The main University website for admissions has lots of information on applying:
- Research: choose a College or decide to make an open application
- Action: Register for your TMUA test, submit a UCAS Application and complete a My Cambridge Application form
- Selection: prepare for any College tests, attend an interview and await our decision.
There is also information on student fees and finance, including why Cambridge has low living costs.
Written Tests: Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA)
Applicants for admission in 2025 will be required to register for the Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA) test before 16th September 2024. In order to take the TMUA test on the 16th or 17th October 2024, at an authorised assessment centre. The TMUA results will be combined with the application information to select candidates to proceed to interview. TMUA is run by University Admissions Tests UK (UAT-UK), who provide lots of information including fees, bursaries for fees and registering at TMUA, and for preparation information please visit preparation guidance.
For those called to interview, some colleges will also require candidates to sit a further written assessment (such as the Computer Science Aptitudes Test (CSAT)) on the day of interview. Please check with individual colleges to determine their interview process.
Applying with A-Levels
As with all subjects in Cambridge, admissions standards are set to seek out the best in the field, and a typical A-Level offer for Computer Science here is A*A*A. Formally, admission to Cambridge is decided by a college, not by the department and the college is likely to interview an applicant before deciding whether or not to make an offer. More details on the admissions process are available on the main University website.
The primary qualifications we look for are in Mathematics, since we find a strong correlation with Mathematics performance and subsequent performance on our degree. Therefore A-level Mathematics is essential. Further Mathematics is now required if your school offers it. To clarify if your school offers Further Mathematics to AS or A level, you should take it.
A-level Computing is not essential but some knowledge of procedural programming is useful. Ultimately the decision rests with the DoS at your college. Note that A-level ICT and IT are more vocational in nature and are generally less desirable than a physical science at admission.
Applying with other qualifications
We accept students with a wide range of qualifications including the International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers, and the Irish Leaving Certificate. Broadly speaking we expect an equivalent standard to that achieved by our A-level candidates.
The University publishes typical offers and guidance for those with other qualifications on its main website.
Since admissions is primarily a college matter, if you have specific queries on whether certain qualifications are acceptable, you would do best to contact the admissions office of the college(s) you are interested in applying to. You can find a list of Directors of Studies for each college here.
