Applying to Cambridge from Scotland

We welcome Scottish students to Cambridge. We work with schools and Colleges in Scotland to support prospective applicants and encourage them to apply.

This page will help you to understand how Cambridge differs from Scottish universities, what it’s like studying at Cambridge, and what to consider when you apply.

Differences between Scottish universities and Cambridge

• Our entry requirements are based on Advanced Highers.
• Some of our degrees are shorter, usually taking 3 years.
• For most of our undergraduate degrees, you will be working towards a BA qualification.
• At Cambridge you study one course and take papers within that course (often called modules elsewhere).
• Usually, in the first part of your course you’ll take papers across subject areas. You then specialise in specific subject areas as you move through your course.

Colleges

Cambridge has 29 undergraduate Colleges. As a Cambridge student you’ll be a member of a Cambridge College for the duration of your studies.

Colleges provide accommodation and facilities. They offer support in addition to the general University support services. Colleges are also responsible for admitting undergraduate students. Find out more about what Colleges do.

When you apply, you can choose a College to apply to. You should check our advice about how to choose a College before you apply.

College links to Scotland

Every area in the UK is linked with a Cambridge College. Scotland’s link Colleges can help to provide advice to you before you apply.

You do not have to apply to one of your Area Link Colleges.

Learn more about our Area Links Scheme.

Student life at Cambridge

Student life at Cambridge is vibrant. There are lots of opportunities to socialise, join societies, or take part in sports. Find out more about:

• Accommodation
• Sport and societies
• City life

Usually, you will live in College-owned accommodation at Cambridge. Accommodation contracts vary from College to College. You will likely need to vacate your room over the summer vacation and sometimes between terms.

Colleges are often able to provide storage if required, though this can be limited. Speak to your College about this in advance if it’s something that you would find helpful. 

Applying to Cambridge

Applications are made to Cambridge via UCAS. Find out more about how to apply.

Entry requirements

Applicants from Scotland generally apply to Cambridge during S6 (whilst studying 3 Advanced Highers) or after finishing school (having taken 3 Advanced Highers). If you aren’t able to take 3 Advanced Highers, contact your shortlisted College(s) for advice.

You should check the requirements of the course you're interested in studying. This will give details of subject requirements and minimum offer levels. We typically refer to A Level and IB qualifications, but the equivalent Advanced Highers are generally accepted.

For information on our Scottish Higher and Advanced Higher requirements, go to the qualifications we accept page. When you see ‘A1 or A2’ listed, this is because Cambridge looks at the ‘band’ of the grade achieved for Scottish qualifications.

If you're currently in the process of choosing your Highers or Advanced Highers, you may find it useful to check our guidance on choosing your post-16 subjects. The guidance refers to A Levels, but the subject level information generally applies to Scottish Advanced Higher subjects too.

Admissions tests

For many courses at Cambridge, you will need to take an admissions test.

For some tests, you need to register in advance. Some of these tests may fall during Scottish school holidays. You will usually take your test at a test centre near you, though you may need to travel to get to a test centre.

For some courses, if you’re offered a place, you’ll need to take STEP exams at a registered test centre. You may be able to take a test at your school or college if they are registered as a test centre. Currently, the only alternative test centre for STEP in Scotland is The High School of Glasgow.

When you get your exam results

If we have made you an offer, you need to meet the conditions of your offer to guarantee your place. If you narrowly miss your offer, for example, by not meeting your band requirements, you may still be accepted.

Find out what happens when you get your results.

Student finance

If you are applying to Cambridge from Scotland, you may have questions about student finance and the support available to help pay for tuition and living costs.

All undergraduate students at Cambridge pay tuition fees. The tuition fees you pay for your course will depend on whether you’re classed as a Home or international student. Often students applying from Scotland have ‘Home fee status’. This means that they are charged the Home tuition fee.

Find out more about:

• tuition fees
• living costs
• financial support at Cambridge

Currently, you can apply for a loan from Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) to cover the cost of tuition fees. The SAAS provide information about loan arrangements, like when you will need to repay your loan. Usually, you start to pay back the loan after you have graduated and once you’re earning a particular income.

Loans and bursaries (SAAS website) are also available to help with living costs. The amount available will vary according to your household income.

Cambridge Bursary Scheme

As a UK student you may be eligible for the Cambridge Bursary Scheme. This is a non-repayable bursary awarded based on household income.

Learn more about how the scheme works for Scottish students (Cambridge students website).

Travelling to and from Cambridge

For public transport options, we have given rough travel times and distances to Cambridge. The city is accessible by train, road or air.

Driving

Driving to Cambridge from Scotland is a fairly direct route that is usually via the A1.

• Edinburgh to Cambridge takes 6 to 7 hours. In heavy traffic this can be longer
• Aberdeen to Cambridge takes 8 to 9 hours 
• Glasgow to Cambridge takes 6 to 7 hours 
• Dumfries to Cambridge takes 5 hours

Train

• The East Coast mainline (which goes via Aberdeen, Stirling, Edinburgh and Berwick-Upon-Tweed) is usually the quickest way to get to Cambridge, with a change at Peterborough or Stevenage.
• If you are on the West Coast, you may find it easier to go via London on the West Coast line.
• Depending on your route, taking the train takes 5 hours 30 minutes or more.

Flying

• Flying is often the quickest way to travel to Scotland.
• The closest airport to Cambridge that you can fly to from Edinburgh is Stansted. Budget airline flights are available.
• The flight to Stansted is around 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Trains to and from Stansted are frequent and take around 30 minutes.