Cambridge University: The Complete Guide 2026

You’re sitting in a small room with a low ceiling, opposite a professor who has just asked you a question you don’t know the answer to. Outside the window, you can see the turret of King’s College Chapel, but you have no time to admire the view; you need to think. The professor doesn’t expect a ready answer. They expect you to show them how you’d arrive at one. This is supervision – the foundation of education at the University of Cambridge and something you won’t experience in this form at any other university in the world. Once a week, in a group of two or three, you discuss an essay you’ve written or a problem set you’ve solved with your supervisor. It’s not a lecture; it’s an hour where someone outstanding in their field dedicates their attention solely to you.

Cambridge is the university where Isaac Newton formulated the laws of mechanics, Alan Turing designed the concept of the computing machine, and Crick and Watson deciphered the structure of DNA. Over 120 Nobel laureates – more than any other university in the world. But Cambridge is not a museum. It’s the Cavendish Laboratory, where groundbreaking research in physics is still being conducted. It’s ARM Holdings, whose processors power your phone, grown out of research conducted in the engineering department. It’s DeepMind and the artificial intelligence ecosystem that has grown around the university in recent years like a town around a cathedral. Cambridge is simultaneously the oldest and most forward-looking, and that’s what makes it unique.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to apply to Cambridge as an international applicant: from the specifics of the UCAS system and entrance exams (ESAT, TMUA, STEP), through the requirements for individual courses and realistic costs, to scholarships, the college system, and a comparison with Oxford. If you’re considering studying at one of the best universities in the world – and after Brexit, the UK remains a primary destination for international students – this article will give you a complete picture.

Rankings and Reputation – Why Cambridge?

Cambridge consistently ranks 2nd in the QS World University Rankings 2026 (behind MIT), and in many subject categories – mathematics, natural sciences, engineering – it holds the top spot in Europe. In the THE (Times Higher Education) 2026 ranking, it places among the global top five. In the national Complete University Guide 2026, Cambridge has held the number one position in the UK for years, surpassing Oxford in categories such as student satisfaction and research quality.

But rankings are just numbers. Cambridge’s reputation is built on something more concrete: the quality of its teaching, based on the supervision system, which you won’t find anywhere else on this scale – on the student-professor relationship and on the fact that its graduates genuinely shape the world. 15 UK Prime Ministers attended Cambridge. Stephen Hawking, Charles Darwin, Lord Byron, Zadie Smith, Sylvia Plath, King Charles III – all Cambridge alumni. In the sciences, the list is even longer: Maxwell, Rutherford, Dirac, Ramanujan, Sanger (two-time Nobel laureate in chemistry), Crick and Watson. No other university has such a history of discovery.

For an international student, a Cambridge degree opens doors that other universities simply don’t. Recruiters at McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, Google, or DeepMind treat Cambridge as a signal of the highest quality. And the alumni network – over 300,000 people in 190 countries – will accompany you throughout your career. If you’re comparing Cambridge with other top UK universities, also read our guides to Imperial College London, UCL, and LSE – each is outstanding in its fields, but Cambridge and Oxford remain in a class of their own.

Cambridge Admissions Step-by-Step

Admissions to Cambridge go through the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) system, but it has several elements that distinguish it from a standard application to UK universities. First and foremost: the deadline is October 15, not the end of January as for most UK universities. So you need to have everything ready half a year earlier than peers applying to other universities. An important rule: Cambridge allows you to apply to only Cambridge OR Oxford in the same year, not both. In addition to Cambridge, you choose 4 other universities in UCAS (a total of 5 choices). If you’re hesitating between Cambridge and Oxford, read our Oxford University guide and the comparison of both universities later in this article.

Through UCAS, you submit your application with a Personal Statement, grades, and a teacher’s reference. But Cambridge requires one more step – completing the SAQ (Supplementary Application Questionnaire). This is an additional questionnaire where you provide details about your education, exam results, and educational circumstances. The SAQ deadline is usually a week after UCAS, around October 22. For some courses (humanities, social sciences), you also need to submit written work, an essay or written assignments prepared as part of your schoolwork – by November 10.

Personal Statement: Academic, Not Generic

Cambridge reads your Personal Statement looking for one thing: intellectual passion for your chosen subject. Don’t write about volunteering, sports competitions, or student government work – unless it directly relates to your course. Cambridge is interested in what you’ve read outside the curriculum, what research questions fascinate you, and how you think about problems in your field. Bad example: “I’ve always been interested in science and I’m hardworking.” Good example: “After reading Schrödinger’s ‘What Is Life?’, I began to wonder why biology resisted mathematical formalization for so long…”

Entrance Exams (Pre-interview Assessments)

Most courses require you to take an entrance exam in October or November. The results determine who will be invited for an interview:

• ESAT (Engineering and Science Admissions Test), for Engineering, Computer Science, Natural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine. As of 2024, it replaced NSAA and ENGAA. Modules to choose from: mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology.
• TMUA (Test of Mathematics for University Admission) – for Economics and Computer Science (without Further Maths). Two parts: mathematical thinking and mathematical reasoning.
• STEP (Sixth Term Examination Paper), for Mathematics. You take this in June, after receiving a conditional offer. STEP 2 and/or STEP 3 with a grade S or 1 are required.
• LNAT (Law National Aptitude Test) – for Law. Verbal reasoning + essay.
• UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test), for Medicine.

Where to take the exams? ESAT and TMUA can be taken at authorized test centers worldwide (e.g., British Council) or in many international schools. Check the current list on the Cambridge Admissions Testing website.

Interview

Around 75% of applicants receive an interview invitation – significantly more than at most universities. A Cambridge interview is not a knowledge test; it’s a supervision simulation. You’re given a problem to solve and you think aloud. The interviewer provides hints, asks additional questions, and guides your thinking. For international candidates, interviews usually take place online in the first two weeks of December. They last 20–45 minutes, and you typically have 2–3 such conversations with different academics.

What do they assess? Primarily: how you react to new information and hints, whether you can think logically under pressure, whether you see deeper connections between concepts, and whether you are honest when you don’t know something. Example math question: “How many prime numbers are there less than a million? How would you estimate that?”. From economics: “If the government wanted to reduce sugar consumption, is a sugar tax the best option?”. From natural sciences: “Why can ants carry multiples of their weight, but elephants cannot?”. Decisions are announced at the end of January; a conditional offer requires you to meet your final exam results and possibly STEP.

Polish Matura (High School Diploma) – What Cambridge Accepts

Cambridge recognizes the Polish Matura and does not require A-levels. However, expectations are very high. The formal minimum is 3 extended-level subjects related to your chosen course, with results of 85–90% in each. Realistically competitive results are 95%+ in key extended-level subjects. A conditional offer usually requires specific results, e.g., “95% in extended-level Mathematics, 90% in extended-level Physics, 90% in extended-level Computer Science.” If you are taking the IB Diploma, Cambridge typically requires 40–42 points (out of 45) with 7,7,6 at Higher Level. For A-levels, a typical offer is A*A*A or A*AA, depending on the course. You can find more about grade conversions in our guide to the Polish Matura and studying abroad.

Language Requirements

Cambridge requires a very high level of English – higher than most universities in the UK and Europe:

• IELTS Academic: min. 7.5 overall, min. 7.0 in each component
• TOEFL iBT: min. 110 points, min. 25 in each component
• C2 Proficiency (CPE): min. 191
• C1 Advanced (CAE): min. 191 (Grade A)

It’s worth starting your preparation for TOEFL or IELTS early, at least 6 months before the exam. Platforms like prepclass.io offer courses with an emphasis on high scores and full practice tests with AI feedback. Our TOEFL vs IELTS guide will help you choose the right exam – with an IELTS requirement of 7.5, the difference in preparation strategy really matters.

Degree Programs – What to Study at Cambridge

Cambridge offers over 30 undergraduate courses (called Tripos). This is not a university where courses are divided into “easy” and “difficult” – all programs are demanding. However, they differ in the style of thinking they develop and the careers they lead to. Below are six courses that international applicants most frequently consider.

Natural Sciences is Cambridge’s flagship program, combining biology, chemistry, physics, and Earth sciences in a flexible curriculum. In the first year, you choose 3–4 modules and gradually specialize. This is the best program if you’re interested in natural sciences but don’t want to commit to a single discipline from day one. The Cavendish Laboratory, the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) – this is where world-changing research is conducted. Many international students at Cambridge study NatSci.

Mathematics – the Cambridge Mathematical Tripos is probably the most famous mathematics program in the world. Three years for Part IA, IB, and II, with an optional fourth year (Part III, Masters of Mathematics/Masters of Advanced Study). Part III is an elite program that has produced Fields Medalists and the best mathematicians of our time. It requires STEP 2 and STEP 3 – these are the most challenging mathematics exams in the UK. If you’re also considering mathematics at Warwick or Edinburgh, Cambridge is a class above, but also a class harder to get into.

Computer Science is a highly competitive course, combining solid theoretical foundations (algorithms, logic, computability theory) with practical skills. The proximity to DeepMind, ARM, and the growing AI ecosystem in Cambridge (the so-called Silicon Fen) means that internship and job opportunities are readily available. The Mathematics Computer Science option allows you to combine both fields. Acceptance rate: only ~12% – this is one of the most selective programs in the entire UK.

The Economics Tripos at Cambridge places a strong emphasis on mathematics and statistics; it is not descriptive economics. It requires TMUA. Graduates go into investment banking, strategic consulting, central banks, and international organizations. If you’re interested in economics but want an option with a stronger humanities component, consider PPE at Oxford – it’s a different profile but equally prestigious.

Engineering at Cambridge is one of the best engineering programs in Europe. The first two years provide broad foundations (mechanics, materials, electronics, thermodynamics), with specialization occurring in the third and fourth years. The approach is fundamental; you learn to think like an engineer, not just operate specific tools. Compare this with Imperial College London, which is more focused on practical application and specialization from the first year.

Medicine – a 6-year program (3 years pre-clinical + 3 years clinical). Among the highest requirements: a conditional offer typically requires 95%+ in three extended-level subjects. Cambridge Medical School provides access to the Addenbrooke’s clinical hospitals, one of the best clinical hospitals in the UK. Acceptance rate: ~13%.

Costs of Study and Living

After Brexit, international students pay international tuition fees. Let’s be honest – this is a significant financial investment and one of the main barriers for many applicants. But don’t stop reading before you get to the scholarships section.

Tuition fees vary by faculty. Humanities and Social Sciences cost £25,734 – £29,322 per year. Sciences and Engineering are £37,293 – £40,212 per year. Medicine (clinical years), £63,990 – £67,194 per year. In addition, Cambridge charges college fees of £11,658 per year for international students – covering supervisions, tutoring, library access, welfare support, and college facilities.

Living costs in Cambridge are lower than in London but still noticeable. Cambridge estimates you’ll need approximately £13,000 – £16,000 per year for living expenses. College accommodation (guaranteed for the 1st year, often longer) costs £5,500 – £8,500 per year. Food (college meals + self-catering) is £2,200 – £3,500 per year. In Cambridge, a bicycle is the primary mode of transport, costing £100–200 once, then practically free. For entertainment, societies, and travel, you’ll spend £2,000 – £3,500 per year.

The total annual cost for a science course is approximately £60,000 – £67,000. For a three-year undergraduate degree, this amounts to £180,000 – £200,000. For humanities courses, the amount is lower, starting from approximately £50,000 per year. This is a lot – significantly more than studying at UCL or KCL, which have lower college fees, and of course, incomparably more than the free tuition at CBS in Copenhagen or ETH Zurich. But Cambridge offers some of the most generous scholarships in the world, and many international students study there with full or partial financial support.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Don’t give up on Cambridge because of the costs before checking out the scholarship options. This is crucial advice – many international students currently studying at Cambridge fund their education through scholarships, and you can try the same.

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is the most prestigious scholarship at Cambridge, established by Bill and Melinda Gates in 2000 with a £210 million endowment. It covers 100% of costs: full tuition and college fees, living expenses (approx. £20,000/year), airfare, and additional grants for conferences and research. Note: Gates Cambridge applies to master’s and doctoral studies (not undergraduate). Each year, approximately 80 scholarships are awarded from over 6,000 applications, making it an extremely selective program.

Cambridge Trust Scholarships are the main source of scholarships for international students at all levels of study, including undergraduate. They offer full-cost awards (tuition + college fees + living expenses – approx. 80–100 scholarships annually for undergraduates) and partial awards covering a portion of tuition. You don’t need to submit a separate form; Cambridge automatically considers your candidacy after you submit your UCAS application. This is the primary funding source that every international applicant should consider.

College scholarships – each of the 31 colleges has its own scholarship funds. Trinity College offers some of the most generous scholarships and bursaries at Cambridge. St John’s College has an extensive system of need-based bursaries. Churchill College is focused on science and engineering. Peterhouse has scholarships aimed at students from Eastern Europe. It’s worth checking the offerings of the specific college you apply to.

Other potential funding sources in your home country might include government programs or private foundations. These may not cover the full cost of Cambridge, but they can significantly contribute to living expenses.

The College System, 31 Communities

The college system is the most distinctive feature of Cambridge and something that sets it apart from almost every other university in the world (besides Oxford and a few universities modeled on Oxbridge). Every student belongs to one of 31 colleges, which serves as their home, place of study, and community. The college provides accommodation (usually guaranteed for the first few years, often for the entire degree), catering in the dining hall with daily meals, supervisions organized with academics, welfare support – a tutor, nurse, counselor, and dean available on-site, as well as social life: a bar, common room, societies, and sports teams.

On UCAS, you can specify a particular college or select open application – you will then be allocated to a college with fewer applicants for your course. An open application does not reduce your chances; this is a myth perpetuated by those unfamiliar with the system. Statistically, your chances might even be slightly higher. If you choose a specific college, consider its location (central – King’s, Trinity, St John’s, or quieter – Homerton, Fitzwilliam), size (Trinity has 600+ undergrads, Peterhouse, 280), style (historic and traditional vs. modern), and strength in your field (check the Tompkins Table – an annual ranking of colleges by exam results).

It’s worth knowing: even if you don’t receive an offer from your chosen college, the Winter Pool system allows other colleges to make you an offer based on your interview. This is a unique mechanism; your application isn’t discarded but “floats” among colleges looking for the best candidates.

Colleges popular among international students include Trinity College (the largest and wealthiest, alumni: Newton, Turing, Byron – huge Wren Library, very strong in mathematics), St John’s College (second largest, beautiful Bridge of Sighs, generous scholarships), King’s College (famous Chapel, progressive, culturally open), and Churchill College (modern, 1960, modeled after MIT, STEM-dominated).

Student Life, Between Supervisions and May Balls

The Supervision System in Practice

Supervision is the foundation of Cambridge education and the reason why this university produces so many outstanding thinkers. In practice, it works like this: you are given an essay to write (humanities) or a problem sheet to solve (STEM) – usually for a week. You write or solve it independently. You then meet with your supervisor (1–3 students + academic) for an hour. The supervisor discusses your work, asks questions, and provokes deeper thinking. This is repeated 1–2 times a week for each subject.

It’s intense. In a typical week, you have 2–3 supervisions, each requiring several hours of preparation. But the results are spectacular; you learn to think, argue, and question at a level that no lecture can provide. There’s nowhere to hide – in a group of two or three, the supervisor will immediately notice if you’ve read the materials. This cultivates discipline and depth of thought that lasts a lifetime.

Year Structure and Traditions

Cambridge has three short terms of 8 weeks each: Michaelmas (October – December), Lent (January – March), Easter (April – June). These 8 weeks are extremely intense, filled with lectures, supervisions, labs, and essay deadlines. But the holidays (6–8 weeks between terms, 14 weeks in summer) provide plenty of time for reading, research, internships, or rest.

Traditions you’ll only find here are part of Cambridge’s magic. May Balls – lavish balls organized by colleges in June (yes, in June, despite the name). All-night parties with live music, comedians, fireworks, and food. Tickets cost £100–250, but it’s an unforgettable experience. May Bumps – rowing races on the River Cam, where boats try to “bump” the boat in front of them. Each college fields a team, with an atmosphere like a football match. Punting – navigating a flat-bottomed boat along the Cam, propelling yourself with a long pole from the riverbed. A favorite activity for students in spring and summer. Formal halls, dinners in academic gowns in historic dining halls, a three-course meal for £8–15. The Cambridge Union – the oldest debating society in the world, which has hosted Einstein and the Dalai Lama. Footlights, the legendary comedy club that launched the careers of Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, John Cleese, and Emma Thompson.

Cambridge Polish Society and the City

An active community of Polish students organizes cultural events, networking, and support for new students. Around 100–200 Poles (undergraduate + postgraduate) study at Cambridge – you won’t be alone. Cambridge itself is a small city (approx. 145,000 inhabitants), 50 minutes by train from London. It’s flat, and a bicycle is the primary mode of transport. The architecture is beautiful: The Backs along the River Cam, King’s College Chapel, Trinity Great Court. Stansted Airport is a 30-minute bus ride away, and from there, budget airlines fly directly to many European cities.

The truth is, for most applicants, the choice between Cambridge, Oxford, and Imperial should depend on the specific course, not general reputation. If you want to study Mathematics, Computer Science, or Natural Sciences – Cambridge has a slight edge. If you’re interested in PPE, Classics, History, or Philosophy, Oxford would be a better choice. If you want to live in London and prefer a pragmatic approach to engineering – Imperial is the natural choice. For Economics, Law, or Medicine, Cambridge and Oxford are both outstanding, with minimal differences.

Prospects After Cambridge

A Cambridge degree opens doors that remain closed to graduates of other universities. 95%+ of graduates are employed or pursuing further education within 15 months of graduation. The median starting salary exceeds £35,000.

Cambridge is a target school for the world’s largest employers. In consulting and finance – McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan – Cambridge is one of the universities from which these firms recruit most actively. In tech – Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, DeepMind (headquartered in Cambridge!), ARM – Computer Science and Engineering graduates are exceptionally sought after. In law – Magic Circle firms (Clifford Chance, Linklaters, Allen & Overy) treat the Cambridge Law Tripos as the gold standard.

Cambridge’s startup ecosystem, known as Silicon Fen – is one of the most dynamic in Europe. ARM, Darktrace, Improbable, Raspberry Pi are companies that grew out of Cambridge. For those planning an academic career, Cambridge is a gateway to the best PhD programs in the world. The Cambridge Careers Service offers personalized advice, mock interviews, networking events with alumni, and access to exclusive job boards. The network of 300,000+ alumni in 190 countries is a resource that will accompany you throughout your career.

Summary: Who is Cambridge For?

Cambridge is a university that combines something rare in global education: 800 years of tradition with an absolutely contemporary revolutionary spirit in research, technology, and entrepreneurship. The supervision system – an hour one-on-one with an outstanding academic, week after week – is an educational experience that cannot be replicated at any other university on this scale. Add to that 31 colleges forming communities where social, intellectual, and personal life intertwine, and you get an offer that simply cannot be compared to anything else.

Cambridge is not for everyone. Post-Brexit costs are substantial – and without a scholarship, it’s an investment of around £180,000 – £200,000 for a three-year degree. The academic workload is intense, with 8-week terms packed with supervisions, essays, and problem sheets. If you’re looking for a more relaxed student experience with plenty of free time – Cambridge is not your place. But if you’re seeking the highest quality education that will shape the way you think, and you’re ready to work for it – Cambridge is one of the best options in the world. Period.

Next Steps

1. Research courses, visit cam.ac.uk/courses and read detailed descriptions of the Tripos programs that interest you.
2. Check requirements – each course has different entrance exams and final exam requirements; check the admissions website carefully.
3. Start preparing for exams, IELTS/TOEFL (check courses on prepclass.io with AI feedback), ESAT/TMUA/STEP (past papers on the Cambridge website).
4. Read beyond the curriculum – this is the most important thing you can do. Read books, academic articles, watch lectures, build intellectual curiosity.
5. Write your Personal Statement – start early, write many drafts, ask for feedback from teachers and mentors.
6. Check scholarships, Cambridge Trust, college-specific bursaries, and local government or private scholarships in your home country.

Also, check out our other guides to British universities: Oxford University, Imperial College London, UCL, LSE, University of Edinburgh, and King’s College London. And if you’re considering continental Europe, where tuition fees are significantly lower, start with our guide to studying in the UK and compare with options like ETH Zurich or Copenhagen Business School. Good luck!

Last updated: February 8, 2026. All amounts, requirements, and deadlines are subject to change – always verify on the official University of Cambridge website.