FAQs

Please refer to the individual course pages for average figures.

In most subjects we are completely neutral on gap years. In some subjects such as Engineering or Languages they can be of some benefit to the student in gaining experience (but not necessary for an application). In Mathematics, although we wouldn’t encourage gap years, we are open to students taking them as long as they have some way of keeping their mathematical skills fresh by actively seeking to work on maths problems during the gap year.

Yes, for most courses but not for Architecture, Medicine or Veterinary Medicine. Applicants will be expected to have achieved a First or an Upper Second Class degree in order for their application to be competitive.

There is no age requirement for admission to most courses at Cambridge, although the vast majority of undergraduates are either 18 or will turn 18 during their first year. You’ll need to demonstrate that you have the maturity and personal skills to cope with university level study. If you will be over 21 when you start your course, you are classified as a mature student.

Applicants for Medicine are required to be 18 by 1st November of their first year.

We do not normally consider applications from students currently enrolled on a degree course at another UK university, unless:

1. You are in the final year of your current course and are applying for a second undergraduate degree or
2. You are completing a standalone Foundation Year or taking credit-bearing courses with the Open University (or comparable institution) or
3. You have exceptional circumstances which mean that you are unable to continue at your current institution or
4. You want to change from what you’re studying to a different discipline.

In cases 3 or 4, you may need strong support in the form of a written reference or letter of support from your course director or tutor. You may also be asked to demonstrate that you have sufficient funding to complete the Cambridge degree where you have already used part of your Lifelong Learning Entitlement.

We recognise that there may be good reasons for international students to be undertaking an initial period of study at a university outside the UK and we are open to considering such applications. We would normally ask for a university transcript in this case.

If you do not disclose prior undergraduate study via your UCAS application, this will be treated as a fraudulent application, and your application may be cancelled.

It is not possible for a student to transfer to Cambridge partway through a degree course. All students must start in the first year of our undergraduate programmes.

Trinity Hall welcomes exchange students (including under Erasmus) coming to study at Cambridge under a University partnership arrangement. For further information, please see the University’s information on Incoming Exchange Students.

We do not accept visiting students outside this scheme.

At Trinity Hall we usually give each applicant two interviews. There are usually two interviewers present in each interview, and the questions asked will be primarily academic in nature. Topics covered will relate to the course for which the candidate has applied, and will range from material covered at school to material not encountered before.

There is no dress code; wear something you are comfortable in. Cambridge can get cold in December, so make sure you bring a warm coat. For online interviews, wear whatever makes you most comfortable.

Please see the information on Admissions complaints and appeals on the Undergraduate Study website.