The Cambridge Admissions Office acts as a central enquiry point for prospective students from the UK and around the world who are thinking of applying to the University of Cambridge for undergraduate or postgraduate study, along with guidance for their advisers, teachers and parents.
Admissions and Data Service (ADS)
The Admissions and Data Services Team supports the Colleges with a range of undergraduate admissions processes, including UCAS, the Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ), data provision for moderation purposes, pre-interview Admissions Assessments, the organisation of the Winter and Summer Pools and overseas interview administration; it also processes the majority of applicant examination results. The team also has a research unit which focusses on two key areas: i) admissions research (including assessing the predictive quality and impact of contextual data, evaluating the impact of admissions assessments and development of targets) and ii) evaluating and measuring the impact of our widening participation and outreach activities through the development of an evaluation framework.
Foundation Year
The Cambridge Foundation Year is a unique course intended to provide a stepping stone to Cambridge for students who have been prevented from realising their potential due to educational disadvantage or disruption. The course is a free and fully-funded programme offering study in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. It is only available as a full-time, one-year residential programme, and it is only open to those ordinarily resident in the UK. Prospective Applicants must meet strict eligibility criteria as well as academic entry requirements.
Postgraduate Admissions Office
The Postgraduate Admissions Team supports the admission of students to postgraduate doctoral and non-doctoral study on behalf of the Board of Graduate Studies. The team makes formal offers of admission, manages confirmation of applicants, provides CAS for Tier 4 visa sponsorship, and supports and advises departments and colleges on admissions policy and procedures. It is also responsible for publishing and co-ordinating information on the Graduate Prospectus, and for the Applicant Portal.
Student Funding and Fee Policy Team
The Student funding and Fee Policy Team support a wide range of funding activities for the Collegiate University. This includes administering the Cambridge Bursary Scheme for Undergraduate Students and various Government Loans schemes (in particular UK and US) available to students at all levels of study. The team is responsible for administering certain Research Council studentships and provides guidance to Faculties and Departments on the records of all Research Council funded students. The team disburses hardship funds and certain University Trust funds and prizes. The prestigious Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholarship Programme is managed within the team. The team also coordinates the annual PG Funding Competition and we is currently involved in a project that will transform the PG applicant experience of applying to Cambridge for funding.
Student Recruitment and Marketing (SRM)
The Student Recruitment and Marketing Team provides events and materials in order to support prospective applicants make their higher education choices, along with parents, teachers and advisers. There are three sub-teams:
- The Marketing Team produces the printed Undergraduate Prospectus, International Guide, Teacher and Adviser Guide and Parent Guide. The team also develops and maintains the Undergraduate Study website and engages with prospective applicants via digital and social media.
- The UK and Events Team delivers large-scale events for prospective applicants including Subject Matters for Y10/Y11, Subject Masterclasses for Y12, the Oxford and Cambridge Student Conferences and both the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Open Days. In addition the team attends a number of events across the UK in order to promote the University and provides information and guidance.
- The International Team acts as a point of contact for prospective international applicants and guidance counsellors. They visit many countries in Europe and around the world each year, visiting schools and attending information fairs. They also organise an annual International Guidance Counsellor Conference in Cambridge.
Widening Participation (WP)
The Widening Participation Team supports and encourages students from under-represented groups to apply successfully to the University of Cambridge and other selective universities. The work supports the Access and Participation Plan agreed with the Office for Students. There are three sub-teams:
- The Pre-16 Team delivers the longitudinal programme, Insight, with young people in school years 7-11 in Peterborough and King’s Lynn. The programme seeks to raise both aspiration and attainment. The team also works with young people in care through the Realise programme, highly able students engaged in the neaco NCOP, and coordinate the CAMbassador scheme.
- The Post-16 Team works with young people across the UK through initiatives including HE+, summer schools (working with the Sutton Trust), and Experience Cambridge. The team also supports the Target Oxbridge programme which supports black students and the Insight+ programme in Peterborough, King’s Lynn and Cambridge.