The University of Cambridge recognises and adapts to most of the European educational systems. Therefore, European students must demonstrate the same academic standards as UK students with some additional requirements:

• International Baccalaureate (IB): Oxford typically requires an IB score of 38-40 points, including 6s and 7s in Higher Level subjects.
• European Baccalaureate: A minimum of 85% is generally required, with grades between 8 and 9 in subjects that correspond to UK A-levels.
• International A-Levels: For students outside the UK taking A-levels, Oxford treats these as equivalent to UK A-levels on a grade-for-grade basis.
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). English language proficiency tests should ideally be completed within two years of the course start date to ensure results are current.

International students applying to specific courses must also meet Cambridge entrance exam requirements, including:

• MAT for Mathematics and Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics and Mathematics and Philosophy courses
• ELAT (English Literature Admissions Test) for English Language and Literature, Classics and English, English and Modern Languages, History and English
• HAT (History Aptitude Test) for History (Ancient and Modern), History and Economics, History and English, History and Modern Languages, and History and Politics

Cambridge Admission News

UCAS announced some significant changes to its admissions process from the 2024 admissions cycle. Most notably, the 4,000-character personal essay will be replaced by several short questions relating to a student’s area of study.

• The 4,000-character personal statement essay will be scrapped and replaced with a series of questions about the higher education course a student is applying for
• Several university admissions exams will be discontinued, including BMAT (medicine), ENGAA (engineering), NSAA (natural sciences) and TMUA (mathematical skills) tests
• The seven UK medical schools that use BMAT tests as part of their admissions process (Brighton and Sussex, Imperial, Lancaster, UCL, Cambridge, Leeds and Oxford) as well as medical and healthcare schools in other countries will put alternative arrangements in place.

Crimson Education Admission Support and Resources

Crimson Education offers personalised admissions support programmes led by former Oxford and Cambridge admissions officers, Oxbridge alumni mentors, and tutors. We provide premium comprehensive guidance tailored to each student and designed to maximise success in the competitive admissions landscape. Here’s a closer look at the services we offer.

Strategy & Application Support for UCAS Applications

We begin with an Initial Consultation to set your goals and assess your needs. In the second week, we develop a personalised Roadmap outlining each step of your journey, with monthly strategy meetings to keep you focused and on track.

Our support includes:

• Customised Roadmap: Our in-platform roadmap keeps every step of the UK application process organised and focused, with real-time updates to track your progress.
• Candidacy Positioning: We assess your profile and develop an application strategy to emphasise your strengths and distinguish you from other international applicants.
• University Selection: Our advisors recommend the best universities based on acceptance rates, personal preferences, location, and overall fit.
• Personalised Essay Support & Strategy: Our Essay Mentors offer dedicated support in crafting your UCAS Personal Statement, with access to a database of over 1000+ sample essays and personalised one-on-one brainstorming sessions to shape your narrative.
• Tailored Interview Preparation: For students applying to courses with interview requirements, our Interview Mentors provide targeted interview preparation. This includes taired mock interviews with subject-specific questions, developed by mentors who have passed Oxbridge or medical interviews, as well as personalised feedback to help you present your ideas confidently.
• VIP Personal Statement Review: Our VIP Personal Statement Review service brings an extra level of insight from a senior Crimson Strategy team member, such as a former Oxbridge admissions officer, senior tutor, or current Oxbridge supervisor, to refine and polish your statement.
• Academic Tutoring and Supercurriculars Development: In addition, our academic resources offer personalised tutoring for essential entrance exams, such as the TMUA, LNAT, and UCAT, tailored to your target universities and subjects. We also help students engage in relevant supercurricular activities that deepen their knowledge in their intended field of study.
• Research Opportunities through the Summer Programme: Through Crimson’s Summer Research Programme, students engage in a six-week intensive research course to produce publication-ready papers, supported by over 30 hours of instruction from PhD fellows in small online classes. Students can select from fields like International Politics, Artificial Intelligence, Economics, and more, working with university professors from Harvard, MIT, and Stanford.
• Comprehensive UCAS Application Guidance: We offer end-to-end UCAS application support, from test prep to personal statements, and extracurriculars to interview prep. We also provide strategic advice for reference letters and support with post-application communication, supplementary information requests, and additional university choice consulting for those admitted to multiple universities.

To get more information on how we can help you, please visit our UK admissions support page or Book a consultation with one of our Academic Advisors to see how we can elevate your journey to Cambridge.

Key Resources & Further Reading

• Join our free webinars on UK university applications
• The Ultimate UK University Admissions Guide
• How to Choose the Right UK University
• Follow us on Instagram for more UK university admission news and tips