Cambridge University Acceptance Rates

Have you ever wondered if you've got what it takes to secure a place at Cambridge? Or whether Oxford or Cambridge University is better? This article will debunk Cambridge University’s admission process which is well-known for its intense competition and adherence to traditions. If you're thinking about applying to Cambridge, this post will provide you with detailed insight into your chances of joining this elite institution based on all major factors shaping the university's admissions, ranging from the overall admissions policies and competition for each programme to background factors such as ethnicity, gender, UK regional disparities and socio-economic backgrounds.

Overview of Cambridge University Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate for Cambridge University remains very competitive as one of the top academic institutions in the world. This section gives an overview of the trend over the years 2019 to 2023.

Table 1: Overall Trend of Acceptance Rates 2019-2023

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In recent years, the trend shows a dropping acceptance rate. For the 2023-24 admissions cycle, Cambridge has an overall acceptance rate of approximately 16%, which is lower than the pre-pandemic years due to factors such as increased competition and grade inflation during the pandemic. Similar observation is made about Oxford University Acceptance Rates.

Three key factors influence Cambridge University's overall acceptance rate:

• High Competition: With an average of six applications per place, Cambridge faces intense competition, making admission difficult for many applicants.
• Course Availability: The number of available spots in each subject varies, and popular programmes such as Law and Medicine receive more applications, limiting acceptance opportunities in those areas.
• Academic Standards: Cambridge requires top academic performance, i.e. a minimum of AAA in A-Levels for most subjects. Some more rigorous programmes like Medicine require an A* in the relevant subject. With rigorous criteria, even high-achieving students may not secure offers, affecting the overall acceptance rate.

Acceptance Rates by Subject

The acceptance rates at Cambridge University vary significantly across different subjects, reflecting the popularity and competitiveness of each course. This section will delve into the acceptance rates by subject, offering insights into which programs attract the most applications and which are less competitive. Understanding these trends can help applicants better gauge their chances of gaining admission to their desired course at Cambridge.

Table 2: Top 10 Popular Undergraduate Programme at Cambridge University

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Unsurprisingly, highly sought-after programmes such as Medicine and Law saw fierce competition for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle. To maximise your chances of getting accepted into these programmes, it is crucial to prepare for the admission tests such as LNAT and MAT thoroughly, in addition to other parts of the admission requirements. Given the intense competition for these programmes, expert help through MAT Tutors and LNAT Tutors is advised.

Meanwhile, Table 2 reveals that some popular programmes such as English and Natural Sciences have fairly high acceptance rates. Prospective students should adjust their application strategy and include less competitive programmes in their applications, in order to maximise their chance of getting accepted into Cambridge University. For these programmes, ELAT and NSAA are required as part of the admission tests. Students who are less confident can seek out ELAT Tutors and NSAA Tutors for specialised and tailored support.

Table 3: Top 10 Least Competitive Undergraduate Programmes at Cambridge University

While many courses at Cambridge University are highly competitive, some programmes receive fewer applications per place, making them comparatively easier to gain admission. This table above highlights that the humanities subjects, such as Modern & Medieval Languages and Classics, are also the least competitive undergraduate courses at Cambridge University. For prospective students who are interested in fine arts, languages and cultural studies, you should actively consider applying for the above programmes. Even for prospective students who are not immediately interested in these areas, you should consider the above programmes as alternative pathways to study at this prestigious institution.

Table 4: Top 10 Most Competitive Undergraduate Programmes at Cambridge University

Aside from Medicine and Law, Computer Science is one of the most competitive programmes at Cambridge University. As part of the admission requirement, students must take the TUMA admission tests, for which TUMA Tutors are readily available.

Overall, students' choice of programme matters greatly for a spot at Cambridge University. Prospective students are advised to carefully consider the spots available at their desired programmes, the level of competitiveness and the student's own academic performance relative to other applicants'. When in doubt, students can speak to an Oxbridge Tutor to seek specific and case-by-case guidance.

Acceptance Rates by Ethnicity

The acceptance rate at Cambridge University varies across different ethnic groups, reflecting wider trends in diversity and representation within higher education. The tables below show how ethnicity influences acceptance rates.

Table 5: Most Common Ethnicity Groups in the 2023-2024 Admission Cycle

Table 6: Application Success Rate of Each Ethnicity Group in the 2023-2024 Admission Cycle

There is a reversal of the trend towards greater inclusion of black students: While the applicants in the Black or Black British - Caribbean group had a success rate of 22.2% in the 2022-23 cycle, it has significantly come down by around half in the 2023-24 cycle. Meanwhile, the success rate for White, Chinese and Indian applicants remains fairly consistent over the past few years, hovering at around 20%. However, the university's majority remains to be white students at 65% of the total student population, although it has substantially come down from 80% around ten years ago. The second largest ethnic group in this admission cycle is Asian (Indian) and Mixed (White and Asian), each at 7.3% and 5.4% respectively.

Here are several initiatives taken by Cambridge University to promote ethnic diversity and inclusion in admissions:

• Targeted Outreach Programmes: Cambridge runs several outreach initiatives aimed at underrepresented ethnic minority groups, such as the Target Oxbridge programme, which provides tailored advice and resource access to Black African and Caribbean students during the application process.
• Adjustment of Admission Criteria for Contextual Offers: The university introduced contextual admissions where candidates from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds, including ethnic minorities, are considered with a broader context in mind.
• The Cambridge Trust Scholarships: Cambridge offers scholarships specifically for international students from underrepresented ethnic groups, particularly through the Cambridge Trust. These scholarships alleviate financial barriers for students from ethnic minorities, especially from developing countries.
• University Diversity Training and Admissions Policies: Cambridge has implemented mandatory diversity and unconscious bias training for all staff involved in admissions, fostering a fairer and more inclusive admissions decision-making process.
• Student-Led Initiatives and Advisory Boards: Cambridge has partnered with student-led organisations such as The Black Advisory Hub, which works with the university to enhance recruitment strategies. Additionally, ethnic minority students are represented in university decision-making boards, representing the voices of underrepresented groups on the board level.

These initiatives and financial assistance aim to create a more diverse and inclusive student body by supporting and encouraging applications from underrepresented groups.

Acceptance Rates by Gender

The acceptance rates by gender at Cambridge University provide insight into how admission trends vary between male and female applicants across different courses.

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Table 7: Gender Distribution of Newly Admitted Students

Overall, there are slightly more female students than male students in the new batch of Cambridge undergraduate students. Based on Table 7, we can see that female students hold the majority of offers from arts, humanities and social sciences programmes (62.2%), while the opposite is true for sciences programmes (61.3%). Overall, there seems to be a roughly half-half gender distribution at Cambridge, which is similar to that at Oxford University.

Table 8: Programme Specific Gender Distribution of Newly Admitted Students

However, the gender disparities become more apparent upon a breakdown of gender distribution by the programme: While female account for the majority in most humanities and social sciences subjects, male still account for the majority for most STEM subjects, particularly mathematics, computer science and engineering, as observed in Table 8. Meanwhile, although the gender distribution in traditionally male-dominated areas such as Medicine and Law is now roughly 50-50, there has been a downward trend compared to the 2021 and 2022 admission cycles.

To address these gender issues, here are several initiatives taken by Cambridge University to promote gender diversity and inclusion in admissions:

• Cambridge Women in STEM Initiative: This program encourages more female students to apply for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses through outreach events and mentorship schemes.
• Cambridge Trust Scholarships: These scholarships are available to female applicants from underrepresented backgrounds, including both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• Unconscious Bias Training: All staff involved in admissions receive training to mitigate gender bias in the selection process.
• Cambridge Women’s Leadership Programme: This initiative provides leadership opportunities for female students, creating role models and promoting gender balance within the university community.

Acceptance Rates for International Students

Cambridge University attracts students from all corners of the globe, with a diverse and dynamic international student body. However, securing a place at this prestigious institution as an international applicant can be even more competitive than domestic UK students. In this section, we will explore the acceptance rates for international students at Cambridge, examining how these rates compare to domestic admissions and what factors might influence the outcome of an application.

Table 9: Acceptance Rates of UK vs. International Applicants

Several factors contribute to lower acceptance rates for international students at Cambridge University:

• Higher Volume of Applicants: Cambridge receives a significantly larger number of international applications compared to available places, intensifying competition for non-UK students.
• Academic Standards and Equivalency: International students must meet Cambridge’s high academic standards, and differing education systems can make it challenging to directly compare qualifications, leading to higher rejection rates.
• Limited Quotas: Some programmes such as Medicine may have set quotas for international admissions to ensure a balance between domestic and international student numbers.
• Financial Considerations: International students face higher tuition fees and must demonstrate their ability to fund their education, which can be a barrier for some applicants.
• Visa and Residency Requirements: The complex UK student visa process can deter international applicants or lead to disqualification if requirements are not met.

Table 10: Top 5 Countries or Regions of International Students

As Table 10 shows, the top 5 places where overseas students come from in the 2023-24 admission cycle are: PR China, Singapore, Hong Kong, USA and India. Singapore, along with Japan, Romania and New Zealand, are also the origins of the students with the highest success rates.

Here are the three most important impacts of being an international applicant on Cambridge University admissions:

• Higher Competition for Limited Places: International applicants face a much larger pool of competitors compared to domestic students, especially in high-demand courses like Medicine, which only admits around 21 international students per year. Given the higher competition, excelling in academic performance becomes even more important. International students are encouraged to seek additional support through IB Tutors to maximise the chances of getting into top universities like Cambridge.
• Qualification Comparability: Cambridge often requires international students to exceed academic standards, as comparing qualifications from different educational systems can be challenging. This makes it harder for international students to meet or surpass the necessary benchmarks.
• Financial Barriers: International students are subject to significantly higher tuition fees and must demonstrate sufficient financial resources, adding an additional hurdle to the admissions process and reducing the number of eligible applicants.

For more about Applying to UK Universities as an International Student, you can check out TutorChase's blogpost.

Acceptance Rates by Socioeconomic Background

This section explores the statistical relationship between socio-economic status and acceptance rates, highlighting the factors that may influence these outcomes and the impact of Cambridge’s outreach and financial support programs

Table 11: Admission Rate by POLAR4 Classification

(POLAR4 is a classifcation of UK postcode areas showing the participation of young people in higher education (HE), where 5 signifes the highest-participation neighbourhood quintile and 1 the lowest.)

Based on findings from Table 11, there is a significant difference between the success rate of applications made by a student from the most versus the least educated neighbourhoods in the UK. This reflects that, apart from talent and other inherent traits, students from a less affluent background suffers from disadvantages compared to their peers from more affluent backgrounds.

Here are several initiatives taken by Cambridge University to promote socio-economic diversity and inclusion in admissions:

• Cambridge Bursary Scheme: Provides financial support to low-income students, helping cover living expenses and reducing financial barriers to studying at Cambridge.
• Adjustment and Contextual Offers: Uses contextual data to assess applicants' socio-economic backgrounds, allowing for lower grade offers for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who demonstrate academic potential.
• Reach Cambridge Programme: Offers free residential summer programmes aimed at students from underrepresented socio-economic backgrounds, giving them exposure to university life and academic guidance.
• Cambridge Admissions Office Outreach Initiatives: Targets schools and regions with historically low application rates, providing workshops, mentoring, and information sessions to raise awareness and support applications from disadvantaged students.
• Foundation Year Programme: A one-year course offering an alternative pathway into Cambridge for talented students from underrepresented backgrounds, including those from low socio-economic groups.
• Higher Education Access Tracker (HEAT): Tracks and evaluates the university’s outreach activities, ensuring that efforts to engage students from disadvantaged backgrounds are effective.
• Sutton Trust Summer School: A free, intensive summer programme designed to encourage talented students from lower socio-economic backgrounds to apply to top universities like Cambridge.

Acceptance Rates by UK Region

Cambridge University attracts students from across the UK, but acceptance rates can vary significantly depending on the applicant's region. Factors such as access to educational resources, regional outreach efforts, and school performance all play a role in shaping these differences. In this section, we will explore the acceptance rates at Cambridge University by UK region, highlighting trends and potential disparities that impact students' chances of securing a place.

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Table 12: Admission Rate by UK Nation or UK Region

The application success rate is particularly low for applicants from Scotland, Wales, and the East Midlands due to several factors:

• Lower Application Numbers: These regions have historically lower numbers of applicants to Cambridge, meaning fewer students from these areas are familiar with the application process or encouraged to apply, resulting in less competition within the applicant pool.
• Access to High-Performing Schools: Students in these regions may have less access to high-performing schools or the same level of academic preparation as students in areas with higher rates of Cambridge admissions, such as London or the South East.
• Geographic and Socio-economic Disparities: Economic disparities and lower outreach levels in these regions can limit access to Cambridge’s outreach and support programmes, which are more concentrated in areas with a stronger tradition of applying to elite universities.
• Perception and Awareness: There may also be less awareness or aspiration among students in these regions about applying to Cambridge, due to geographical distance, perceived cultural fit, or lack of knowledge about the opportunities available.

Given the regional disparities, here are several initiatives taken by Cambridge University to promote regional diversity and inclusion in admissions:

• Regional Outreach Programmes: Cambridge runs specific outreach events and workshops in underrepresented regions like Scotland, Wales, and the East Midlands to raise awareness and encourage applications from students in these areas.
• School Liaison Officers: Cambridge has dedicated school liaison officers who work with schools in underrepresented regions to provide advice, guidance, and support throughout the application process.
• The Sutton Trust Summer Schools: This free residential programme includes targeted recruitment of students from regions with historically low application rates, such as Wales and the East Midlands, providing a taste of university life and academic preparation.
• STEM SMART Programme: Aims to support students from underrepresented regions and disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve high grades in A-level STEM subjects, preparing them for competitive university applications, including Cambridge.
• Cambridge University Widening Participation (WP) Initiatives: Cambridge works with regional schools and local authorities to run widening participation programmes, offering academic taster sessions, mentorship, and application workshops.
• Regional Access Officers (RAOs): RAOs are appointed to specific regions of the UK, focusing on areas like Wales, Scotland, and the East Midlands to promote Cambridge’s application process and demystify perceptions about the university.
• HE+ Project: A collaboration between Cambridge and state schools in regions with lower application rates, offering resources and academic enrichment to improve students' chances of success in applications.
• The Cambridge Foundation Year: Provides an alternative route for students from underrepresented regions, helping to bridge academic gaps and prepare students for full undergraduate study at the university.

Future Admissions Trends and Factors

In the upcoming admissions cycles, Cambridge University is expected to see notable shifts in its admissions landscape driven by several key factors. First, the university’s continued focus on widening participation will likely lead to further adjustments in how admissions decisions are made. With increased use of contextual admissions, more applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds, including underrepresented socio-economic and regional groups, may benefit from lower grade requirements or enhanced support during the application process. This initiative aligns with Cambridge’s commitment to addressing disparities in access and improving diversity across all academic disciplines.

International admissions will also remain highly competitive, with increasing numbers of students from around the world seeking entry. Cambridge may refine its evaluation of international qualifications, ensuring a more standardized comparison of credentials from different education systems. Simultaneously, Cambridge is expected to expand scholarship programs for international students from developing countries, which could broaden access but may further raise competition.

Additionally, demand for courses related to emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, and climate science is projected to grow. This shift may lead to tighter competition in these areas, while traditional subjects like Medicine and Law will remain oversubscribed. Cambridge’s growing emphasis on holistic evaluations, focusing on leadership, community impact, and extracurricular achievements, is also likely to play a greater role in future admissions decisions.

Tips on How to Get into Cambridge University

For a complete guide on How to Get Into Cambridge University, check out the article via the link. In summary, these are the five takeaways:

• Excel Academically: Achieving top grades is crucial. Focus on strong A-levels, GCSEs, or IB results, depending on your curriculum. Many applicants seek support from A-Level Tutors and GCSE Tutors to maximise their academic performance.
• Choose the Right Course: Select a course you are passionate about and well-suited for. Cambridge values a deep understanding of your chosen subject, so ensure you’re prepared for rigorous academic interviews and assessments. To get a taste of what it is like to study at Cambridge, you can consider enrolling in one of the Best Cambridge Summer Schools.
• Showcase Super-curricular Activities: Engage in activities that demonstrate your interest in the subject beyond schoolwork, such as research, competitions, or relevant work experience. This helps Cambridge assess your commitment and intellectual curiosity.
• Prepare for Admissions Tests: Many courses at Cambridge require specific admissions tests. Focus on thorough preparation to stand out from other applicants.
• Ace the Interview: Cambridge interviews are designed to assess your problem-solving abilities and depth of subject knowledge. Practising with mentors or through mock interviews can help build confidence in tackling challenging questions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, securing a place at Cambridge University requires dedication, academic excellence, and thorough preparation. By excelling in your studies, participating in super-curricular activities, and preparing for both admissions tests and interviews, you can significantly improve your chances of success. For additional support, working with TutorChase's tutors can provide the guidance needed to reach your academic goals. Cambridge’s rigorous admissions process may seem daunting, but with the right preparation and mindset, it’s entirely possible to stand out and earn a place at one of the world’s leading universities.