UCAS application

How to apply

To apply to Cambridge for 2024 entry (or deferred entry in 2025) you must submit a UCAS application by 16 October 2023 (6pm UK time). 

Applications to UCAS are made online through the UCAS Hub. Our institution code is CAM C05. Your school or college will be able to advise you about the process or you can refer to the UCAS guidance on completing your application. We'd recommend you register for UCAS using your personal email address rather than your school email, as you may not always have access to your school email. We’ve included some additional information below about personal statements and school/college references. If you've left school or college or are a resident abroad you should contact UCAS for more information.

Once you've submitted your UCAS application, you can check on its progress online through the UCAS Hub.

When your UCAS application has been received here in Cambridge:

• it will be acknowledged by the College you applied to (open applications are allocated to Colleges shortly after the 16 October deadline).
• you will be emailed a link and asked to complete My Cambridge Application. 

Personal statements

As part of your UCAS application you’ll need to write a personal statement. Personal statements give you the chance to tell us about your subject interests. The process of writing a personal statement can also help you to better understand your academic interests and intellectual motivations. The information in your statement is often used as a basis for discussion at your interview.

At Cambridge, all admissions decisions are based solely on academic criteria (ability and potential). Therefore, in your personal statement, we’d like you to:

• explain your reasons for wanting to study the subject at university
• demonstrate enthusiasm for and commitment to your chosen course
• express any particular interests within the field
• outline how you’ve pursued your subject interest in your own time

For further guidance on what to include in your personal statement, we advise you to follow the UCAS advice on personal statements.

See also, our article on How to write a great personal statement.

School/college references

Your UCAS application will ask for a reference. The reference is helpful because it tells us about your abilities and potential. Admissions Tutors look for indications that your academic strengths are well suited both to the course and to the style of study at the University.

The reference is an important part of your application, and we expect that it will normally be provided by a teacher or tutor in your school/college who can speak authoritatively about your academic profile and suitability for admission to university. If you’re having difficulty securing a referee, please see the UCAS guidance on references.

Please note that references should be provided to applicants free of charge. If you wish to apply to Cambridge and are finding it difficult to obtain a reference or are being asked to pay for one, please contact the College to which you wish to apply (or the Cambridge Admissions Office in the case of open applications) for further advice.

Your application cannot be submitted until your chosen referee has completed and added your reference to the application.

Information and guidance for teachers on references can be found on our teachers and parents page.