Here you'll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about admissions and life at Jesus College.
If you still have questions or you need more detailed answers, please email us at undergraduate-admissions@jesus.cam.ac.uk.
The interview is a structured but relatively informal discussion about your subject. We won't expect you to know about subjects you don't study. We'll discuss questions which ask you to apply what you know to unfamiliar scenarios, to solve problems, and to think critically and flexibly. It doesn't matter what you wear or how you speak, and we're not looking for a 'smooth' performance. Just stay calm, listen to the questions being asked, and be prepared to consider things in new ways; many people find they enjoy their interviews.
No. We welcome anyone who has the potential to thrive on our courses. We take some contextual information into account, such as the average performance at your school, but this is only to make sure we're assessing you fairly. No one who applies is successful or unsuccessful simply due to their background.
Always busy, sometimes intense, but never boring. Our students work hard and take their studies seriously, but they also have a huge range of other interests. You'll have the opportunity to do everything you would do at any other university. You can dedicate your spare time to almost anything that interests you, from sport and music to student volunteering or spending time with your friends. There's no such thing as a typical student at Jesus College, we're proud of our diversity.
College choice is a social decision, and the best way to choose a College is to consider whether you'd enjoy living there. Consider whether it offers the facilities you'd like, where it is in the city, and simply whether it 'feels' right when you visit. The important thing is not to worry about it too much. People almost always end up loving whichever College they apply to; it's far more important to get your choice of course right.
There's no magic formula for success apart from hard work at school and a genuine interest in your subject. You should be engaging in your subject outside of school, but there's no set way you have to do this. Reading books or articles, attending talks or lectures, watching videos, or listening to podcasts are all great ways to prepare. Whatever you do, make sure you're actually interested, and don't be afraid to start a new book or consider a new idea if what you're working on isn't engaging you.
The Colleges’ shared approved policy and procedure for the managing of formal appeals and complaints can be found under Admissions complaints and appeals on the University website.
Reading Chemical Engineering at Jesus, I felt welcomed into a strong community of scientists and engineers, plus with a chemical engineering Fellow at the College, I received invaluable support for academic inspiration and career planning. The College also has thriving sports and social societies that are a very encouraging and motivational way to enjoy your hobbies as well as develop new skills.
Chemical Engineering at Cambridge transforms your understanding of scientific and engineering principles, teaching you a breadth of knowledge in an environment that always challenges you to think beyond...
English at Cambridge encourages you to think differently right from the start, to experiment as much as you can, and find your own interests within the subject. Before I applied, I was anxious about the course being too rigid and ‘traditional’. But I’ve been able to write about things I’d never even considered before - food on stage, tennis in literature, a comparison between the TV show True Detective and Shakespeare.
It helps being at a College like Jesus, where the arts play such a central role in College life...
I chose to study Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) at Cambridge due to my love for languages. I was keen to pick up new languages in addition to those which I had studied at school. The AMES tripos is excellent for this: in Years 1 and 2 I studied Arabic and Persian, and in my final year I am studying Arabic and Hindi. The small class sizes are excellent and really aid in the learning of new languages.
The degree is excellent with regards to the choice of modules...
Studying Modern Languages at Cambridge is about much more than learning languages, although that is certainly a very important part! The course takes you through literature, history, and linguistics, beginning with a broad overview and becoming more specialised in the second and fourth years. Before starting Cambridge, I had never read or even come into contact with any medieval French literature, yet I have just completed a dissertation on women's speech in 12th century French romance.
The third year is a compulsory year abroad, a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself...
Studying Education has enabled me to study a broad range of interests within the parameters of my degree. From black feminist theory, to discussing what exactly it means to be 'educated', I have been fortunate enough to explore these areas in depth.
The Education Tripos enables students to combine varying interests and passions into a single, well structured, and hugely enjoyable University degree.
