University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate for International Students 2025

University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate for International Students 2025

Edited By Prabhjyot Kaur | Updated on Apr 23, 2025 12:07 PM IST

For the 2025 academic year, the acceptance rate for undergraduate applicants to the University of Cambridge is approximately 21%, or about 1 in every 5 applicants. For international students, the acceptance rate is slightly lower, at approximately 21.4%. Although these figures might seem low, they are indicative of the highly competitive and rigorous selection process of the university, whereby only the most exceptional and highest-caliber students are offered a place.

This Story also Contains
  1. The University of Cambridge Highlights
  2. University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate 2025
  3. University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate for International Students
  4. University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate Trends
  5. University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate for Undergraduate Students
  6. University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate for Masters
  7. University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate by Major
  8. University of Cambridge: Entry Requirements
  9. How to Apply at University of Cambridge from India?
  10. University of Cambridge Application Deadlines
  11. Documents Required for Admission to the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate for International Students 2025
University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate for International Students 2025

Given the proper preparation, application approach, and high academic and extracurricular credentials, it is well within the grasp of eligible candidates, including Singapore and international students from other nations. According to the recent QS World University Rankings 2025, the University of Cambridge is ranked the 5th best university globally. The continued high ranking of the university can affect the overall University of Cambridge acceptance rate for international students in coming years. Continue reading the full article to know more about the University of Cambridge acceptance rate and its application process.

Read more: Study in UK for Indian Students

The University of Cambridge Highlights

Particulars

Details

Application Portal

UG: UCAS

PG: Applicant Portal of the university

Acceptance Rate

21%

Establishment Year

1209

Application Fee

UG: GBP 60

PG: Varies

English Language Tests Accepted

IELTS / TOEFL

Standardized Test Scores (PG)

GMAT / GRE

International Application Deadlines

October

University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate 2025

For the year 2025, a total of 594 applications were sent to the University of Cambridge from different parts of the world. However, only 264 applications were selected for admission. Hence, as of now, we can conclude that the University of Cambridge acceptance rate 2025 for international students is around 27.60. The application submission for the classes 2025 and 2026 are still going on. Therefore, we might face some unique rates of acceptance for overseas learners.

Cambridge University Acceptance Rate 2025

Year of Entry

Number of Application

Acceptance Rate (%)

2025

14

100

2024

594

27.60

2023

20837

16.21

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University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate for International Students

What is University of Cambridge acceptance rate? As per the latest statistics, the University of Cambridge acceptance rate for Indian students is around 21%. Some factors like the volume of applications, institutional priorities, and the holistic review process of the university might influence the overall acceptance rates for international students.

University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate by Country

Country of domicile

Acceptances and success rates

China

11.5

Singapore

19.3

Hong Kong

14.9

United States of America

6.6

India

5.2

Malaysia

7.8

France

6.1

Germany

8.3

Canada

6.9

Australia

12.5

Korea, Republic of

14.4

Italy

6.1

Poland

10.2

New Zealand

24.6

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University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate Trends

For the year 2020, a total of 20426 applications were received by the university. Whereas, only 3997 applications were accepted for admission indicating an acceptance rate of around 19.56% for international students. Comparatively, the number of applications received by the university for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023 has increased. The University of Cambridge acceptance rate for 2023 is comparatively higher than the rates for 2021 and 2022.

University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate Trends for International Students

Year of Entry

Number of Application

Acceptance Rate (%)

2023

21445

16.59

2022

22470

15.77

2021

22795

16.05

2020

20426

19.56

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University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate for Undergraduate Students

On average, University of Cambridge acceptance rate for Indian students for top undergraduate courses ranges from 8-18%. On the other hand courses like BA Linguistics, BA Modern and Medieval Languages, BA Archaeology, BA Music, etc show the lowest competition rates among international applicants.

University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate for International Students

Courses

Acceptance Rate

MB, BChir Medicine (Graduate Entry)

8.2%

BSc Computer Science

9.3%

BA Psychological and Behavioural Sciences

12%

BA Economics

14%

BA Land Economy

15%

BA Human, Social, and Political Sciences

15%

MEng Engineering

15%

MB, BChir Medicine

16%

BA Law

18%

BA Architecture

18%

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University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate for Masters

The average University of Cambridge acceptance rate for international students for masters ranges between 11-14% for overseas students. The mode of course selection, type of degree, and number of total applicants may significantly influence the average University of Cambridge acceptance rate for masters. As per the latest reports, the university has received the most number of applications for master’s courses in finance, biotechnology, management, public health, and other popular specialisations.

Cambridge University Masters Acceptance Rate

Courses

Acceptance Rate

MPhil Basic and Translational Neuroscience

11%

MAST Astrophysics

11%

MPhil Machine Learning and Machine Intelligence

12%

MPhil Finance

12%

MPhil Machine Learning, Speech and Language Technology

12%

MPhil Public Health

12%

MPhil Management

13%

MPhil Environmental Policy

13%

MPhil Innovation, Strategy, and Organization

13%

MPhil Biotechnology

14%

University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate by Major

On average, Cambridge University acceptance rate by major ranges between 7-40%. The level of study and choice of specialisation are the major determinants of the overall Cambridge University acceptance rate by subject 2025.

Cambridge University Acceptance Rate by Subject

Degree programme

Acceptances and success rates

Archaeology

39.0

Architecture

11.5

Economics

12.1

Education

17.9

English

24.7

Geography

18.9

History

27.0

Law

14.6

Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology

18.0

Computer Science

7.6

Engineering

13.8

Mathematics

16.2

Medicine

15.6

University of Cambridge: Entry Requirements

Students applying from India to the University of Cambridge must meet the following eligibility requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate admissions:

  • Applicants must score at least 90% or higher in five or more relevant subjects in CISCE and NIOS.

  • A score of 95% or equivalent in five or more relevant subjects from a State Exam Board and have high academic performance in class XII is necessary for admission.

  • Applicants should have five or more A1 grades in relevant subjects in CBSE.

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University of Cambridge: English Language Requirement

Tests

Minimum scores

IELTS

7.5

TOEFL iBT

110

Cambridge English: C2 Proficiency

200

Cambridge English: C1 Advanced

193

How to Apply at University of Cambridge from India?

The low acceptance rate of University of Cambridge indicates a very competitive application process for international students. A detailed University of Cambridge application process for international students is given below. Follow the below instructions carefully for a successful application submission.

  • Visit the University of Cambridge official website.

  • Read all the instructions carefully before starting the application.

  • Select the desired course and major.

  • Proceed to ‘Apply Now’ through UCAS.

  • Create an account on the UCAS official website.

  • Provide all the required details of documents in the portal.

  • Submit and wait for confirmation from the university.

Read about: UCAS application deadline for undergraduate programmes

University of Cambridge Application Deadlines

The latest deadline for the University of Cambridge application submission is 15 October 2024. Students who are planning to apply for 2025 need to submit their application before the deadline through UCAS. The application submission will start from 3 September 2024 onwards. The classes for the 2025 session will start from August 2025 for international students.

Documents Required for Admission to the University of Cambridge

Here’s the list of documents international students are required to upload to send their candidature as international aspirants:

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is it hard to get into Cambridge University?

Yes, it is considerably hard for international students to get into Cambridge University. The acceptance rate of University of Cambridge is around 12%. This means that only 21 out of 100 students will be selected for the latest academic session. Therefore, for international students, Cambridge is very hard to get into.

2. What GPA is needed for Cambridge?

The GPA requirement for Cambridge is around 3.0 for international students. The minimum GPA requirement may vary depending on the choice of major programme and mode of the course. In many cases, students can balance their low GPA with high scores on standardised tests and relevant work experience.

3. How do I get into Cambridge as an Indian?

To get into Cambridge as an Indian, students need to demonstrate a minimum of 3.0 GPA. Additionally, qualifying for the minimum cutoff for GRE and GMAT is mandatory for popular MS and MBA programmes. However, students with relevant work experience and extracurricular activities can stand out among the top contenders for Cambridge.

4. What is the acceptance rate for Cambridge University for Indian students?

The acceptance rate for Cambridge University for Indian students is approximately 12%. This suggests a very competitive admission percentage for Indian aspiring students. As per the latest Cambridge University acceptance rate, only 12 out of 100 students will be selected by the university for admission to various courses.

5. Is Oxford or Cambridge better?

As per the QS World University Ranking 2025, the University of Oxford has been ranked 3rd in the top worldwide universities. Whereas, the University of Cambridge is listed in the 5th position. Therefore we can say that Oxford is comparatively better than Cambridge for international students. However, Cambridge has comparatively lower acceptance rate than Oxford.

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