Admissions policy
The aim of the College is to establish a diverse vibrant community of graduate scholars in a wide range of disciplines. The principle governing admissions is that the College should offer places on the basis of the evidence provided on candidates’ academic record, their achievements and academic interests. All candidates’ applications are considered using the same criteria and no preference is given for any subject, country, social background, marital status, gender or age.
The graduate community is approximately 300, of whom 150 graduate students are currently resident in College accommodation. The current stock of graduate accommodation (145 single rooms and 8 partner units) limits the number of graduates who can be admitted, although each year a percentage of new and existing students take up private accommodation.
The College encourages applications for all the degrees and courses listed in the Graduate Prospectus. It accepts applications for all full-time and part-time courses (except the MSt) and aims to achieve a balance between the numbers on one-year courses and three year research degrees.
After a conditional or unconditional offer of a place on the graduate programme is made by a Faculty or Department, applications are sent to the College via the Board of Graduate Studies (BGS). It is not possible to apply directly to the College. The application is then considered by the Graduate Tutors.Preference is given to outstanding applicants who have an excellent record of achievement in their field of study and who appear to have the range of academic and/or professional experience that will help ensure the successful completion of their course. Other considerations are whether the applicant has made the College their first or second choice and whether applicants could be considered strong candidates for one of the College graduate scholarships. Every effort is made to meet religious, dietary and medical needs of graduates and their families.
Offers of places are made through the admissions round generally up until late May or early June in the year of application. Some graduate scholarships have their own deadlines (see Graduate Research Scholarships). On receiving an offer of a place, applicants are given the opportunity to request College accommodation and are put on a waiting list. Once the College’s offer has been accepted, applicants are then asked to indicate their choice of accommodation and rent. Most graduate students who are new to Cambridge are offered College accommodation for their first year of study. Subject to availability, all graduate students are eligible for a maximum three years during their graduate study even if they choose more than one graduate degree. Most graduate students will therefore be expected to find private accommodation at some point.
Successful applicants will be asked to fill in an information sheet for the College giving details of their funding arrangements in addition to the legally binding Financial Undertaking Form completed for the Board of Graduate Studies. All applicants are required to have obtained funding sufficient to cover the full duration of their course before they arrive in Cambridge. Maintenance figures quoted by the Board of Graduate Studies in their offer letter should be regarded as an absolute minimum.
The College does not offer financial assistance for fees or maintenance and may offer hardship grants and/or loans only when exceptional unforeseen circumstances arise during the period of study. Graduates are expected to identify other sources of finance during their study and can expect to receive support from their supervisors and Graduate Tutors in applying for such funds. The College alerts graduates to opportunities to work within College on a temporary and part-time basis, but this cannot provide sufficient funds for maintenance or fees.