Interviewing for a Place to Study at Cambridge University
Cambridge University, founded over 800 years ago, supposedly by scholars fleeing from irate townsfolk in Oxford, is one of the world's greatest universities and a historic seat of learning. Graced by the stunning architecture of its colleges, and filled with keen minds from around the world, Cambridge is an amazing place to study your chosen subject.
Securing a place at one of the University's 31 historic colleges is no easy feat, and the Cambridge admissions interview is often the subject of a great deal of nervousness. We hope the answers below to many of the most frequently asked questions about these interviews will help you with making a successful application!
What do Cambridge interviews look for?
Just as with a tutorial, a Cambridge interview is a discussion, which means that you will find your ideas scrutinized, questioned, and even gently criticized, as part of an attempt to grapple with an interesting facet of your chosen subject. The purpose of the interview is to find out how you think and to evaluate your demonstrable passion for your chosen subject as well as your academic potential.
Look to keep an open mind when answering interview questions, demonstrating that you can evaluate ideas rationally and empirically. Don't be afraid to ask and question your interviewers as you attempt to respond to the points they raise - they are looking to understand your potential as a student, and whether you will be suited to this style of teaching and learning. Try and enjoy the experience - after all this is a chance to talk about concepts and ideas that you are passionate about with some impressive thinkers in your chosen discipline!
What are Cambridge interviews like?
They're tough!
In 2019 Cambridge University received just over 19,000 applications, of which about three-quarters are called for interview, competing for roughly 3,500 places - an 18% acceptance rate. The entire process is rigorous and challenging, and the interview is a key point for students with equally good grades to distinguish themselves.
You'll sit anywhere between 1 and 3 interviews depending on the College and course you apply for, with each one lasting roughly around 30 minutes. The interviews are meant to be like smaller versions of the tutorials which Cambridge uses in the bulk of its teaching, and so you should expect open-ended but difficult questions on the subject you intend to study, which should lead to a discussion with the tutors interviewing you.
Top tip from Keystone Tutor Jonny who studied European and Latin American Literatures and Cultures: 鈥淚t's very easy to forget that your interviewers are on your side. They want you to succeed just as much as you do, so take a deep breath, and try to treat the interview as what it really is: a conversation between a group of people with a common passion.鈥�
How hard is it to get an interview at Cambridge?
As mentioned above, about 75% of applicants are called to interview - so if you have the very best grades, a stellar recommendation from your teacher, and a powerful personal statement that demonstrates your passion for the course in question, you stand a reasonable chance! When you think about the calibre of your fellow applicants, you can see it's a high bar, and being called for interview really is an accomplishment in itself.
When do Cambridge give interview offers?
Most Cambridge interviews take place in the first few weeks of December or thereabouts. You'll hear whether you have been invited for interview by mid-November at the very latest.
What questions do they ask at a Cambridge interview?
As you might expect, you'll get asked questions that relate to the course you're intending to study. Remember, these are complex questions intended to lead to a discussion, rather than simple questions where there is a quick, correct answer. You should expect follow up questions, and you should take time to listen to and consider these carefully before replying. Share your thought processes with the interviewers - help them to understand how you think, as well as what you think!
It is likely that a large number of the questions you face will be based on the topics you have written about in your personal statement. Use these to show why you are passionate about your chosen subject, and to focus the interview on the topics that you find most interesting.
Top tip from Keystone Tutor who studied Physics: 鈥淒uring my interviews I remember feeling very anxious that I didn't know the answers to questions straight away. But now I know this is absolutely fine! They don't expect you to know the answers straight away. They want to see you take your time, gather your thoughts, and try and come up with the best answer you can.鈥�
How to prepare for an interview at Cambridge
There are lots of ways to prepare, and plenty of good advice on the and elsewhere on the web.
Read your personal statement and other application documents, so that you refresh your memory of what's in them! Any topics or books that you mention in your personal statement are very likely to be a focus of attention in your interview, so be sure to be fully on top of the detail surrounding these. Spend time reading and researching topics that interest you beyond the immediate requirements of your current schoolwork, and most importantly spend some