The University of Cambridge offers a range of full-time undergraduate courses in the arts, social sciences, medicine and sciences and currently has around 11,000 undergraduate students. Cambridge welcomes mature students; those over 21 who wish to make the commitment to a full-time undergraduate course. Mature students bring a breadth of experience, motivation and commitment to study to the University, which is much valued.

The College System
Cambridge is a collegiate university and is therefore comprised of a number of Colleges as well as academic departments. There are 29 undergraduate Colleges in Cambridge and most Colleges take undergraduates for all courses. Colleges can usually provide accommodation for the duration of your studies and are also the place where some of your teaching takes place and so offers both academic and social support. Your courses will be organised by the relevant University department, so whatever your College, you will meet students from all Colleges and of all ages in lectures, classes or laboratory sessions, and of course, exams.

Most of the Colleges admit a small number of mature students every year. There are, however, four mature Colleges which admit only undergraduate and graduate students who are 21 or over. These are Hughes Hall, Lucy Cavendish (women only), St Edmund’s and Wolfson. Around half of the mature undergraduates at Cambridge attend one of these Colleges; consequently the mature Colleges have a great deal of experience in advising mature students and in meeting their particular needs.

Entry Requirements
As a mature applicant to Cambridge, you would be expected to have achieved the same academic standards as those we require of school leavers. We also recognise that the work and life experience of mature students can be of value when embarking on university-level study, and we take this into account when assessing your application. At the same time, however, the nature of Cambridge courses and the requirement to produce work independently every week, does need some form of academic preparation. We would therefore recommend a course of study such as an Access to HE Diploma, A level(s) or Open University work to practice essay writing, independent study and examinations skills.

Specific guidance for those studying towards an Access to HE Diploma can be found at: www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/apply/requirements.html#access

It is always a good idea to approach one or more Colleges well before you make your formal application, to check their response to your academic preparation.

Cambridge University Buildings

Visiting Cambridge

Cambridge Admissions Office and the Cambridge Colleges organise a number of open days, summer schools and other events for prospective applicants each year and a number of these are specifically aimed at mature students. These are an excellent way to find out more about what studying at Cambridge is really like and give you the opportunity to ask questions of Admissions Tutors and current undergraduate students.

For more information about opportunities for mature students to visit Cambridge, please see our website: www.cam.ac.uk/opendays/

Further Information
More information about the courses we offer, the support available and the application process can be obtained from the Cambridge Admissions Office or from our website: www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/

Cambridge Admissions Office
University of Cambridge
Fitzwilliam House
32 Trumpington Street
Cambridge
CB2 1QY

Telephone: 01223 765728
Fax: 01223 366 383
Email: feaccess@cao.cam.ac.uk