Studying at Cambridge: a guide for parents and supporters

Welcome

If you are supporting a youngperson who is thinking about hisor her university options it is likelythat you have your own questionsand concerns about their enteringhigher education. This booklet hasbeen produced to try to answerthose questions, dispel anyconcerns and help you to adviseyour son or daughter during thistime.

In the pages that follow you willfind information about theUniversity of Cambridge, ourapplication process, what studentsupport is available, studentfinance matters and more. Wehope you will find this bookletuseful, and if you have any furtherqueries we will be happy to help– just get in touch (see p12).

Please note

Throughout this booklet we use the terms‘parent’, ‘son’ and ‘daughter’ to describeyour relationship with your young personin recognition of your parental role,whether that is as a parent, step-parent,guardian, carer or supporter.

Contents

1 Why Cambridge?

2 What are we looking for?

3 The application process

7 Welfare and student support

8 Student finance

9 Frequently-asked questions

11 How can you help?

12 Further information and advice

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Why Cambridge?

1 Academic excellenceCambridge’s teaching and researchexcellence has led to outstanding results inboth the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)Institutional Audits and in the ResearchAssessment Exercise (RAE). Our teaching staffincludes many national and world subjectleaders, so students have the excitingopportunity to be taught by experts in theirfield.

2 The collegiate structureThere are 29 Cambridge Colleges that admitundergraduate students and provide a placefor them to live, study and socialise (thoughstudents in all Colleges take the same courseand examinations, and are awarded degreesby the University of Cambridge, see table onp9). The collegiate system offers a hugeamount of support for each studentindividually.

3 Flexible learningOur degree courses (referred to atCambridge as Triposes, see p10) generallycover subjects broadly in the first year,before becoming increasingly specialised inlater years. This can be very advantageousfor students as it allows them to exploretheir subject widely before choosing an areaon which to focus.

4 More personal tuitionIn addition to lectures, practicals (whererelevant) and seminars, which are organisedby the appropriate department or faculty,students receive regular small-group tuition(often in pairs). This more personal tuition,known as a ‘supervision’, is one of theUniversity’s most distinctive features andallows students to explore course material inmuch greater depth, investigate newapproaches and clarify anything they areunclear about.

5 Outstanding educational andpersonal supportTo help our students to succeed we provideexpert teachers and lecturers, excellentlibrary and computing facilities, superb labsand lots of support. Within their Colleges,undergraduates have a Director of Studies(DoS) who looks after their academicwelfare, and most Colleges also allocatestudents a Tutor who can advise on anypersonal or financial matters. Our extensivewelfare and support system ensures thatstudents’ individual needs can be recognisedand met – as a result we have one of thehighest student retention rates in the UK(just over 99 per cent, in comparison to thenational average of just under 94 per cent).

6 Accommodation guaranteeThe Cambridge Colleges (with the exceptionof St Edmund’s) guarantee accommodationto single undergraduates without a familyfor three years (many also provide for fourth-year students), so very few students have topay commercial rents. The terms atCambridge are also short (around eightweeks), and students are only charged rentwhen they are in residence (usually 24–30weeks, rather than a full year).

7 Low cost of livingCambridge is a relatively inexpensive placein which to live as a student and isconsistently ranked in the top 10 ofNatWest’s Student Living Index of the UK’smost cost-effective university cities. Transportcosts in the city are minimal as it is easy toget around on foot or by bicycle; and studycosts are kept low because we are fortunateto have excellent computing and libraryfacilities.

8 Substantial financial supportSubstantial financial support is availablefrom the University and the Colleges forthose who need it. This includes theCambridge Bursary Scheme for UK and EUstudents (see p8), which is one of the mostextensive undergraduate bursary schemes inthe country.

9 Everyone ‘fits in’There is no such thing as a typicalCambridge student. We have students fromall parts of the country (and the world) andfrom all backgrounds. Our students workhard and play hard. In fact, there are over600 clubs and societies for them to choosefrom in addition to everything the city has tooffer.

10 Excellent career prospectsCambridge graduates go into a very widerange of occupations, and are highlyemployable and greatly sought after aroundthe world. This is illustrated by our havingone of the highest graduate employmentrates in the UK – last year, over 91 per centof our graduates were employed or infurther study six months after graduating,compared with the national average ofapproximately 85 per cent. The flexibility,teaching style and demands of our degreecourses ensure that students develop arange of transferable skills, which are crucialto any career.

The University of Cambridge is one of the world’s great universities, which provides a challenging, flexibleand individual learning experience, and is consistently rated at the top of various league tables. Below are10 reasons why we feel your son or daughter should consider applying to the University.

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What are we looking for?

In order to make these decisions eachapplicant is considered individually, using allthe information available:

• academic record, including GCSE and AS(or equivalent) grades or scores, and ALevel (or equivalent) grades, scores orpredictions

• school/college reference• personal statement• submitted work, where requested• test results, where a written test forms

part of the assessment• performance at interview, if interviewed

All admissions decisions are based onacademic criteria, and excellence in an extra-curricular activity will never compensate forlower academic potential (see p10). Rigorousmoderation procedures are in place thatenable Colleges to compare the quality oftheir own applicants with those to otherColleges before deciding who to make offersto. One part of these procedures is the ‘pool’system that provides the opportunity forapplicants squeezed out by the competitionat one College to receive an offer fromanother (see p6).

Once students are admitted, we ensure thatthey are given the academic, personal and,where appropriate, financial supportnecessary for successful completion of theircourse at Cambridge.

You can find our Admissions Policy online at:www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/info/policy.html.

Cambridge Special Access Scheme

The Cambridge Special Access Scheme (CSAS) ensures that applicants who haveexperienced particular personal, social or educational disadvantage can be accuratelyassessed.

If a student is applying through the CSAS, their school/college is asked to provide additionalinformation and a fuller reference than normal about the applicant. This enables applicantsto be assessed more fairly and for appropriate levels for conditional offers to be set.

More information about the Scheme can be obtained from the Cambridge AdmissionsOffice (see p12) or on the Undergraduate Admissions website at: www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/apply/.

The Colleges are committed to admitting the most able students irrespective of background, and eachapplicant is assessed individually, without partiality or bias. Overall, we are looking for students who arepassionate about and committed to their subject, who have the academic potential to succeed atCambridge, and who can most benefit from what we have to offer. Admission to Cambridge is highlycompetitive and admissions staff are required to make very difficult decisions when choosing betweenapplicants, assessing their potential to benefit from and flourish on the course for which they have applied.

Applying to CambridgeIf your son or daughter is planning to applyto the University of Cambridge, the processis much the same as that for otheruniversities (summarised below). However,they must ensure that their UCASapplication is received by 15 October. Thisearlier deadline is so we have sufficient timeto organise the interview process, whichtakes place during the first three weeks ofDecember.

Please note that prospective students mayonly submit one application to Cambridge –applications to more than one College, or toone College and an open application (seep4) are not allowed. Also, students cannotapply to both the University of Cambridgeand the University of Oxford in the same year.

Application process

Choosing a courseChoosing the right course is the mostimportant decision students will make in theapplication process and they should thinkvery carefully about their options. You canhelp your son or daughter by encouragingthem to think about the following points.

• Identify their interests andmotivations. Students should considerwhat they most enjoy learning about –this may be particular topics withinsubjects they are currently studyingand/or something from their widerinterests. To be motivated and successfulat university, it is crucial that they have apersonal interest in their subject andenjoy studying it.

• Be open-minded and avoid limitingthemselves to the more ‘obvious’ orfamiliar-sounding courses. For example,students interested in history, literatureand language may like to considercourses that incorporate all these areas,such as Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic;Asian and Middle Eastern Studies;Classics; Linguistics; and Modern andMedieval Languages, as well as Englishand History.

• Do not make assumptions aboutcareer prospects. While a small numberof professions do require specificqualifications, most employers do notspecify particular degree subjects. Forexample, you do not need anundergraduate degree in Law tobecome a lawyer, or a degree inAccountancy and Finance to become anaccountant. If your son or daughter hasa particular career in mind, encouragethem to research what those in theprofession studied at university.

• Research course outlines andunderstand what they entail. Courseswith the same title at differentuniversities can vary greatly, withdifferent entrance requirements,content, structures, options, andteaching and assessment methods.

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The application process

Applications to universities in the UK are made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service(UCAS), and your son’s or daughter’s school/college should be able to provide advice and guidance onhow to make a UCAS application.

Research Choose a course

Choose a College (or decide on an open application)

Step 1 Action

Apply Submit his or her UCAS application online1

Submit his or her Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ)

Step 2 Action

Selection Submit school/college essay(s) or sit admissions tests, as required

Attend an interview

We will then advise him or her of our decision and of any offer

Step 3 Action

1 Applicants living in countries outside the EU andapplicants for the Graduate Course in Medicine willboth need to submit an additional application.

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Post-16 subject choices

The AS and A Level/IB subject choicesmade in Year 11 (or equivalent) can have asignificant effect on a student’s highereducation options.

Many Cambridge courses require priorknowledge of certain subjects andColleges will expect such subjects to bepassed, normally with at least an A gradeat A Level/grade 6 or 7 at Higher Level ofthe IB (or equivalent). When assessingapplicants at the University of Cambridge,we consider not only the individualsubjects being offered but also thecombination of these. We believe thatcertain subjects, or combinations ofsubjects, are more likely to provide aneffective preparation for study at theUniversity.

Students who have decided on a coursethey would like to study are stronglyrecommended to look at the courserequirements before finalising their ALevel/IB Higher Level subject choices tocheck their suitability for entry.

Those students unsure about the coursethey would like to study should note thatthere are certain A Level/IB Higher Levelsubjects that are considered either‘essential’ or ‘desirable’ for a number ofcourses at Cambridge. Therefore,choosing one or more of these can helpkeep higher education options open.

Further advice can be found in our SubjectMatters leaflet, available online at:www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/publications/.

Choosing a College or making anopen applicationStudents apply to the University throughone of the Colleges. On their UCASapplication they must either specify theparticular College they wish to apply to orchoose to make an open application.

With 29 undergraduate Colleges, how tochoose one is a very common question. TheCambridge Colleges are more alike thanthey are different so your son or daughtershould not worry about or spend too longdeciding which to apply to. For example,they all1 guarantee accommodation for thefirst three years of a student’s course (somecan also guarantee this for a fourth year),and all have a dining hall, common room,library, and computing and sports facilities.As students from all of the Colleges studyingthe same course attend the same lectures/practicals and sit the same examinationsthere are no Colleges that are ‘better’ forsome subjects than others (see p9).

The differences that do exist lie in theambiance, not the educational opportunities.Therefore, how students decide on a Collegeentirely depends on them and what they arelooking for in a College. However, it will betheir base for the time they are atCambridge so some of the things they maywant to consider are:

• course – many Colleges take students inall subjects, but there are some that donot

• selection procedures – admissionscriteria are very similar for all Colleges,but there can be small differences insubject preferences, and arrangementsbefore and at interview. Thesedifferences are detailed on theUndergraduate Admissions website

• their age – four Colleges are exclusivelyfor mature students (who are aged 21 orover when they begin their course) andtheir facilities are geared accordingly

• their gender – three Colleges areexclusively for female students

• College size (number of students),location and type of buildings

• particular facilities

Further information on the different Collegesand advice on how (and how not) to chooseone can be found in the UndergraduateProspectus and on the UndergraduateAdmissions website. Many Colleges producetheir own prospectuses as well and all havetheir own websites (www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/ colleges/). Yourson or daughter may also find it helpful tovisit a few Colleges, either as part of an openday or at another time (though they areunder no obligation to apply to one of theColleges they visit).

Open applicationsApplicants who cannot decide on aparticular College, and do not mind whichone they apply to, can choose to make anopen application. If they do this, theirapplication is randomly allocated to aCollege for consideration by a computerprogram after the closing date. UK/EU openapplications go to Colleges which happen,in that year, to have received fewerapplications per place in that subject thanthe average number across all the Colleges.Applicants from outside the EU are evenlydistributed across Colleges in each subject.

Once allocated, open applications aretreated in exactly the same way as any otherreceived by that College and how theColleges receive an application (whether asa particular College choice or through anopen application) makes no difference tothe success rate for equally well-qualifiedstudents.

Before making an open application,applicants should be sure that they will bequite happy whatever the outcome of theallocation: preferences for or againstparticular Colleges cannot be stated and,once allocated, changes cannot be made.

1 With the exception of St Edmund’s College.

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Additional work or testsDepending on the course and College yourson or daughter applies to, an interview maybe the only additional assessment weundertake. Alternatively, they may be askedto:

• send in one or two of their schoolessays, which may then be discussed inpart of their interview

• take a further test or assessment, eitherwhen they come for interview orbeforehand. This may be a subject-basedtest organised by the College, theThinking Skills Assessment (TSA), theCambridge Law Test or theBio-Medical Admissions Test (BMAT)

Information about the additional forms ofassessment used by each College for eachcourse can be found on our website(www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/tests/) and your son’s or daughter’s Collegewill advise them if they need to send anywork in or sit a test and arrangements forthis.

InterviewsWho do we interview?We try to interview all applicants with arealistic chance of being offered a place ontheir chosen course at Cambridge and everyyear we interview over 80 per cent of UK/EUapplicants. Students with a goodexamination record and a favourablereference are likely to be asked to attend aninterview. However, due to the level ofcompetition for places, there are applicantseach year who are not interviewed.

When do the interviews take place?Most interviews take place during the firstthree weeks of December. Due to thenumbers involved it is very difficult to re-arrange appointments and so applicants arestrongly advised not to make anyunbreakable commitments or travel plansfor this period.

How long are the interviews and whatare the arrangements?The exact form and length of interviews varyfrom College to College and betweensubjects, but applicants typically have twointerviews of between 20 and 45 minuteseach. If your son or daughter is invited to aninterview, they will be sent full detailsexplaining when and where to go, what theformat will be, and what will be expected ofthem, including whether any written workwill be set or whether they will be asked tosit any tests. Some applicants may be askedto stay overnight, in which case they will notnormally be expected to pay foraccommodation or meals.

Your son or daughter must be prepared tothink quite hard in the interview but shouldalso be reminded that there are notnecessarily right or wrong answers to thequestions they are asked. It is the process ofreaching their answer and how they thinkaround the problem that is generally ofmost significance, rather than the answeritself.

Further information on interviews can befound in the booklet Cambridge Interviews:the facts available online and from theCambridge Admissions Office (see p12), andin our Interviews in Action film on our website(www.cam.ac.uk/interviews/).

Please note

We are aware of private companies whooffer, at a charge, information and adviceon our admissions process and interviews.

We DO NOT support or encourage any ofthese commercial enterprises. None ofthese companies has access to anyinformation that is not already readilyavailable free of charge to all schools,colleges and individual students fromCollege admissions offices, the CambridgeAdmissions Office or CambridgeUniversity Students’ Union.

Please contact the admissions office atany College or the Cambridge AdmissionsOffice for more information.

The application outcomeFollowing the assessment of eachapplication there are three possibleoutcomes.

1. Your son or daughter may be made anoffer. If they are still studying, an offerwill normally be conditional anddependent on them achievingparticular grades in their qualifications.

2. If your son’s or daughter’s applicationwas impressive but the College isunable to make an offer due to thelimited number of places available, theymay ‘pool’ the application forconsideration by other Colleges (seeright). As a result of the pool studentsmay be made an offer by anotherCollege (or the College that pooledthem) or invited to attend anotherinterview, usually in January. If noCollege is able to offer them a placethey will be contacted by their originalCollege.

3. The third possibility is that your son’s ordaughter’s application is unsuccessful.On average Cambridge receives aroundfive applications for every place, soinevitably many applicants, even withgood grade predictions, will beunsuccessful. Though this will bedisappointing, we hope that theexperience will have been a useful oneand that students will not be deterredfrom applying by the prospect of notbeing successful – we can only offerplaces to those who apply to us.

If your son or daughter is offered a place atCambridge, they will be informed by theCollege and through UCAS. They must thenreply, as per UCAS requirements anddeadlines. If they accept Cambridge ‘firmly’they must meet the conditions of the offer(if any were attached) by 31 August of theadmissions cycle in which they applied. In afew cases, applicants who have not quitemet the conditions of their offer may still beoffered a place, either at their originalCollege or at another College, as a result ofa small summer pool.

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The winter pool

The winter ‘pool’ is held in January and isdesigned to ensure that the bestapplicants are offered places, regardless ofthe College they originally applied orwere allocated to.

All Colleges can consider pooledapplicants and Directors of Studies ineach subject meet during the interviewperiod to discuss the overall standard ofapplications, so that they can see byJanuary how their own College’sapplicants compare.

Around one in five applicants is pooled,and, of these, around one in four receivesan offer of a place.

Clearing and the adjustmentperiodThe University of Cambridge does not enterClearing, nor are places available in theadjustment period each August. If your son’sor daughter’s examination results are betterthan predicted and they decide that theywish to apply for a place at Cambridge, theywill need to apply in the following year’sapplication cycle.

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Educational and personal supportThe greatest strengths of the collegiatesystem are the personal teaching andsupport that are available within theCambridge Colleges. For example, at theirCollege all undergraduates have a Directorof Studies (DoS) looking after their academicwelfare, and most Colleges also allocate aTutor who can advise on any personal orfinancial matters. Each College has anelected student body (known as a JCR) todeal with student affairs (including studentswith responsibility specifically for studentwelfare) and many have a College welfareofficer, nurse, chaplain and/or College-basedcounsellor on hand to help with anyproblems or concerns their students mighthave.

In addition to the support available in theColleges, the Cambridge University Students’Union (CUSU) exists to represent students’interests at a University level, and to providecentral services, support and entertainment.CUSU is run by six full-time officers –students or former students of the Universitywho are elected annually by the studentbody – each with a different area ofresponsibility, including an Education Officer,a Student Support Officer and a Women’sOfficer.

Further University-level services are theUniversity’s Counselling Service, offering freeand confidential professional counselling tostudents wishing to talk through anypersonal or emotional circumstance; and theCareers Service, which is available to helpboth current students and alumni makeinformed career choices.

Resources and facilitiesThe University has extensive resources andfacilities available to its students to supportand enrich their academic studies.

The University’s 114 libraries mean that ourstudents rarely need to buy books. EveryCollege has a library containing many of themost commonly used books for all courses.Department and faculty libraries have morespecialist collections for particular subjects,and the University Library, one of six ‘legaldeposit libraries’ in the country, houses inexcess of eight million books, journals andother documents, as well as providingaccess to extensive electronic sources ofinformation.

All students have access to up-to-datecomputing facilities. Many departments andall Colleges have their own computer suites,linked to the University network andavailable (usually 24 hours a day) for workand email. Most student rooms are alsolinked to the network and the ComputingService offers a programme of free coursesthroughout the year for those who wish toexpand or improve their IT proficiency.

Nine specialist museums and collections, aswell as the University Botanic Garden, areopen to students and the public alike, andthe Language Centre assists studentswanting to develop their language skills orlearn a new language from scratch,regardless of degree subject.

Support for disabled students The University welcomes applications fromstudents with disabilities and/or a chronicillness and we are able to offer a lot ofindividual support through the collegiatestructure. In addition, the University’sDisability Resource Centre (DRC) providesadvice, information and assistance to bothapplicants and students with a disability. TheDRC advises on the accessibility of Colleges

and departments, and the facilities on offerfor those with particular disabilities, chronicillnesses and Specific Learning Difficulties. Aguide for students and further informationand advice can be found on the DRCwebsite (www.cam.ac.uk/disability/).

Support for care leaversThe University has been awarded the FrankButtle Trust Quality Mark in recognition of itscommitment to supporting care-leaverstudents. All Colleges welcome applicationsfrom students who are or have been in care,and the University is able to offer a range ofsupport and guidance for care leaversstudying here. A number of events andactivities are organised throughout the yearwhich aim to raise the aspirations of youngpeople who are or have previously spenttime in care. If you or the student you aresupporting would like more information andguidance about visiting or studying at theUniversity, please see the UndergraduateAdmissions website (www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/care/) or contactthe Cambridge Admissions Office(telephone: 01223 766872; email:care@cao.cam.ac.uk).

SafetyIn general, Cambridge is a safe city to liveand study in and the vast majority ofstudents never experience any problemsduring their time here. However, studentsare expected to use the same commonsense with regard to security and personalsafety that they would use anywhere else.

Welfare and student support

Once students are admitted, we ensure that they are given the academic and personal support necessaryto help them make the transition from school/college to university and successfully complete their courseat Cambridge. We are proud to have one of the highest undergraduate student retention rates in the UK(less than one per cent drop out or have to leave for academic reasons), a reflection of our commitmentto the overall wellbeing of our students.

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The information that follows relates to thesituation for UK students starting a course inOctober 2012. Up-to-date information about financial arrangements is availablefrom the Directgov website(www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance/). Furtherinformation about the costs and financialsupport at Cambridge is available on ourwebsite (www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/finance/).

Tuition feesThe University of Cambridge, in commonwith most other English universities, intendsto charge UK/EU students tuition fees of£9,000 per year for all courses in 20121.However, your son or daughter will not haveto pay their tuition fees while they arestudying at university. They can take out agovernment student loan for fees, and deferpayment until after they have graduated andare earning a minimum salary (currently£21,000 per year) determined by theDepartment of Business, Innovation andSkills (BIS), when the loan is paid back ininstalments.

Living costsYour son’s or daughter’s living costs as astudent – food, accommodation, books/study materials and clothing – will obviouslyvary depending on their lifestyle and course.Cambridge is a relatively inexpensive placeto study and has consistently been one ofthe top 10 most cost-effective UK universitycities in the NatWest Student Living Index.We estimate that your son or daughtershould allow £7,000–£7,500 a year for suchcosts (further details are available in theUndergraduate Prospectus and on theUndergraduate Admissions website).

As well as the student loan for tuition fees,UK students are also able to take out agovernment student loan to cover livingcosts (also known as a living cost ormaintenance loan). The amount that can beborrowed is dependent on householdincome and has to be paid back once theyhave graduated and are earning a minimumsalary (interest on the student loans iscalculated at the rate of inflation). In2012–13 the maximum amount that can beborrowed by students living away fromhome (outside London) is £5,500.

Your son or daughter may also be entitled toa government living cost grant and aCambridge Bursary (see below). The livingcost grant is a non-repayable grant (up to£3,250 in 2012–13) for new full-timestudents from lower-income households.

The amount they would receive is againdependent on household income, asassessed by the appropriate student financeaward agency (see p12). Certain groups ofstudents, such as student parents and thosewith a disability, may be eligible foradditional government financial support.Please see the Directgov website for moredetails (www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance/).

There are also a number of College-levelawards that students can apply for, such asbook and equipment grants to help withspecific study-related costs, scholarships andprizes for academic, musical and sportingachievement, and hardship funds thatsupport students who are facingunexpected financial difficulties. Informationon all these funds is available from eachCollege.

There are two higher education costs your son or daughter will need to consider – tuition fees and living(or ‘maintenance’) costs – as well as various sources of financial support. The University has one of themost extensive financial support programmes in the country to ensure that students can meet the cost oftheir Cambridge education, regardless of background.

1 Subject to Office for Fair Access approval. See theUndergraduate Admissions website for the most up-to-date information.

Cambridge Bursary 2012–13

The University is offering non-repayable Cambridge Bursaries worth up to £10,500 overthree years or £14,000 over four years to help students meet their higher education costs.The value of each Bursary will be based on household income, and calculated on a slidingscale up to a maximum of £3,500 per year. Students will be given the choice whether touse their Bursary for their maintenance costs or to reduce their tuition fee.

Applying for a Bursary is an easy and straightforward process. Students just need to fill in asimple online application once they arrive in Cambridge, and again at the beginning ofeach academic year. Further details about the Cambridge Bursary Scheme can be foundonline (www.cam.ac.uk/cambridgebursary/).

Student finance

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Frequently-asked questions

Which Colleges are ‘best’ forwhich subjects?Students on the same course, regardless oftheir College, are all taught together by theacademic faculties/departments, attendingthe same lectures, seminars and practicals.Therefore, there are no Colleges that are‘better’ for certain subjects. To help showhow it all fits together, the key functions forwhich the University (through its faculties/departments) and the Colleges areresponsible are outlined in the table to theright.

My son/daughter attends astate/private school – will thisdisadvantage their application?No. The University of Cambridge and itsColleges are committed to offering admissionto students of the highest intellectual abilityand potential, regardless of theirbackground. We do not discriminate, for oragainst, applicants because of the type ofschool they attend.

How many A*s at GCSE doapplicants need?With the exception of Medicine andVeterinary Medicine, there are no GCSE (orequivalent) requirements for entry toCambridge. An applicant’s GCSE results arelooked at as a performance indicator, butwithin the context of the school/collegeperformance. It is generally expected thatapplicants will have achieved high grades insubjects relevant to their chosen course, andmost students who apply have at least fouror five As or A*s at GCSE. However, there arealways exceptions and one of the strengthsof the Cambridge admissions system is itsability to assess all applicants individually. Ifthere have been particular difficulties withan applicant’s education it is important thatour Admissions Tutors are made aware ofthese as early in the process as possible. Insome cases it may be appropriate for astudent to apply under the CambridgeSpecial Access Scheme (CSAS, see p2).

Will taking more A Levels improvemy son’s/daughter’s chances ofadmission?Most applicants to Cambridge are studyingthree or four subjects at A Level. This isusually sufficient to show the breadth of anapplicant’s interests and their ability tomanage a range of differing academic tasks.We would rather applicants develop deeperknowledge of the subjects most relevant/closest to their chosen course thanaccumulate additional A Levels.

As has been the case for the last two years,the standard conditional A Level offer for2012 entry will be A*AA. The subject inwhich the A* is to be achieved is unlikely tobe specified in most cases and studentsshould choose a combination of AS and ALevel subjects which give a goodpreparation for their selected course atuniversity (see the Undergraduate Prospectusor Undergraduate Admissions website foradvice).

What is the University’s positionon exam resits?Once at the University, students are regularlyassessed by examination and there is noopportunity to resit any exams (with theexception of professional qualifyingexaminations in Medicine and VeterinaryMedicine). Therefore, applicants shouldrecognise the importance of being able tocope with the pressures associated withtaking exams and use them as anopportunity to demonstrate their abilitiesand progress by achieving as highly aspossible first time in any form of assessment.

However, we appreciate that even verycapable students may have ‘bad days’ whenan exam does not go quite to plan. As such,a student’s application is unlikely to beadversely affected by their resitting one ortwo modules. On the other hand, therewould be concern about an applicant’spotential to be successful at Cambridge ifthey need to resit numerous exams,particularly where only a marginalimprovement is achieved.

What work experience does myson/daughter need to have?For many of our courses, there is little in theway of relevant work experience thatapplicants could undertake and so it is notexpected or required. However, forvocational courses, such as Medicine andVeterinary Medicine, having some workexperience in an appropriate setting isuseful (but not required). As well asdemonstrating commitment to theirintended career, it gives them theopportunity to acquire greaterunderstanding of the day-to-day realitiesand pressures associated with that career.

It is quite possible that you have as many questions about the application process as your son ordaughter, if not more. Below are some of the more frequently-asked questions we receive from parentsand our responses to them.

The University The Colleges

• Determines course content • Admit undergraduate students• Organises lectures, seminars, practicals and • Organise supervisions

projects • Are responsible for academic and • Sets and marks examinations pastoral care• Awards degrees • Provide accommodation, places to

eat and recreational facilities

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What extra-curricular activitieswill help my son’s/daughter’schances of admission?As our admissions decisions are based onacademic criteria (ability and potential), astudent’s participation (or not) in specificextra-curricular activities is not taken intoaccount (unless it is relevant to the coursethey are applying for) and does not affecttheir chances of being made an offer of aplace at Cambridge. However, studentsshould be advised to consider theimportance that their other universitychoices may place on extra-curricularactivities when composing their personalstatement.

What does ‘Tripos’ mean?Our degree courses are sometimes referredto as Triposes. The term goes back to theseventeenth century when verses would beread out by someone sitting on a three-legged stool (or Tripos) at graduationceremonies. These became known as theTripos verses. Eventually ‘Tripos’ was used torefer to courses offered by the University,when the lists of graduating students foreach subject were written on the back of theTripos verses.

What are the career prospects forCambridge graduates?Cambridge graduates of all disciplines arehighly employable and sought after. In fact,Cambridge has one of the highest graduateemployment rates in the country. Last year,over 91 per cent of our graduates wereemployed or in further study six monthsafter graduating, compared with the nationalaverage of approximately 85 per cent and themost common complaint the UniversityCareers Service receives from employers isthat not enough of our students are applyingto them. Most ‘professions’ (eg law,accountancy) do not specify a degreediscipline when recruiting graduates – whatemployers do ask for is a good degree (ClassI or II.1) from a good university, in anysubject.

Cambridge courses are challenging, rigorousand respected all over the world. It is theflexibility, teaching style and demands of ourdegree courses, as well as the range oftransferable skills that our students developthat are of interest to employers. Therefore,

your son or daughter should not worry thatthe course they choose to study at universitymight limit them to one career path. Also,with the exception of a few careers that dorequire a degree in a particular subject (egArchitecture, Engineering, Medicine,Veterinary Medicine), they should not feellimited in their options for university coursesif they have a particular career in mind. Forexample, law students become journalists,musicians become accountants, historiansbecome lawyers, and engineers becometeachers.

More information about career prospectsand a link to the Careers Service can befound on our website at: www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/whycambridge/careers/.

Will my son/daughter have timeto socialise?There is a great social scene within theUniversity and it is always amazing howmuch our students manage to fit inalongside their studies. As well as everythingthe city has to offer, there are over 600 clubs,societies and groups for students to getinvolved in, as well as a whole range ofstudent-organised entertainment, eventsand activities throughout term-time.

We strongly encourage our students to takeadvantage of the opportunities open tothem at the University, social as well asacademic. Not only are social activities agreat way to meet new people, they canalso provide a springboard into subsequentcareers. Employers value the achievements,experiences and transferable skills thatstudents gain through their involvement inclubs and societies, and look for evidence ofthese in CVs. In addition, potential employersinteract with some department-basedsocieties so your son or daughter will havechances to network and make contacts longbefore they graduate.

Will my son/daughter be able toget a part-time job during term-time?With the exception of opportunitiesavailable within the University and Colleges,we discourage our students from workingduring term-time for a number of reasons:

• our terms are short (around eight weeks)and it is important that students havesufficient time both to keep up with theacademic demands of their course andto give themselves time to takeadvantage of the social and recreationalopportunities available to them.Conversely, we have long vacationsduring which they will have the chanceto earn some money and get some workexperience

• we are committed to the principle thatno UK or EU student should be deterredfrom applying to the University becauseof financial considerations, and that nostudent should have to leave because offinancial difficulties. As a result, we haveone of the most extensive financialsupport programmes of any university inthe UK to ensure that students can meetthe cost of their Cambridge education,regardless of their background, andwithout the need to work during term-time

• living costs at Cambridge are verycompetitive and much lower than manyimagine

You can find more information about thecosts and financial support at Cambridge onour website.

www.cam.ac.uk 11

How can you help?

Think aheadBecause the admissions process happensearlier at Cambridge than at otheruniversities, encourage your son or daughterto start thinking about their application earlyand become familiar with the admissionsprocess so they know what to expect andwhen. For example, the long summer breakis the perfect time for them to start thinkingabout what they might like to say in theirUCAS personal statement. Why do they wantto study that particular subject? Why atCambridge? How have they been pursuingtheir interest in that subject beyond theirschool/college curriculum?

Come and visitYour son or daughter may find it useful tovisit Cambridge and we offer a large numberof open days, challenge days, masterclassesand residential events throughout the yeardesigned to provide information about andpreparation for study at the University.Information about all of these events can befound on our website at: www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/events/. Youmight like to explore which events may beof use to them together and help them toplan their visit and compile a list ofquestions to ask.

Remember the deadlinesYou can help your son or daughter toprepare for deadlines and respond promptlyto correspondence from the Universityand/or UCAS. Once the autumn term beginsand they start to concentrate on theiracademic studies again, 15 October cancome round very quickly.

Encourage wider readingWe expect applicants to be taking an activeinterest in the subject they are applying forand look for evidence of their motivation tolearn about that subject area and how theypursue their interest in their own time.Therefore, encourage your son or daughterto read broadly – beyond that expected fortheir current courses and particularly in theareas of their A Level/IB Higher Level (orequivalent) subjects that they find mostinteresting. Our online Applicant Toolkit(www.cam.ac.uk/applicant-toolkit/) offerssome guidance on suggested reading, andthey should also have an awareness andunderstanding of subject-related issuesreadily visible in the wider world.

Interview preparationIf they are invited to attend an interview, youcan support their preparation byencouraging them to talk confidently aboutthe course they have applied for and whythey are passionate about the subject, aswell as their wider interests. Their school/college may be able to arrange a mockinterview and you can also direct them tothe short film, Interviews in Action, and otherresources on our website (www.cam.ac.uk/interviews/). The booklet CambridgeInterviews: the facts will give them moreinformation about what to expect as well.

If your son or daughter intends to apply to Cambridge there are lots of ways you can help support themto do this. Below you will find a few suggestions.

12 www.cam.ac.uk

Further information and advice

Cambridge Admissions OfficeFitzwilliam House32 Trumpington StreetCambridge CB2 1QYTelephone: 01223 333308Email: admissions@cam.ac.uk www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/

Other useful contacts In addition, you may wish to contact the following organisationsfor more information about applying to and studying at the University of Cambridge.

Cambridge CollegesSee: www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/colleges/

Cambridge University Students’ Union (CUSU)Old Examination HallFree School LaneCambridge CB2 3RKTelephone: 01223 333313Email: access@cusu.cam.ac.uk www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/prospective/ www.applytocambridge.com

Disability Resource Centre (DRC)Keynes HouseTrumpington StreetCambridge CB2 1QATelephone: 01223 332301Email: disability@admin.cam.ac.ukwww.cam.ac.uk/disability/

UCAS UCAS Customer Service UnitPO Box 28Cheltenham GL52 3LZTelephone: 0871 468 0468Email: enquiries@ucas.ac.uk www.ucas.com

If you would like more information or details about anything mentioned in this leaflet, have questions thathave not been answered here or would like to request a copy of the Undergraduate Prospectus or anyother booklets, please contact the admissions office of any of the Cambridge Colleges or the CambridgeAdmissions Office.

Student financeArrangements for financial support for students studying in the UKdiffer depending on where you are from. Your son or daughter shouldcontact the relevant organisation for more information and guidance.

Students from EnglandStudent Finance EnglandTelephone: 0845 300 5090www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance/

Students from Northern IrelandStudent Finance NITelephone: 0845 600 0662www.studentfinanceni.co.uk

Students from ScotlandStudent Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS)Telephone: 0300 555 0505www.student-support-saas.gov.uk

Students from WalesStudent Finance WalesTelephone: 0845 602 8845www.studentfinancewales.co.uk

Students from the EUStudent Finance Services European TeamTelephone: +44 (0) 141 243 3570www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance/

Details are correct at the time of printing (June 2011) but should be checked against the Undergraduate Admissions website forup-to-date information.

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