University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209 and is organised around colleges. Undergraduate applications go through UCAS with a 15 October deadline, followed by the university's own application form; shortlisted applicants are called to interview in December.
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One record matters more than any ranking when reading a university page: the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits an institution to issue the CAS a student visa requires. University of Cambridge appears on it, and on the register that carries degree-awarding powers; this page sets out the institution’s subjects, entry requirements, fee arrangements and application steps.
01
What kind of university is Cambridge?
The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209 and is organised around colleges. Every student belongs both to the university and to a college; lectures and examinations sit with faculties, while the weekly small-group teaching known as supervision sits with the college.
The collegiate system runs separately from the academic structure. Faculties and departments handle lectures, laboratories and examinations; colleges take on accommodation, dining and the weekly teaching arrangement called supervision. An applicant names a college or leaves an open preference.
Degree-awarding powers sit on the Office for Students register; the authority to issue the CAS a student visa requires sits on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors. The two registers are kept separately and both are recorded in the institution's own name.
02
Which subjects stand out at Cambridge?
The university divides into six schools: arts and humanities, humanities and social sciences, biological sciences, clinical medicine, physical sciences and technology. Mathematics, natural sciences, engineering, law and medicine are among the best known undergraduate and postgraduate titles it publishes.
- Physical Sciences and Technology: mathematics, physics, engineering, computer science.
- Biological Sciences and Clinical Medicine: natural sciences, medicine, veterinary medicine.
- Arts and Humanities: history, classics, literature, architecture, music.
- Humanities and Social Sciences: law, economics, education, business at Judge Business School.
Undergraduate courses run through a structure called the Tripos, and a student narrows their specialism after the first year. The Natural Sciences Tripos is the best known example: physics, chemistry and biology share a first year and then diverge.
03
What are the entry requirements at Cambridge?
The institution writes that a Turkish high school diploma alone is not competitive and suggests further qualifications; one example given is at least 85 in the diploma with five Advanced Placement tests. Postgraduate entry expects a good 2:1 equivalent degree.
| Level | Published threshold |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | At least 85 in the diploma plus a further qualification such as five APs at 5 |
| Postgraduate | A good 2:1 equivalent undergraduate degree |
| Applying with a Turkish master's | GPA 3.5 out of 4 counts as a 2:1, 3.8 as a first |
The English language requirement is published separately by the institution. For an applicant holding a Turkish high school diploma the usual route is an accepted qualification such as A-level or the IB, or one of the foundation programmes.
04
What are tuition fees at Cambridge?
The international fee varies by course and each course publishes the figure on its own page. Undergraduate study carries a college fee in addition to tuition; scholarships and support schemes are listed on the institution's funding pages by year of entry.
Alongside tuition, living cost is the second large item. The maintenance funds a student visa asks you to show are set by region and come to £1,171 a month here; in London the same line is £1,529.
Postgraduate scholarships also run at department level and their deadlines close before the course's own. The UK scholarships page sets out the arrangement in general terms.
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05
What is the campus and student life like in Cambridge?
Cambridge has no single campus; colleges and faculties are spread across the city centre, while science and engineering concentrate at West Cambridge to the west. Short distances mean daily travel runs largely on foot and by bicycle rather than public transport.
The city sits about an hour from London by train and has a direct rail link to Stansted airport. Accommodation is mostly in college rooms in the early years; later on students move into rented housing in the city.
The academic year runs over three terms of eight weeks each. That differs from the two-semester pattern common in England and compresses reading and assessment into short intervals.
06
How do you apply to Cambridge?
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS and the deadline for 2027 entry is 15 October 2026, after which the university's own application form is completed. Postgraduate and doctoral applications are sent directly to the course through the institution's own portal.
- Choose the course and either name a college or leave an open preference.
- Send the UCAS application by 15 October 2026 — that is the date for 2027 entry.
- Complete the university's own application form and register for any admissions test.
- Shortlisted applicants are called to interview in December.
- If an offer is made and its conditions are met, a CAS is issued and the visa application follows.
Cambridge and Oxford cannot both be chosen in the same application year; UCAS applies that restriction at system level.
British Global supplies information at this stage and, where it is wanted, introduces a firm whose authorisation has been verified on a register; assessing a visa application belongs to an IAA-registered or SRA-authorised adviser.
07
Frequently asked questions
Can you apply to Cambridge with a Turkish high school diploma alone?
The institution writes that the diploma alone is not competitive and suggests a further qualification. Examples it considers suitable include at least 85 in the diploma together with five Advanced Placement tests at grade 5.
Can you apply to Cambridge and Oxford at once?
No. UCAS does not allow both universities to be chosen in the same application year and the applicant picks one. The restriction is applied at system level and no exception is published.
Why is the deadline 15 October?
Cambridge, Oxford and most medicine, dentistry and veterinary courses sit on the early UCAS deadline. For 2027 entry that date is 15 October 2026; every other course has 13 January 2027.
What grade is published for postgraduate entry?
The institution expects a good 2:1 equivalent. Applying with a Turkish master's degree, a GPA of 3.5 out of 4 counts as a 2:1 and 3.8 as a first; departments ask for more than the minimum.
Sources
- University of Cambridge — Postgraduate international qualifications — Thresholds published for Turkish qualifications: GPA 3.5/4 as a 2:1 and 3.8/4 as a first — checked 25 August 2026
- University of Cambridge — Undergraduate international entry requirements — That a Turkish high school diploma alone is not competitive, and the further qualifications suggested — checked 25 August 2026
- UCAS — The 2027 entry timetable, the five-choice limit and the 13 January 2027 equal consideration date — checked 25 August 2026
- GOV.UK — Student visa — Student visa fee, healthcare surcharge and the maintenance funds to be shown — checked 25 August 2026
