Studying at Cambridge: A guide for parents and supporters

2014 entry

Welcome

1 Cambridge explained

2 Why Cambridge?

4 student support

6 student nance

If you are supporting a young person who is thinking about university, it is likely that you have your own questions and concerns about them entering higher education. This guide has been produced to try to answer those questions, dispel any concerns and help you to advise your son or daughter during this time.

In the pages that follow you will nd information about the University of Cambridge, what student support is available, student nance, our application process and more. We hope you will nd this booklet useful, and if you have any further queries we will be happy to help just get in touch (see the back cover).

8 What are we looking for?

9 applying to Cambridge

14 Frequently asked questions

17 How can you help?

Back cover Further information and advice

Details are correct at the time of printing (June 2013) but should be checked against the Undergraduate Study website for the most up-to-date information. University of Cambridge, 2013. Designed by Cambridge Design Studio Printed by MWL Print Group

Please note
Throughout this guide we use the terms parent, son and daughter to describe your relationship with your young person in recognition of your parental role, whether that be as a parent, step-parent, guardian, carer or supporter.

Cambridge explained

a collegiate university: who does what?

Cambridge is a collegiate university which comprises:
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various faculties and departments in dierent academic subjects a number of Colleges

The key functions for which the University (through its faculties/ departments) and Colleges are responsible are outlined below, to show how they t together.

THE UNIVERSITY:
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determines course content organises lectures, seminars, practicals and projects sets and marks examinations awards degrees

THE COLLEGES:
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A FEW FACTS AND FIGURES

The University of Cambridge has around 12,000 undergraduate students and approximately 7,000 postgraduates. The undergraduate male:female ratio is 53:47. 15.2 per cent of UK undergraduates are from black, Asian and minority ethnicity backgrounds (where known). Around 10 per cent of all undergraduates are from overseas (outside the EU). For entry in 2012 (and deferred entry in 2013):
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admit undergraduate students organise small-group teaching (supervisions) are responsible for academic and pastoral care provide accommodation, places to eat and recreational facilities

around 15,700 applications were received for approximately 3,400 undergraduate places 97.4 per cent of those accepted achieved the equivalent of A*AA or better at A Level, and a further 4,843 applicants with the equivalent of A*AA or better were unsuccessful the state:independent school ratio amongst UK accepted applicants was 63:37

Why Cambridge?
The University of Cambridge is one of the worlds greatest universities. We provide challenging, exible and individual tuition, and are consistently rated at the top of national and international league tables. Below are 10 reasons why we feel your son or daughter should consider applying to the University.

1 Academic excellence
Our teaching sta includes many national and world subject leaders, so students have the exciting opportunity to be taught by leading experts in their eld.

3 5 Flexible learning Outstanding Our degree courses (formally support referred to at Cambridge as Triposes)
generally cover subjects broadly in the rst year, before becoming increasingly specialised in later years. This allows our students to explore their subject, strengths and interests before choosing an area on which to focus. We have one of the highest undergraduate student retention rates in the UK (98.4 per cent, in comparison to 90.7 per cent nationally), a reection of our commitment to the overall wellbeing of our students. To help our students to succeed we provide expert teachers and lecturers, excellent library and computing facilities, superb labs and lots of academic support. In addition, our extensive welfare and pastoral support networks ensure that students individual needs can be recognised and met.

2 The collegiate structure

As well as being a member of a large university, students are also part of a smaller College community. The 29 Cambridge Colleges that admit undergraduate students provide a place for them to live, study and socialise (though students in all Colleges take the same course and examinations and are awarded degrees by the University, see table on p1). The collegiate system oers a huge amount of individual pastoral and academic support for each student.

4 More personal tuition

In addition to lectures, practicals and seminars, which are organised by the appropriate faculty or department, students receive regular small-group tuition (often in pairs, sometimes one-to-one). This more personal tuition, known as a supervision, allows students to explore course material in much greater depth, receive feedback on their work, investigate new approaches and clarify anything they are unclear about.

6 Accommodation guarantee
The Cambridge Colleges1 guarantee accommodation to single undergraduates without children for three years (many also provide for fourth-year students). The shorter annual accommodation contracts (usually 30-39 weeks) mean that students are only charged rent when they are in residence, and the costs compare favourably with other universities.

With the exception of St Edmunds College.

7 Low cost of living

Cambridge is a relatively inexpensive place to study.2 Transport costs in the city are minimal as it is easy to get around on foot or by bicycle; and study costs are kept low because we are fortunate to have excellent computing and library facilities.

9 Everyone ts in
There is no such thing as a typical Cambridge student. We have students from all parts of the country (and the world) and from all backgrounds and this diversity is valued and celebrated by all. However, one thing that all of our students do have in common is that they work hard and play hard. In addition to world class tuition and learning facilities, there are more than 750 clubs and societies and all sorts of student-organised entertainments, and students also make the most of everything the city has to oer too.

10 Excellent career prospects

Cambridge graduates from all disciplines go into a very wide range of occupations, and are highly employable and greatly sought after around the world. We have one of the highest graduate employment rates in the UK, are in the top three universities in the world for employer reputation,3 and are one of the three universities most often targeted by Britains top graduate employers.4 This is because the exibility, teaching style and demands of our degree courses ensure that students develop and hone a range of key transferable skills which are crucial to any career.

8 Substantial nancial support

The University and Colleges are committed to the principle that no suitably qualied UK/EU student should be deterred by their nancial circumstances from applying to Cambridge, and that no publicly funded UK/EU student should have to leave because of nancial diculties. Therefore, an extensive programme of nancial support is oered to ensure our undergraduates can meet the costs of their Cambridge education, regardless of background. See p6-7 for more information.

For the academic year 2012-13, estimated living costs for a UK student at Cambridge were 7,500 (depending on lifestyle), compared to the National Union of Students (NUS) estimated average expenditure for living costs of 12,056 (studying in England but outside London). 3 2012 QS World University Rankings. 4 The Graduate Market in 2012.

Student support
Once students are admitted, we ensure that they are given the academic and personal support necessary to help them make the transition from school/college to the University and successfully complete their course at Cambridge.

educational and personal support

College welfare The greatest strengths of the College system are the personal teaching and support that are available. For example, undergraduates have a Director of Studies (DoS) looking after their academic welfare, and students also have access to a Tutor who can advise on any personal or nancial matters. In addition, Colleges have a variety of other sta, such as a nurse, counsellor and/or chaplain, and Welfare Ocer(s) on the College students union committee who can oer advice and support.

University support The Universitys Counselling Service oers free and condential professional counselling to students wishing to talk through any personal or emotional circumstance, and the Childcare Information Service oers guidance and advice to student parents. The Careers Service is available to help both current students and alumni make informed career choices. Cambridge University Students Union (CUSU) represents students interests at a University level and provides a range of student-run welfare services as well. The six fulltime CUSU ocers annually elected students or former students of the University each have a dierent area of responsibility, and include an Education Ocer, a Welfare and Rights Ocer and a Womens Ocer. CUSU also employs a permanent professional Student Advisor to provide condential support to students.
Further information www.study.cam.ac.uk/ undergraduate/support/

Resources and facilities The University has extensive resources and facilities available to our students to support and enrich their academic studies, and keep study costs down. Our 114 libraries mean that many students rarely need to buy books. Every College has a library containing the most commonly used books for all courses, while faculty and department libraries have more specialised collections for particular subjects. The University Library, one of the countrys six legal deposit libraries (entitled to a copy of every publication published in the UK and Ireland), houses in excess of eight million books, journals and other documents, as well as providing access to extensive electronic resources. All students have access to up-todate computing facilities. Many departments and all Colleges have their own computer suites, linked to the University network and usually available 24 hours a day. Most student rooms are also linked to the network and internet, and the Computing Service oers free courses throughout the year for those who wish to improve their IT prociency. The Universitys nine specialist museums and collections are open to students and the public alike; and the Language Centre assists students wanting to develop their existing language skills or learn a new language from scratch, regardless of degree subject.

Care leavers
The University has been awarded the Buttle UK Quality Mark in recognition of our commitment to supporting prospective applicants who are or have previously spent time in care and our care-leaver students. As well as the support that is available to all students:
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Disabled students
The Universitys Disability Resource Centre (DRC) provides information and support to applicants and current students with any impairment/disability, medical condition or injury, including those with:
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care leavers are entitled to yearround College-owned accommodation, should they wish to stay in Cambridge over the vacations Colleges are keen to support care leavers should any nancial or pastoral issues arise

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A number of events and activities are organised throughout the year which aim to raise the aspirations of young people who are or have previously spent time in care. If you or the student you are supporting would like more information and guidance, please see the Undergraduate Study website or contact the Cambridge Admissions Oce (telephone: 01223 766872; email: care@cao.cam.ac.uk).

specic learning diculties (SpLDs, eg dyslexia, dyspraxia) mobility impairments and injuries (eg wheelchair users, upper limb disorder/RSI) sensory impairments (eg hearing, visual) mental health diculties (eg depression, anxiety disorder) long standing illnesses/medical conditions (eg cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV, diabetes, epilepsy) Asperger syndrome and autism

Prospective applicants with a disability/SpLD/medical condition/injury are advised to get in touch with the DRC and a College admissions oce (see the back cover) as early as possible to discuss their application and specic requirements. We also strongly recommend that they disclose their disability in their UCAS application so that appropriate adjustments to the interview process can be made, if required.
Further information www.cam.ac.uk/disability/

safety
In general, Cambridge is a safe city to live and study in and the vast majority of students never experience any problems during their time here. However, students are expected to use the same common sense with regard to security and personal safety that they would use anywhere else.

Applicants and their advisers/supporters are welcome to contact the DRC (see the back cover) to arrange visits and informally discuss their support needs. The DRC also advises on the accessibility of Colleges and departments, and the facilities and resources on oer (www.cam.ac.uk/accessguide/).

Further information www.cam.ac.uk/study/ undergraduate/care/

Student nance
There are two higher education costs your son or daughter will need to consider tuition fees and living (or maintenance) costs. The University has one of the most extensive nancial support programmes in the country to ensure that students can meet the cost of their Cambridge education, regardless of background.
The information that follows relates to the situation for UK/EU students starting a course in October 2013 (unless otherwise stated). Figures for 2014-15 will be published on the Undergraduate Study website (www.cam.ac.uk/studentnance/) as soon as they are available. Further information about nancial arrangements is also available from the GOV.UK website (www.gov.uk/ studentnance/).

tuition fees
As at most English universities, in 2013-14 the tuition fees at Cambridge for UK/EU students1 studying for an undergraduate degree are 9,000 per year for all courses. tuition fee support No UK/EU student has to pay their tuition fees while they are studying at university.2 They can take out a government Tuition Fee Loan and defer payment until after they have left university and are earning a minimum salary, when the loan is paid back in instalments. Tuition fee support varies according to where students are from (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales or the EU). Please refer to the appropriate student nance award agency website for details (see opposite). Through the National Scholarship Programme, students from particularly disadvantaged backgrounds are also eligible to receive a 6,000 fee waiver in their rst year.3 See the Undergraduate Study website (www.cam.ac.uk/ studentnance/) for more information and eligibility criteria.

living costs
Your sons or daughters living costs as a student food, accommodation, books/study materials, personal expenses will obviously vary depending on their lifestyle and course, but Cambridge is a relatively inexpensive place to study and we estimate that your son or daughter should allow approximately 7,850 a year for such costs. Further details are available in the Undergraduate Prospectus and on the Undergraduate Study website. living costs support: government As well as the Tuition Fee Loan, students from England are also able to take out a government Maintenance Loan2 for living costs (up to 5,500 in 2013-14). The amount that can be borrowed is dependent on household income and the loan has to be paid back once the student has left university and is earning a minimum salary. Students from Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the EU should refer to the relevant student nance authority for information regarding support for living costs.

1 From 2013 entry onwards, Islands students (from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) are classied as overseas students and so charged tuition fees at the overseas rate. As overseas students, Islands students also have to pay College fees in addition to tuition fees. See online for details. 2 Applies to students studying for their rst undergraduate degree. 3 In line with government guidance, only students from England and the EU can apply for the National Scholarship Programme. Students from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are not currently eligible to apply for the Programme.

UK students from lower-income households may also be entitled to a non-repayable government Maintenance Grant for living costs,2 and certain groups of students, such as student parents and disabled students, may be eligible for additional government nancial support. Please see the GOV.UK (www.gov.uk/studentnance/) or relevant student nance authority website for details. living costs support: University The University is oering nonrepayable Cambridge Bursaries worth up to 10,500 over three years or 14,000 over four years to help UK/EU students2 meet their living costs while at the University. The value of each Bursary will be based on household income, and calculated on a sliding scale up to a maximum of 3,500 per year in 2013-14.
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Applying for a Bursary is an easy and straightforward process. Students just need to ll in a simple online application once they arrive in Cambridge, and again at the beginning of each academic year. Further details about the Cambridge Bursary Scheme can be found online (www.cam.ac.uk/cambridgebursary/). living costs support: College There are also a number of Collegelevel awards that students can apply for, such as book and equipment grants to help with specic studyrelated costs; scholarships and prizes for academic, musical and sporting achievement; and hardship funds that support students who are facing unexpected nancial diculties. Information on these funds is available from each College.

STUDENT FINANCE AWARD AGENCIES

Arrangements for nancial support for students studying in the UK dier depending on where they are from. Your son or daughter should contact the relevant organisation for more information and guidance. students from england Student Finance England 0845 300 5090 www.gov.uk/studentnance/ students from northern Ireland Student Finance NI 0845 600 0662 www.studentnanceni.co.uk students from scotland Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) 0300 555 0505 www.saas.gov.uk students from Wales Student Finance Wales 0845 602 8845 www.studentnancewales.co.uk students from the eU Student Finance Services European Team +44 (0) 141 243 3570 www.gov.uk/studentnance/

If the household income is 25,000 per year or less, your son or daughter will be eligible for the maximum non-repayable Cambridge Bursary of 3,500 per year. If the household income is between 25,001 and 42,611 per year, your son or daughter will be eligible for a partial non-repayable Cambridge Bursary. There is no limit to the number of Bursaries available every eligible student who applies will receive one.

What are we looking for?

The Colleges are committed to admitting the most able students irrespective of background, and each applicant is assessed individually, without partiality or bias.

Admission to Cambridge is highly competitive and admissions sta are required to make very dicult decisions when choosing between applicants. Applicants are considered on their academic suitability for their chosen course and their potential to benet from and ourish in the Cambridge environment. There is no blueprint for an ideal Cambridge student and we want to give applicants as many opportunities as possible to demonstrate their strengths and potential. Therefore, each applicant is considered individually, using all the information available:
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Rigorous moderation procedures are in place that enable Colleges to compare the quality of their own applicants with those to other Colleges before deciding who to make oers to. One part of these procedures is the pool system that provides the opportunity for applicants squeezed out by the competition at one College to receive an oer from another (see p13).

Once students are admitted, we ensure that they are given the academic, personal and, where appropriate, nancial support necessary for successful completion of their course at Cambridge. You can nd out more and view our Admissions Policy online at: www.cam.ac.uk/apply/.

EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES
If your sons or daughters education has been signicantly disrupted or disadvantaged through health or personal problems, disability or diculties with schooling, his or her school/college referee should complete the Extenuating Circumstances Form. The information given on the form provides context within which Admissions Tutors can consider the academic record of applicants, and which can be useful when assessing their performance at interview (if interviewed). Circumstances that this form should be used to advise us of include:
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n n n n n

academic record, including GCSE and AS (or equivalent) grades or scores, and A Level (or equivalent) grades, scores or predictions school/college reference personal statement submitted work, where requested test results, where a test forms part of the assessment contextual data, such as school performance data (where available) performance at interview, if interviewed

a serious, acute or chronic medical condition (especially since the age of 14) which has caused signicant educational disruption signicant caring responsibilities, or recent bereavement or serious illness within close family serious disruption to educational provision at school/college

All admissions decisions are based on academic criteria ability and potential. Excellence in extracurricular activities will never compensate for lower academic potential (see p15).

If other circumstances have caused signicant educational disruption, your son or daughter or their referee is advised to contact a College admissions oce as early as possible to discuss the particular circumstances. Your son or daughter should apply in the usual way and their school/ college referee (or doctor or social worker, if appropriate) should complete and submit the Extenuating Circumstances Form for receipt by the 15 October deadline. More information is available on the Undergraduate Study website at: www.cam.ac.uk/apply/.

Applying to Cambridge
Applications to universities in the UK are made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), and your sons or daughters school/college should be able to provide advice and guidance on how to make a UCAS application.
The process of applying to Cambridge is much the same as the process of applying to other universities (summarised below). However, the application process for Cambridge starts a little earlier to allow time for interviews to be organised, and students are required to provide some additional information not covered by the UCAS application. The ve steps below outline the application process. We also encourage prospective applicants to try to visit the University so they can see for themselves what it may be like to study at Cambridge. There are more than 180 open days and events in Cambridge and across the UK each year to choose from details can be found online at: www.cam.ac.uk/outreachevents/.

STEP

STEP

CoURse
Consider a course
n www.cam.ac.uk/choosingacourse/

2
STEP STEP

ColleGe
Consider where they would like to live when they are here applicants can either choose a specic College or make an open application
n www.cam.ac.uk/choosingacollege/

aPPlY
UCas application1 submitted online by 15 october2 Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ) submitted by students shortly afterwards
n www.cam.ac.uk/apply/

STEP

InteRVIeW
Conducted in December
n www.cam.ac.uk/interviews/

DeCIsIon
Applicants will be advised of our decision before the end of January

An additional application must also be submitted by students applying from or attending school/college outside the EU, applying for the Graduate Course in Medicine, and/or applying for an Organ Scholarship. 2 Other application deadlines apply for those wishing to be interviewed in particular overseas countries (see information online at: www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/international/), and for some mature applicants (www.cam.ac.uk/mature/).

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Choosing a course
Post-16 subject choices The subject choices for sixth-form studies made in Year 11 (or equivalent) can have a signicant eect on a students higher education options. When assessing applicants, we consider not only the individual subjects being oered but also the combination of these. Many Cambridge courses require prior knowledge of certain subjects and the Colleges expect such subjects to be passed, normally with an A or A* grade at A Level/grade 6 or 7 at Higher Level of the IB (or equivalent). Students who have decided on a university course should look at the course requirements before nalising their A Level/IB Higher Level subject choices to check their suitability for entry. Those students unsure about the course they would like to study should note that there are certain subjects that are considered either essential or desirable for a number of courses at Cambridge. Therefore, choosing one or more of these can help keep higher education options open. Further advice about subjects and subject combinations that provide a more eective preparation for study at Cambridge can be found in our Subject Matters leaet available on our website (www.study.cam.ac. uk/undergraduate/publications/).

Degree course choices Choosing the right degree course is the most important decision students will make in the application process and they should think very carefully about their options. You can help your son or daughter by encouraging them to consider the following points.
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Research course outlines and understand what they entail. Courses with the same title at dierent universities can vary greatly, with dierent entrance requirements, content, structures, options, and teaching and assessment methods. Do not make assumptions about career prospects. While a small number of professions do require specic qualications, most employers do not specify particular degree subjects. For example, you do not need an undergraduate degree in Accountancy and Finance to become an accountant. If your son or daughter has a particular career in mind, encourage them to research what those in that profession studied at university; they may be surprised at the range they discover.

Identify their interests and motivations. Students should consider what they most enjoy learning about this may be particular topics within subjects currently being studied and/or something from their wider interests. It is crucial that they have a personal interest in their subject and enjoy studying it to be motivated and successful at university. Be open-minded and avoid limiting themselves to the more obvious or familiar-sounding courses. For example, students interested in history, literature and language may like to consider courses that incorporate all these areas, such as Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic; Asian and Middle Eastern Studies; Classics; Linguistics; and Modern and Medieval Languages, as well as English and History.

Further information www.cam.ac.uk/choosingacourse/

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Choosing a College
Students apply to the University through one of the Colleges. In their UCAS application, as well as listing Cambridge in the Choices section, they must enter the appropriate College (campus) code. They can either specify the particular College they wish to apply to or make an open application. College choice makes no dierence to the chances of being made an oer of a place at Cambridge. Your son or daughter should not worry about or spend too long deciding which College to apply to students quickly settle in whichever College they attend and the Colleges are more alike than they are dierent. For example, they all1 guarantee accommodation for the rst three years (some can also guarantee this for a fourth year) and they also all have a dining hall, common room, library, and computing and sports facilities. The dierences that do exist lie in the ambience, not the educational opportunities students from all Colleges studying the same course attend lectures/practicals together and sit the same examinations. There are no Colleges that are better for certain subjects than others. Your sons or daughters College will be their base while they are at Cambridge so some of the things they may want to consider are:

n n

n n n

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course some Colleges do not take students in all subjects their age four Colleges are exclusively for mature students (aged 21 or over) their gender three Colleges consider applications from female students only College size number of students location in the city appearance and type of accommodation (eg on-site or College-owned houses) particular facilities personal instinct/preference many students cannot explain why they were drawn to their College other than it just felt right for them

received fewer applications per place in that subject than the average number across all the Colleges. Open applications from overseas students (from outside the EU) are evenly distributed across Colleges in each subject. Once allocated, open applications are treated in exactly the same way as any other and the success rate for equally well-qualied UK/EU open applicants is the same as for those applying directly to a College. Before submitting an open application, your son or daughter should be sure that they will be quite happy whatever the outcome of the allocation: preferences cannot be stated and, once allocated, changes cannot be made. If your son or daughter has unusual qualications or has particular requirements, it is advisable to apply to a specic College having sought their advice at an early stage, rather than make an open application. Please note that prospective students may only submit one application to Cambridge applications to more than one College, or to one College and an open application are not allowed. Also, students cannot apply to both the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford in the same year.
Further information www.cam.ac.uk/choosingacollege/

Further information about the Colleges is available on our website, as well as advice about how not to choose a College. Your son or daughter may nd it helpful to visit a few Colleges, either during an open day or at another time (there is no obligation to apply to a College they visit). open applications If your son or daughter does not mind at which College they end up, they can make an open application. If they do this, after the closing date their application is allocated by a computer program to a College for consideration. UK/EU open applications go to Colleges which happen, in that year, to have

With the exception of St Edmunds College.

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Interviews and tests

Depending on the course and College your son or daughter applies to, an interview may be the only additional assessment we undertake. Alternatively, they may be asked to:
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When do the interviews take place? Most interviews take place during the rst three weeks of December and applicants should not make any unbreakable commitments or travel plans for this period. How long are the interviews and what are the arrangements? The exact form and length of interviews vary from College to College and between subjects, but applicants typically have two interviews of between 20 and 45 minutes each. If your son or daughter is invited for interview, they will be sent full details explaining when and where to go, what the format will be, and what will be expected of them, including whether any written work will be set. Some applicants may be asked to stay overnight, in which case they will not normally be expected to pay for accommodation or meals.

send in one or two of their school essays, which may then be discussed in part of the interview take a test, either when they come for interview or beforehand. This may be a subject-based test organised by the College, the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA), the Cambridge Law Test or the Bio-Medical Admissions Test (BMAT)

What are the interviewers looking for? The focus of interviews is to explore applicants academic potential, motivation and suitability for their chosen course, as well as assess how they would respond to the teaching methods used at Cambridge. Your son or daughter must be prepared to think hard in the interview but should also be reminded that very often there are no right or wrong answers to the questions asked. It is the process of reaching their answer how they think around the problem and apply their current knowledge that is generally of most signicance, rather than the answer itself. More details and advice about interviews, including some short lms about what to expect, can be found on our website at: www.cam.ac.uk/interviews/.

Information about the additional forms of assessment used by each College for each course can be found on our website (www.study.cam.ac. uk/undergraduate/apply/tests/) and your sons or daughters College will advise them if they need to send in any work or sit a test and arrangements for this. Who do we interview? All applicants with a realistic chance of being oered a place on their chosen course (more than 80 per cent of UK/EU applicants every year) are invited to attend an interview. Applicants with a good examination record and a favourable reference are likely to be asked to attend an interview. However, due to the level of competition for places, there are applicants each year who are not interviewed.

PLEASE NOTE
We are aware of private companies who oer, at a charge, information and advice on our admissions process and interviews. We DO NOT support or encourage any of these commercial enterprises. None of these companies has access to any information that is not already available free of charge to all schools, colleges and individual students from College admissions oces, the Cambridge Admissions Oce or Cambridge University Students Union. Please contact the admissions oce at any College or the Cambridge Admissions Oce for more information.

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the application outcome

Following the assessment of each application there are three possible outcomes. 1 Your son or daughter may be made an oer. If they are still studying, an oer will normally be conditional and dependent on them achieving particular grades in their qualications. 2 Your sons or daughters application may be pooled for other Colleges to consider (see right). 3 Your sons or daughters application may be unsuccessful. On average, we receive around ve applications for each place, so every year we have to turn down many students with good grade predictions whom we would like to have taken. Disappointing though this may be, we hope that all applicants nd the process a useful experience and valuable preparation for their other university choices. We hope that students will not be deterred from applying by the prospect of not being successful we can only oer places to those who apply to us. If your son or daughter is oered a place at Cambridge, they will be informed by the College and through UCAS. They must then reply, as per UCAS requirements and deadlines.

If your son or daughter accepts Cambridge rmly, they must meet the conditions of the oer (if any were attached) by 31 August of the admissions cycle in which they applied. In a few cases, oer holders who have not quite met the conditions of their oer may still be accepted, either at their original College or at another College, as a result of a small summer pool.

Clearing and the adjustment period

The University of Cambridge does not enter Clearing nor will places be available in the August adjustment period. If your sons or daughters examination results are better than predicted and they wish to apply for a place at Cambridge, they will need to apply in the following years admissions round.

THE POOL
The pool system is designed to ensure that the best applicants with the greatest potential are oered places, no matter which College they applied or were allocated to. If a College is over-subscribed for a particular course, strong applicants are put into the winter pool for other Colleges to consider. All Colleges can consider pooled applicants and Directors of Studies in each subject meet during the admissions period to discuss the overall standard of applications so that they can see by January how their own Colleges applicants compare Colleges would rather admit a strong applicant from the pool than a weaker applicant who applied directly/was allocated to them. As a result of being placed in the winter pool, students may be made an oer by another College (or by the College that pooled them) or invited to attend another interview, usually in January. If no College is able to oer them a place their original College will contact them to inform them that they have been unsuccessful. Around one in ve applicants is pooled and, of these, around one in four receives an oer of a place from a College other than the one they applied/were allocated to. A second smaller pool (of oer holders who have narrowly missed the conditions of their original oer) takes place in August when examination results are released and places are conrmed. This again helps to ensure that the best applicants gain places.

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Frequently asked questions

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

HOW MANY A*S AT GCSE DO APPLICANTS NEED?

With the exception of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, there are no GCSE (or equivalent) requirements for entry to Cambridge. An applicants GCSE results are looked at as a performance indicator, but within the context of the school/college performance. It is generally expected that applicants will have achieved high grades in subjects relevant to their chosen course, and most students who apply have at least four or ve As or A*s at GCSE. However, there are always exceptions and one of the strengths of the Cambridge admissions system is its ability to assess all applicants individually. If there have been particular diculties with an applicants education it is important that the Colleges Admissions Tutors are made aware of these as early in the process as possible. In some cases it may be appropriate for an Extenuating Circumstances Form (see p8) to be submitted.

WILL TAKING MORE A LEVELS IMPROVE MY SONS/DAUGHTERS CHANCES OF ADMISSION?

Most applicants to Cambridge are studying three or four subjects at A Level. This is usually sucient to show the breadth of an applicants interests and their ability to manage a range of diering academic tasks. We would rather applicants develop deeper knowledge of the subjects most relevant/closest to their chosen course than accumulate additional A Levels. The typical conditional A Level oer for 2014 entry will be A*AA. Applicants may be required to achieve the A* in a particular subject, depending on individual circumstances, and students should choose a combination of AS and A Level subjects which gives a good preparation for their selected course at university (see the Undergraduate Study website for guidance).

WHAT IS THE UNIVERSITYS POSITION ON EXAM RESITS?

While it is becoming less common to be able to resit exams, should the opportunity be available a students application is unlikely to be adversely aected by their resitting one or two modules we appreciate that even very capable students may have a bad day when an exam does not go quite to plan. However, if an applicant needed to resit numerous exams, particularly where only a marginal improvement would be achieved, there would be concern about their potential to be successful at Cambridge. This is because once at the University, students are regularly assessed by examination and there is no opportunity to resit any exams (with the exception of professional qualifying examinations in Medicine and Veterinary Medicine).

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WHAT WORK EXPERIENCE DOES MY SON/DAUGHTER NEED TO HAVE?

For most of our courses, there is little in the way of relevant work experience that applicants could undertake and so it is not expected or required. However, for vocational courses, such as Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, having some work experience in an appropriate setting is useful, but not required. As well as showing commitment to their intended career, it gives them the opportunity to acquire greater understanding of the dayto-day realities and pressures associated with that career.

WHAT EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WILL HELP MY SONS/DAUGHTERS CHANCES OF ADMISSION?

As our admissions decisions are based on academic ability and potential, we expect to see evidence of your sons or daughters super-curricular activities their wider engagement with their area(s) of academic interest. For example, reading and other exploration relevant to the course they are applying for. Your sons or daughters participation (or not) in specic extra-curricular activities is not taken into account and does not aect their chances of being made an oer. However, when composing their personal statement they should consider the importance that their other university choices may place on extra-curricular activities.

WILL MY SON/DAUGHTER HAVE TIME TO SOCIALISE?

There is a great social scene within the University and it is amazing how much our students manage to t in alongside their studies. As well as everything the city has to oer, there are more than 750 clubs, societies and groups for your son or daughter to get involved in, plus a wide range of student-organised entertainment, events and activities throughout term-time. We strongly encourage our students to take advantage of the opportunities open to them at the University, social as well as academic. Not only are social activities a great way to meet new people, they can also provide a springboard into subsequent careers. Employers value the achievements, experiences and transferable skills that students gain through their involvement in clubs and societies, and look for evidence of these in CVs. In addition, potential employers interact with some departmentbased societies so your son or daughter will have chances to network and make contacts long before they graduate.

MY SON/DAUGHTER ATTENDS A STATE/PRIVATE SCHOOL WILL THIS DISADVANTAGE THEIR APPLICATION?

No. The University and Colleges are committed to oering admission to students of the highest intellectual ability and potential, regardless of their background. We do not discriminate for or against applicants because of the type of school they attend. Our Admissions Policy is online at: www.cam.ac.uk/admissionspolicy/.

WHICH COLLEGES ARE BEST FOR WHICH SUBJECTS?

Students on the same course, regardless of their College, are taught together by the academic faculties/departments, attending the same lectures, seminars and practicals. No Colleges are better for certain subjects. The key functions that the University (through its faculties/departments) and the Colleges are responsible for are outlined on p1.

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WILL MY SON/DAUGHTER BE ABLE TO GET A PART TIME JOB DURING TERM TIME?
With the exception of a few opportunities available within the University and Colleges (such as working in the College bar, College library or as a student helper during open days), we take the view that our students should not work during term-time.
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WHAT ARE THE CAREER PROSPECTS FOR CAMBRIDGE GRADUATES?

Cambridge graduates of all disciplines are highly employable and sought after. In fact, Cambridge has one of the highest proportions of graduates entering graduate-level employment or further study in the country.
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Our terms are short (around eight weeks) and it is important that students have an appropriate work-life balance, with sucient time both to keep up with the academic demands of their course and to give themselves time to take advantage of the social and recreational opportunities available to them. Conversely, we have long vacations during which they will have the chance to earn some money and gain work experience. We have one of the most extensive nancial support programmes of any university in the UK to ensure that our students can meet the cost of their Cambridge education without the need to work during term-time.

Of the students who graduated in 2011, just ve per cent were still seeking employment or further study six months after graduation, compared with nine per cent nationally (Higher Education Statistics Agency). Last year, independent market research identied Cambridge as one of the three universities most often targeted by Britains top graduate employers (The Graduate Market in 2012). The most common complaint the University Careers Service receives from employers is that not enough of our students are applying to them!

Most professions (eg accountancy, the Civil Service) do not specify a degree discipline when recruiting graduates what employers do ask for is a good degree (Class I or II.1) from a good university, in any subject. Cambridge courses are challenging, rigorous and respected all over the world. It is the exibility, teaching style and demands of our degree courses, as well as the range of transferable skills that our students develop, that are of interest to employers. Therefore, your son or daughter should not worry that the course they choose to study at university might limit them to particular career paths. Also, with the exception of a few careers that do require a degree in a specic subject (eg Architecture, Engineering, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine), they should not feel limited in their options for university courses if they have a particular career in mind. For example, law students become journalists, musicians become accountants, historians become lawyers, and engineers become teachers. More information about career prospects and a link to the Careers Service can be found on our website at: www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/ whycambridge/.

You can nd more information about the costs and nancial support at Cambridge on our website (www.cam.ac.uk/ studentnance/).

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How can you help?

If your son or daughter intends to apply to Cambridge there are many ways you can help support them to do this. Below are a few suggestions.

think ahead
Because the UCAS application deadline for Cambridge is earlier than for other universities, encourage your son or daughter to start thinking about their application early and become familiar with the admissions process so they know what to expect and when. For example, the long summer break is the perfect time to start thinking about what they might like to say in their personal statement. Why do they want to study that particular subject? Why at Cambridge? How have they been pursuing their interest in that subject beyond their school/college curriculum?

Remember the deadlines

Once the autumn term begins and your son or daughter starts to concentrate on their academic studies again, 15 October can come round very quickly. You can help them to prepare for deadlines and respond promptly to correspondence from the University and/or UCAS. Your son or daughter must regularly check both the inbox and spam/junk folder of the email account they give in their UCAS application as they will be contacted by the University and/or UCAS by email at various stages of their application.

Interview preparation
If your son or daughter is invited to attend an interview, you can support their preparation by encouraging them to talk condently about the course they have applied for and explain what about the subject interests them, as well as their wider interests. Their school/college may also be able to arrange a mock interview. Further information and advice and some short lms about interviews are available on our website at: www.cam.ac.uk/interviews/.

encourage wider reading Come and visit

Your son or daughter may nd it useful to visit Cambridge and we oer a large number of open days, challenge days, masterclasses and residential events throughout the year to provide information about and preparation for study at the University. Details about all of these events can be found on our website at: www.cam.ac.uk/outreachevents/. You might like to explore together which events may be of use to them and help them to plan their visit and compile a list of questions to ask. We expect applicants to be taking an active interest in the subject they are applying for and look for evidence of their motivation to learn about that subject area and how they pursue their interest in their own time (their super-curricular activities). Therefore, encourage your son or daughter to read broadly and critically beyond that expected for their current courses and particularly in the areas of their A Level/IB Higher Level (or equivalent) subjects that they nd most interesting. Guidance on suggested reading and preparation can be found in the course information on our website (www.cam.ac.uk/choosingacourse/), and they should also have an awareness and understanding of subject-related issues readily visible in the wider world.

Further information and advice

If you would like more information or details about anything mentioned in this guide, have questions that have not been answered here or would like to request a copy of the Undergraduate Prospectus, please visit the Undergraduate Study website or contact any College admissions oce or the Cambridge Admissions Oce.

Cambridge admissions oce

Fitzwilliam House 32 Trumpington Street Cambridge CB2 1QY 01223 333308 admissions@cam.ac.uk www.study.cam.ac.uk/ undergraduate/

other useful contacts

In addition, you may wish to contact the following organisations for more information about applying to and studying at the University of Cambridge. Cambridge Colleges See: www.cam.ac.uk/ choosingacollege/ Cambridge University students Union (CUsU) Old Examination Hall Free School Lane Cambridge CB2 3RF 01223 333313 access@cusu.cam.ac.uk www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/prospective/ Disability Resource Centre (DRC) Keynes House Trumpington Street Cambridge CB2 1QA 01223 332301 disability@admin.cam.ac.uk www.cam.ac.uk/disability/ UCas (for information about applying to higher education in general) UCAS Customer Contact Centre PO Box 28 Cheltenham GL52 3LZ 0871 468 0 468 enquiries@ucas.ac.uk www.ucas.com