FAQs
MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The application process
Interviews
I’ve decided to apply to Cambridge, what should I do first?
Find out everything you can about the department and the subject before choosing a college. The best way to choose a college is to visit Cambridge yourself and take a look around (we don’t bite!). Don’t worry too much about statistics, getting into Cambridge is tough no matter which College you choose, so concentrate on what each College has to offer and whether it appeals to you as a place to live and work for three years.
Most tourists ask ‘where's the University?' but it's impossible to point to any one building. The University is made up of Faculties and Departments and the Colleges. The University Faculties and Departments organise Lectures, Practicals and Exams. The Colleges are responsible for students' education and welfare and the small group teaching (‘supervisions') that make Cambridge so distinctive. The Colleges organise supervision teaching, provide accommodation and a social focus for undergraduates.
Do I need 10 A*s at GCSE to even think about applying?
No. Every year we will turn down some applicants with very good GCSE profiles and will make offers to others whose GCSE profile appears weaker. The reason for this is twofold. First, we make our decisions based on academic potential, which is different from previous achievements (that is, who is going to make the most of the opportunities offered to them once they get to Cambridge) and so we look to see where applicants are on a learning curve. Secondly, we think that AS module scores are likely to be a better predictor of how people will do in Cambridge exams than GCSEs (which is why we ask you to provide us with information about how you've done in AS modules).
How many subjects should I take?
Taking more than 3 A2s does not place you at any significant advantage over those applicants 'only' studying 3 subjects. We generally look for depth, not simply breadth. This depth can be acquired in different ways. For example, an exam in a language, History, Philosophy or Theatre Studies would all provide useful background for an English applicant but the same background can be acquired by extensive reading outside what is expected from you at school, rather than simply taking more and more exams is also a good way to develop depth. To download a document with the University response to this question, please click here.
What happens if I didn't do as well as I'd hoped in AS? Can I still apply?
There's nothing to stop you putting in an application but you need to be aware of a couple of things. Most of the applications that we see will be from people who have done well at AS (AAAB or better) and will go on to do well at A2 (A*AA or better). If there are reasons for your underperformance in AS, then make sure that we know about them so we can take that into consideration when deciding what to do about your application.
You should look at our individual subject factsheets and also consult the university guidance. Generally speaking, there is more flexibility about subject requirements for Arts degrees than for Science degrees. Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Maths, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine and Natural Sciences all require particular subjects at A2. We think Further Maths is a good subject to take, not just for Maths but for Engineering, Natural Sciences and Economics as well.
I'm not taking A2s. Does that matter?
We are used to dealing with a variety of qualifications and exam systems. For IB, we usually set offers at 776 in HL subjects plus a points total of 40 or 41 (including TOK and EE). For Scottish Advanced Highers, we would usually ask for AAB. We are also used to dealing with most major European exam systems and can provide details of likely offers on request. Guidance may also be found on the university admissions page here.
For US applicants, Queens' expect you to achieve 5 in at least 3 APs and our general feeling is that, while American applicants are suitably prepared for Arts courses, it's more difficult to acquire the detailed knowledge necessary for Science courses. Generally speaking, we are looking for the top 1 or 2% in any examination system.
In terms of the necessary subjects, when a subject is listed as 'essential' at A2, we would normally accept the IB equivalent, provided that it is being studied at HL, rather than SL. In other cases, please contact us to see if your qualifications meet the 'essential' requirements.
Queens' does not have a 'standard' offer. We always take the individual circumstances of an applicant into consideration when determining offer levels. For candidates taking A-levels we are now likely to make offers at the level of A*AA. If a candidate has already taken sufficient modules to complete a full A2 in Maths, whether certificated or not, at the point of application, we will normally exclude this from their offer. This applies not just to applicants for Maths but in all subjects.
For IB, we usually set offers at 776 in HL subjects plus a points total of 40 or 41 (including TOK and EE). Guidance about offer levels in other exam systems can be found on the Cambridge University website here.
What if I am a student at another University?
Queens' will not normally consider applications from students already at university who wish to study the same, or a very similar, subject to that which they are already doing at Cambridge. Applications from students wishing to study a different subject will be considered, provided that the application is supported by a current university tutor
Will I able to take a gap year and still get a place at Queens'?
Yes! We are happy to encourage applicants in all subjects (even Maths!) to either apply for deferred entry or to apply post-A2. We think that time away from study between school and university offers students the chance to develop, mature and see something of the world.
What kind of things do you recommend that I do on a gap year?
We think that there is no one 'right' use of a year out - earning money is just as legitimate as going off to save the world! We encourage Engineers to keep up their mathematical skills in various ways and to take advantage of the 'Year in Industry' scheme.
I won't be 18 by the time I start. Can I still apply?
We encourage all applicants, regardless of age, to think about the benefits of a year out. The vast majority of our students are 18 when they commence their Cambridge course. The College routinely accepts students who will be 18 by the end of their first term in Cambridge (in practice 1 December). We are prepared to consider applicants who are younger. In all cases, however, one part of our assessment will be whether we consider that an applicant is mature enough and ready to commence a competitive degree course that involves self-motivated study and living away from home.
The application process
What should I put on my personal statement?
Your personal statement is your chance to sell yourself academically. Tell us about why you are interested in the subject that you want to study at university and what you've done to explore that interest (eg. extra reading, projects and coursework, work experience). We make our decisions on the basis of academic potential alone, so while we are interested in all your extra-curricular activities, they only really indicate time-management skills to us. So, spend the majority of your statement talking about academic interests and put your extra-curricular activities at the end.
If you are applying for a subject at university that you have not been able to study at school, then the personal statement is a very good way for us to assess your motivations and how much research you've done about your chosen course. Don't be surprised if we ask you about your personal statement at interview - personal statements provide us with a good way to start a conversation. This means that you should remember to read through it before you come up for interview. You should also make sure everything on it is true!
Do you have quotas for particular subjects?
There are fixed quotas of places for Medicine and Veterinary Medicine that are distributed amongst all Cambridge Colleges. In addition, Music, PPS and Philosophy are looking very closely at undergraduate numbers and Queens' is unlikely to be able to take more than a couple of students for each of these subjects. In other subjects we have more flexibility and there is no fixed number of places: we look at the gathered field of those that apply and make our decisions accordingly.
How do you make admissions decisions?
We look at the whole range of information that we have available to us: how you've performed previously at school, what your predicted grades are, what your teachers say about you, your personal statement and any written work or test that is required for your subject (consult the details of subject-specific requirements here).
Do I have to take extra Cambridge examinations (STEPs)?
We only make systematic use of other examinations for Maths. We will normally include STEP requirements as part of an offer for Maths. For those applicants whose schools can provide support for STEP, we will ask for 1, 1 in STEP II and STEP III. Where a school cannot provide support, we can make slightly lower offers. We provide all those holding Maths offers with detailed guidance about how best to prepare for STEP.
I'm not sure what my fee-status is - what should I do?
If you are a UK national who has always lived in the UK, then you will count as a 'Home' student. The same applies to EU nationals who have always been resident within the EU. If you are an international student, or a UK national who has spent considerable time away from the UK, the situation is more difficult. Information for international students may be found here. If you are in any doubt, please contact us, and we will ask you to fill in a questionnaire which will determine your fee status.
Interviews
Will I be invited for interview?
At the moment, Queens' will interview most 'Home' students. We also invite many overseas students to come for interview. However, we look very carefully at all applicants to determine whether they have a realistic chance of success and make decisions about who to invite to interview accordingly.
I'm studying abroad. Will I have to come to Cambridge for the interview?
The Cambridge Colleges operate a collective interview scheme in India, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and China and some interviews take place there in September (India), October (Malaysia, Singapore, China) and December (Hong Kong). Details of these schemes and the relevant deadlines are available here.
When do interviews take place?
The vast majority of our interviews in Cambridge take place in the first two weeks of December so please bear this in mind if you are planning travel during a year out.
I've heard interviews are really scary. Is that true?
There are many, many myths about Cambridge interviews - and the press are always keen to pick up on stories about the supposedly crazy questions that we ask. You can find some information about what interviews in Cambridge are really like here. Basically, we will ask you some tough questions but we won't ask you 'trick' questions.
It doesn't help us to find out what you don't know. We're interested in what you do know and how you then cope when we ask you to tackle a problem from a different angle or give you new bits of information. We're also interested in how you think, so tell us why you're approaching a problem in a particular way. Interviews take many different forms.
You may be asked to write things down and work through problems with your interviewers (very common in Science subjects). On the Arts side, questions tend to be more open-ended and designed to explore how you think.
For more information about interviews at Queens', please see the relevant section of our 'Admissions Procedure' webpages here.
How should I prepare for interviews?
You don't need to go on an expensive course or have a specific 'mock interview' to do well in a Cambridge interview. All our interviewers are trained, and can easily spot 'prepared' answers. Instead, try talking about your academic interests to an unfamiliar adult (somebody at school who has never taught you or one of your parents' colleagues who doesn't know you very well).
How many interviews will I have?
Cambridge guarantees that you will be seen by at least two academic interviewers. This can be in the form of a single interview or through several interviews with one or more interviewers. Practice in Queens' varies from subject to subject but we will always let you know in advance how many interviews you will have, when they'll be and with whom.
Life at Queens'
Queens' is one of the largest Cambridge Colleges with approximately 875 students, 500 of whom are Undergraduates.
How many undergraduates do you admit a year?
We take around 150 undergraduates, the majority of whom will be Home/EU students.
How many applicants do you have per place?
This is a question which seems to worry a lot of people. The straight answer is that Queens' is slightly higher than the University average of 1 place to 4 applicants. However, we would like to stress that applying simply on the basis of the statistics is not a good idea.
First of all (and contrary to popular perception) applying to a college with a 'lower' ratio will not increase your chances of getting an offer. We have developed complex and sophisticated moderation procedures to ensure that the best applicants get into Cambridge, regardless of the College that they apply to initially. Good applicants who cannot be offered places at their first-choice College are re-distributed via the Pool.
Perhaps more importantly, we believe that making a choice about a College should be based on more than just statistics. After all, you have to live in a place for 3 or 4 years of a degree so it's worth thinking about what the other facilities are like, how large it is, is it old or new, does it offer accommodation on the main site for all your time in Cambridge and things like that.
What facilities does Queens' have?
You should explore the rest of our website to find out more, try the About Queens' pages, or else the JCR website to find out about theatre, music and other entertainment. (JCR, by the way, stands for 'Junior Combination Room'. It's something like the college's Student Union).
What is the accommodation like?
Queens' can accommodate all its undergraduates on the main site for 3 years. First years tend to live in the Cripps Building, Second Years in Fisher and Third Years all over the place! Our oldest rooms date from the foundation of the College in 1448 and the newest were finished in 2007. All rooms have telephone and internet access. Many of them have en-suite shower\toilet facilities.
What will it cost to study at Queens'?
Students at Cambridge benefit from the fact that the terms are relatively short and they only have to pay for their rooms while they are occupying them. This means that accommodation costs at Cambridge are relatively low (when you're not in your room, we use it for conference delegates to keep the costs for students down).
Contrary to popular perceptions, Cambridge is not an expensive university to attend. For the most up to date information on current fees and University Bursaries see the Cambridge University Prospectus on the link here
How far away is the sports ground?
The sports ground is about a mile away and has pitches for football, rugby, cricket and hockey and three hard courts for tennis and netball. The boathouse is about the same distance away in the opposite direction.
Is there a club or society for me?
Most popular sports and clubs are organised on an inter-college basis so that there is at least one competitive soccer, tennis, cricket, rugby or hockey team. Sport is also played at a more informal, less competitive level; Queens’ does have teams who don't win all (or any of) their games, but everyone enjoys participating. Many sports, such as squash, are played just for fun at all levels of proficiency. The University has societies for almost every interest and activity from uni-cycling to tiddlywinks. In addition, Queens' has a number of its own subject societies (e.g. History, Law, Medicine) which hold speaker meetings and arrange dinners and other social events.
Are music and drama strong in Queens’?
Music goes on at many levels in Queens'. We have an active Music Society that puts on several concerts and recitals each term. The Drama Society puts on nine plays a year and has access to the Fitzpatrick Hall, one of the best small theatres in Cambridge. We have a Dancer in Residence too. Look at the College website for more information about what's going on at the moment.
How many people study each subject?
In general we are flexible, and can respond to the relative quality of candidates across subjects. The only exception to this is Medical and Veterinary Sciences where a quota is imposed on each College. The College, however, tries to keep an overall balance between arts and science.
Most lecture rooms are within a maximum half a mile of the College. The only exception is the Cavendish Laboratory which lies about a mile away from the centre (but in the first two years lectures in Physics are given in the City centre so you only need to make the trip at most once a week for practicals).
Queens' has no Fellow in my subject. Should I apply?
For many of the smaller subjects the number of teaching staff is smaller than the number of Colleges. What usually happens in these cases is that the University takes a much more important role, and supervision is organised by the individual departments. Colleges share their teaching staff, exchanging teaching as the need arises. There is no real problem in applying to a College which does not have a Fellow teaching in that subject, but Queens’ is fortunate in having Fellows in most of the subjects offered by the University.
Why should I apply to Queens’?
This question is hard to answer because when it comes down to it there is relatively little to choose between many of the Colleges. You can make an initial decision on the basis of size or location and of course women have the choice of applying to an all female College. Being able to live in College for all three years attracts many applicants to us. Some Colleges have been founded fairly recently but the older established Colleges are not necessarily more traditional. We would encourage you to visit Cambridge, if possible on a College Open Day, when you would be able to talk to current students about their courses and their College.