The University of Cambridge is a public collegiate research institution in Cambridge, England, in the United Kingdom, and the university was established in the year 1209. The acceptance rate of the University of Cambridge is 20%, so students must have a required GPA of 3.0 or higher according to the course to be strong candidates for undergraduate and graduate courses.
The dates on which applicants must apply for admission may differ depending on the intake they are applying for for the academic year.
For 2025, entry for international students at the university starts on April 30, 2024, at the UCAS online application portal, where they can choose their selected degree course.
International students who select courses such as Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Engineering, Natural Sciences, or Veterinary Medicine, and the TMUA if they want to study Computer Science or Economics, should attend the ESAT and TMUA admissions tests on June 3, 2024.
For medicine or graduate medicine courses, students can apply through the portal on June 18, 2024, and admission tests will start on July 8, 2024.
Selected students are shortlisted by the university, which will notify them by November 2024.
The University of Cambridge is ranked among the top universities in the world. Cambridge offers over 30 undergraduate and 300 postgraduate programmes distributed in six schools, including Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Technology.
All international students from non-English-speaking countries must have a valid score in IELTS or TOEFL to meet the English language requirements. The accepted exams at the University of Cambridge are the SAT for undergraduates with a required score of around 1500 or an ACT composite score of 33–36 or above. For graduate students, the university may accept GMAT or GRE scores for a few courses.
The tuition fees for international students at the University of Cambridge range from Rs. 25.96 lakhs to Rs. 67.78 lakhs per academic year for the majority of courses. The application fee for Indian undergraduate students is Rs. 6,250.47 (AUD 60), for postgraduate students it is Rs. 5,208.73 (AUD 50), and for MBA students it is Rs. 17,187.69 (AUD 165).
The University of Cambridge has two different non-schooling institutes, including the Cambridge University Press & Assessment and the Institute of Continuing Education. The infrastructure of the campus of the University of Cambridge is 1,520 acres.
There are more than 3,200 international students enrolled at the University of Cambridge, representing over 140 nationalities. The University of Cambridge student-faculty ratio is 10:1 and with a graduate employability rate of 90%.
Cambridge has produced many illustrious alumni, including 89 Nobel laureates. The institution has a long history of creativity and innovation, and it has been instrumental in the advancement of numerous significant scientific and technological developments. A few well-known University of Cambridge Nobel alumni are listed below.
Personalities | Professions |
Stephen Hawking | English theoretical physicist and cosmologist |
Alan Turing | Mathematician and computer scientist |
Charles Darwin | Naturalist and geologist |
Isaac Newton | Former Master of the Mint |
How much does Cambridge cost Indian students?
For most studies at the University of Cambridge, the cost of tuition for Indian students is between Rs. 25.96 lakhs and Rs. 67.78 lakhs every academic year. Students will need to account for both living and accommodation expenditures in financial strategy as these are not included in the fee.
Also read: Study in UK
The University of Cambridge has been consistently ranked as one of the best public universities in the UK and the world. The new QS World University Rankings 2024 placed Cambridge in 2nd position among 1500 universities located in 104 countries.
Cambridge ranked 5th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024, performing notably well in research impact and international outlook. In Shanghai's Academic Ranking of World Universities, an annual assessment of more than 1,800 universities worldwide.
Among 1500 universities spread over 104 countries, Cambridge was ranked second in the QS World University Rankings 2024. Cambridge performed exceptionally well in terms of research impact and worldwide vision, earning a spot in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 at the 5th position.
Also read: Top universities & colleges in UK
The University of Cambridge offers a wide range of courses for undergraduate and graduate programmes. Cambridge offers over 30 undergraduate programmes encompassing over 65 subject areas. The institution also provides over 300 postgraduate courses distributed in six schools including Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Technology.
Some of the popular University of Cambridge courses include Cell Biology, Business and economics, Computer Science, Law, Psychology, Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and European Teaching. Cambridge is also well known for its long and short-term online distance learning courses offered to international students from various corners of the world.
The University of Cambridge offers an MBBS equivalent course at their institution with a programme named MB, BChir. The duration of the course is 6 years. The first 3 years are referred to as the clinical component of the course in which the student learns everything from the basic level about Medicines.
The tuition fee at University of Cambridge varies depending on the course of study. Still the appropriate range for domestic and international students given below.
Tuition fee for international students at Cambridge
Courses | Fee in GBP | Fee in Rupees |
Archaeology, Economics; Education, English, History, Physiology (related studies) | 25,734 | 26,74,839.46 lakhs |
Mathematics | 28,704 | 29,82,931.16 lakhs |
Architecture; Design; Geography; Music | 33,672 | 34,99,900.46 lakhs |
Engineering, Computer science | 39,162 | 40,70,748.73 lakhs |
Medical, Veterinary Science | 67,194 | 69,84,574.08 lakhs |
Also read: Top courses to study in the UK
Courses | Duration | International Student | Local Student |
---|---|---|---|
M.Phil.(139 courses) | 9 months-1 year | ₹32.14 L - ₹64.15 L/yr | ₹9.94 L - ₹56.17 L/yr |
Ph.D(65 courses) | 3 years-4 years | ₹30.08 L - ₹59.40 L/yr | ₹9.94 L - ₹30.17 L/yr |
B.A.(Hons)(25 courses) | 3 years-4 years | ₹27.26 L - ₹41.48 L/yr | ₹9.80 L/yr |
M.E /M.Tech.(2 courses) | 4 years | ₹41.48 L/yr | ₹9.80 L/yr |
M.Sc.(1 courses) | 4 years | ₹41.48 L/yr | ₹9.80 L/yr |
The cost of living for international students depends upon financial planning. For more information, students can visit the official website of the University of Cambridge. Still, the detailed expenses was given below:
Estimated expenses at University of Cambridge
Expenses | Cost in GBP | Cost in Rupees |
Food | 185 | 19,243 |
Accommodation | 800 | 83,176 |
Miscellaneous | 45 | 4,678 |
Study costs | 20 | 2,079 |
The University of Cambridge is a slightly expensive university in London, England, UK. In addition to tuition fees, candidates also need to cover the cost of living in UK when budgeting for their studies. For most courses at the University of Cambridge, the cost of tuition for out-of-country students is between Rs. 25.96 lakhs and Rs. 67.98 lakhs every academic year.
Also read: Student loans for UK
The University of Cambridge acceptance rate is only 20%. Therefore, it is considered one of the most difficult universities to gain admission to study in the UK. The eligible postgraduate students can directly apply through the online application by logging in to the official website of the university at cam.ac.uk. International undergraduate applicants can submit their filled application at UCAS to apply for various courses at Cambridge.
Visit the official website of the University of Cambridge.
Read all the instructions according to the course of study.
Choose the desired course and proceed to ‘Apply Now’ through UCAS.
Create an account then provide all the required details of documents in portal
Submit and wait for confirmation from university.
International students are required to upload the following documents to send their candidature as an international aspirant:
Proof of financial support
English Language Proficiency (ELP) scores
UK student visa
Application fee at University of Cambridge: Undergraduate students in India must pay an application fee of Rs. 6,250.47 (AUD 60), postgraduate students Rs. 5,208.73 (AUD 50), and MBA students Rs. 17,187.69 (AUD 165).
Also read: Admission Cycle in UK
The University of Cambridge offers a wide variety of scholarships for international students. These scholarships are funded by a variety of generous University and College endowments and the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) budget. The eligibility of the candidates is assessed through academic merit, financial need, or a combination of both. Students can apply for various University of Cambridge scholarships by submitting an online application along with copies of their academic transcripts to prove their eligibility.
Scholarships offered at University of Cambridge for international students:
Cambridge Commonwealth, European, and International Trust
International Disabled Students' Fund
Prince Philip Scholarship for applicants from Hong Kong
Scholarships eligibility at University of Cambridge:
Undergraduate grants are available to all students, regardless of country, who must pay university tuition at the international level. Applicants also need to be completed during a single admission, without retakes, and in accordance with all academic requirements.
Through the official University of Cambridge webpage, Indian students can apply for scholarships. The charitable organisation provides graduate and doctorate courses in addition to full fee-waiver courses for first-year students. The Cambridge Trust Scholarship also offers many specialist scholarships. Applicants must have a good GPA and percentage to be eligible for these awards, which may lead to financial help.
Read More: Scholarships in UK
Students applying from India to University of Cambridge must meet the following undergraduate and postgraduate admissions:
Applicants who score 90% or higher in five or more relevant subjects in CISCE and NIOS.
Students must score 95% or equivalent in five or more relevant subjects from a State Exam Board and High academic performance in class XII.
Applicants should have five or more A1 grades in relevant subjects in CBSE.
International students from a non-native English academic background are required to demonstrate their ELP before getting admission to the University of Cambridge. The eligibility can be met by achieving a minimum score on the following standard tests:
English Language requirements
Tests | Minimum scores |
IELTS | 7.5 |
TOEFL iBT | 110 |
Cambridge English: C2 Proficiency | 200 |
Cambridge English: C1 Advanced | 193 |
The University of Cambridge has a library facility for all students. The library offers access to a vast collection of books, magazines, databases, and journals in both printed and electronic formats. Students can also avail of various other library services, including printing, scanning, copying, etc. The LibKey Nomad is the browser extension through which students can get automatically connected to all the e-resources of the library from any website. Also, Cambridge offers Raven, which is a user authentication system used by the members of the university for accessing the e-resources of the Cambridge library remotely. In addition, the library also offers several courses throughout the year which can be availed free of cost.
The college libraries include the Forbes Mellon Library, Taylor Library, Parker Library, Maitland Robinson Library, etc. The main university library is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday closed. The library has a Reading Room, a Map Room, and a Tea Room where you can get barista coffee and a daily selection of sandwiches, paninis, snacks, and cakes.
Cambridge University has a Beckwith Moot Court Room that is well-equipped with all the required facilities so that budding lawyers can practice their courtroom skills. The moot courtroom has a Cisco conference system through which hybrid meetings can be conducted via Zoom and Microsoft Teams. The courtroom has a seating capacity of more than 22 people.
The University of Cambridge has good networking for the alumni association. It has a great network of friendly and engaged alumni sharing a passion and commitment to Cambridge. Alumni are eligible to join any of more than 400 volunteer-led Alumni Groups worldwide.
The University has sports facilities for all students. The University of Cambridge offers various sports facilities which include Basketball, Netball, Volleyball, Korfball, and Badminton. It also has a sports hall that has a seating capacity of over 400 people where several Varsity Matches, lectures, and events are conducted. Apart from the sports hall, the university also has a Cricket ground, Tennis ground, Hockey ground, Rugby Fives, and Eton Fives courts.
Cambridge University has a Gym facility for the students. The gym includes all the necessary equipment including rowers, treadmills and ellipticals, arm cranks, ski ergs, and Jacobs Ladders. Additionally, the gym also has a separate section for weight training which is equipped with a variety of weights machines and dumbbells.
The University has a Swimming pool facility.
Cambridge, which is only 95 kilometres from London, is well connected to the rest of the United Kingdom. Cambridge is conveniently located for easy access to London and, from there, the rest of the United Kingdom, Europe, and the rest of the world.
Bicycles and boats are two of Cambridge's most celebrated modes of transportation, and in Cambridge, students are typically not permitted to own a car.
The University of Cambridge has an auditorium facility for events and seminars. Completed in 2020, the North Wing Auditorium offers a large and comfortable space for your event. The polished light wooden floor reflects the beautiful natural light coming from the windows, enlivening the atmosphere of the room. The raked seating is retractable to offer a flexible setup for either presentations or workshops. The auditorium features state-of-the-art AV equipment, giving the ability to stream via Teams, Zoom, YouTube, and other platforms.
The University of Cambridge provides a variety of food and beverage options through University Catering Services (UCS).
The cafés at the university are:
ARC Cafe
Computer Laboratory Cafe
Mathematical Sciences Cafe
The Buttery
West Cafe
West Hub
The ARC Café provides a selection of cakes and baked goods for the students, while the Buttery and West cafe serves a selection of coffees and teas along with a range of sandwiches for a perfect grab-and-go.
The University of Cambridge has an excellent IT Infrastructure facility for the students. University Information Services (UIS) works in partnership with your College and department to provide for all your computing needs while you are at Cambridge. UIS offers all students comprehensive IT support, including wi-fi provision throughout the University and most Colleges, free email accounts and file storage, free software, including Microsoft Office and McAfee antivirus protection, free IT training courses, and a service desk.
The University of Cambridge is home to approximately 3,200 foreign students from over 140 different countries. The institution offers all the help and resources required to support its overseas students as they proceed through the admissions process.
The University of Cambridge offers a wide range of degrees that provide students with real-world experience through fieldwork, industry-focused learning, and job opportunities.
Yes, it is comparatively difficult for international students to get a seat at the University of Cambridge because the acceptance rate is around 20%. The university is recognised among the most prestigious universities in the world and has a very low acceptance rate of admission for international applicants. Applicants seeking admission at Cambridge must demonstrate a strong academic background to get selected by the institution.
Details for international students to contact University of Cambridge
Address: The Old Schools, Trinity Ln, Cambridge CB2 1TN, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1223 337733
Email: admissions@cam.ac.uk.