University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is a collegiate research university in the city of Cambridge, England. Like Oxford, it combines a central university — responsible for lectures, laboratories, libraries, examinations and degrees — with a group of self-governing Colleges. Every student is a member of a College as well as the University, and Colleges provide accommodation, dining, welfare support and much of the small-group teaching that defines a Cambridge education.

Undergraduate teaching is built around lectures and practicals delivered by the University, plus supervisions: regular small-group sessions in a College where students discuss their work directly with an academic. Graduate students join departments and research groups across the sciences, engineering, medicine, humanities and social sciences, studying for master's degrees such as the MPhil and for the PhD.

Cambridge is a large international community, and its official International Student Office supports students coming from outside the UK with guidance on visas, finance and settling in. For students from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal, the College system can make the move easier, because your College is a small home community inside a very large university.

Admission is highly competitive. International undergraduate fees are set by course group and are fixed for the duration of the course, but students must also budget for a separate annual College fee and living costs, and Colleges ask for financial guarantees before a place is confirmed. Applicants should therefore research fees and scholarships on Cambridge's official pages well before applying.

International undergraduate tuition fees for 2027 entry are charged by course group: £30,798 (Group 1, e.g. humanities, law, economics) to £70,554 (Group 5, Medicine and Veterinary Science) per year, fixed for the duration of the course, plus an annual College fee and living costs. Postgraduate fees vary by course — see the official course pages.

Undergraduate applications are made through UCAS by the mid-October deadline, and applicants also complete Cambridge's own additional application steps and, for many courses, an admissions assessment. You choose a College or make an open application, and you cannot apply to both Cambridge and Oxford in the same cycle. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed, usually in December.

Postgraduate applicants apply through Cambridge's Applicant Portal for each course, with deadlines that vary by course; applying by your course's funding deadline is essential if you want to be considered for Cambridge scholarships. A postgraduate application fee applies (see the fees section), with waivers available for eligible applicants.

Applicants whose first language is not English must meet Cambridge's English language requirements, and international students must also show they can finance tuition, College fees and living costs for visa purposes.

IELTS Academic typically 7.5 overall with at least 7.0 in each element; some courses set higher requirements — check the course page.

Cambridge offers undergraduate degrees (BA and integrated master's courses) across arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, computer science, medicine and veterinary medicine. The Tripos system lets many students study broadly at first and specialise later; for example, Natural Sciences and Engineering start as wide-ranging courses before students focus on one area.

At postgraduate level, Cambridge offers taught and research master's degrees, including the MPhil, and PhD programmes across its schools, faculties and institutes, as well as professional qualifications such as the MBA and Master of Finance at Cambridge Judge Business School.

Course pages on the official undergraduate and postgraduate study sites list entry requirements, fees and deadlines for each programme, and students should always check the page for their exact course.

Cambridge lists a wide range of funding for international students on its official study sites. The best-known scheme for postgraduates from outside the UK is the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, which covers the full cost of studying for eligible master's and PhD courses and is awarded on academic excellence, leadership and commitment to improving the lives of others; you apply for it as part of your postgraduate application.

The Cambridge Trust offers scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate international students, usually covering part or all of the tuition fee depending on the award, and many Colleges and departments run their own awards as well. Undergraduate applicants are considered for Cambridge Trust funding through their UCAS application and the University's funding process.

Because funding is competitive and tied to application deadlines, students from South Asia should apply by the earliest relevant deadline and complete every funding section of the application form.