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Completing your My Cambridge Application Guide

If you’ve applied for cambridge university as one of your ucas university choices, then you’re going to need to submit an application to my cambridge, an online portal run by the university itself. my cambridge is completely separate from the ucas form and is a unique element of the cambridge application process designed to help the university gather information that isn’t included on the ucas forms, such as the topics you’ve studied in your a-level courses..

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When do I have to submit the My Cambridge application?

Once you’ve submitted your UCAS application (by the 15th of October to meet the Oxbridge deadline) you will receive an email with details of the My Cambridge application; how to create your account, how to login, etc. You will then have until the deadline of the 22nd of October 2022 to complete the My Cambridge application and submit it. Only after submitting the application will you be considered by the university for interview and receive notice of your invitation.

What information does the My Cambridge application ask for?

The My Cambridge application will ask for various kinds of information pertaining to yourself and your application to the university. This information includes:

• Your UCAS personal ID
• The temporary My Cambridge Application password we send you by email
• A passport-style digital photograph of yourself
• Details of the units you have taken/are taking, including UMS results achieved so far if you have taken/are taking modular AS/A Levels
• Details of the band scores you have achieved, if you have taken Scottish Highers/Advanced Highers
• A copy of your High School Transcript, where required. For guidance as to whether or not you are required to submit a High School Transcript, please go to: www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying/transcript
• A copy of your University Transcript (if applicable). Further information can be found at www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/ applying/transcripts
• Fee payment (where applicable)

Do I have to write another personal statement?

In short, no you will not have to write an additional personal statement for your My Cambridge application. However, there is a section of the application form which allows you to write an optional additional personal statement, in which you may wish to include any information specific to Cambridge university. Remember that Cambridge have already seen your UCAS personal statement, so it’s best to only include things here that build on or are separate to what you’ve already mentioned. Cambridge are particularly interested in hearing what about the specific course you’re applying for attracted you to the university, and why it may stand out from other similar courses. The university also stress that not including an additional personal statement will in no way disadvantage your application, so only write a statement if you’ve got relevant things to say, not just for the sake of it!

Is there anything else on the form I should be aware of?

Most other questions included on the My Cambridge application are relatively straightforward, and won’t require too much work to answer. One important part of the application that is worth thinking a little harder about, however is the Extenuating Circumstances Form. As part of the My Cambridge application you can indicate whether you intend to use an ECF as part of your application (if you have not done so yet and would like to, then get in touch with the college you applied to or the university admissions office, for open applications, for more details). This form allows students to highlight disruption or disadvantage encountered during their education, such as health issues or disabilities. Again, filling in one of these forms and drawing attention to a long-term health issue is by no means a disadvantage, and the university recommends highlighting such issues as soon as possible so that any reasonable adjustments that are needed can be put in place.

Where can I get more information on the My Cambridge application?

Cambridge publish a guide to their My Cambridge application every year or so (since it often changes format slightly), and this year’s guide can be found in a PDF format on the University website . This guide is extremely helpful and runs you through every single section/question on the application so that you can prepare your answers in advance.

Good luck with your application!

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Applying can seem daunting, but the process is more straightforward than you might think. To find out more, take a look at the information below.

Don't forget that for all our online resources to support your application, you can head to our Resources Archive .  

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Frequently Asked Questions

St John’s offers 32 subjects for study at Undergraduate level. When applying for a subject please make sure to carefully read the subject information here . 

Undergraduate applications to St John’s are made online via  UCAS  and further information about the UCAS application process can be found here . Applications should be submitted by 18:00 BST on the 16 October 2023  for entry in October 2024, or for deferred entry to the following year (October 2025).

Please note that your application cannot be submitted until your chosen referee has completed and added your reference to the application. You will need to ensure your referee has time to do this before the deadline.

When applying to Cambridge you will need to use a Campus Code to nominate your chosen College. St John's College’s Campus Code is X. If you do not have a preference College you can make an Open application (Campus Code 9) and your application will be randomly allocated to a College after the application deadline.

You’ll then be asked to supply extra information through My Cambridge Application , which ensures that we have complete and consistent information about applicants. 

Personal statement

As part of a UCAS form, you will be asked to complete a personal statement. This is an opportunity to give specific information about yourself that you feel it is important for us to know. This could be detailed reasons for why you want to study your chosen course, what motivated you, your hobbies and interests outside school, or your future aspirations, to name but a few. Interviewers at St John’s may use your personal statement as a basis for discussion. For guidance on what to include, we advise you to follow the UCAS advice on personal statements.  You might also be interested in our resources available on the page here .

My Cambridge Application  includes space to provide an additional personal statement, giving you the opportunity to expand on your UCAS personal statement, allowing you to include information specific to the course you are applying for at Cambridge. There is no need to repeat information included in the UCAS personal statement.

Application types

The information displayed on this webpage applies to the vast majority of applicants to St John's. However, an applicant's circumstances can affect what they must submit in order for their application to be considered, or specific deadlines for when they must apply.

If any of the below circumstances apply to your application, please also look for further information on this webpage :

• You live outside the UK
• English is not your first language
• You are planning to take a year out between school and university
• You will be over the age of 21 on the 1 st October of the year you hope to come to Cambridge
• You already have a degree from another university
• You wish to apply for an Organ Scholarship  or Choral Scholarship .

Some subjects require applicants to complete a written assessment, either pre-registration required or Cambridge College registered. A list of these subjects and the type of assessment they require can be found on the University website , each subject webpage  will also state whether a pre- or at- interview assessment is applicable.

Cambridge College Registered Assessments

A list of subjects with a Cambridge College registered, with further information on the format of each assessment, can be found on this University webpage . You do not need to register for an Cambridge College registered assessment, and there is no charge associated with taking an assessment at interview. Detailed information about each At-Interview assessment will be sent to those invited to interview in their invitation email.

Pre-registration Required Assessments

A list of subjects with a pre-registration required assessment, with further information on the format of each assessment and relevant dates and deadlines,  can be found on this University webpage .

Please note that in 2022, Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing (CAAT) made changes to the registration deadlines and test dates for all pre-registration assessments other than the LNAT. The registration and test dates are earlier than in previous years. For subjects with a pre-registration required assessment, registration is required in order for your application to be considered so please do review this information carefully.

The following subjects have additional requirements for applicants:

• Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic  - submit two pieces of written work
• Archaeology - submit one piece of written work 
• Architecture - must submit your  original artwork and original sketchbooks (further details  here ) 
• Asian and Middle Eastern Studies  - submit two pieces of written work
• Design - must submit your original artwork and original sketchbooks (further details here )
• Education -  submit two pieces of written work
• Classics  - submit two pieces of written work
• English  - submit two pieces of written work
• History  - submit two pieces of written work
• History and Modern Languages  - submit two pieces of written work
• History and Politics  - submit two pieces of written work
• Human, Social and Political Sciences - submit two pieces of written work
• Modern and Medieval Languages - submit two pieces of written work
• Music - submit two pieces of work, written and music-based
• Theology - submit two pieces of written work

Submitted written work should be essays or pieces of coursework you have produced in the course of your school work and marked by a teacher, not specially written for your application. If your work is not in English (excluding applications that include Modern Languages), you will have to provide a translation (verified by your school or a suitable third party) along with the original document.

Please see the following section for how to submit written work.

This section is for those who have applied to St John's College and who have received an email acknowledging their application.

All correspondence regarding your application will be sent via e-mail to the address provided in your UCAS application. Any questions about your application can be sent to  [email protected] . Please ensure your email account is configured correctly, so that emails from the University or College are not rejected. Any email sent to the College should include in the subject line: your name, UCAS Personal ID, and subject you have applied for.

Documents to Upload 

1. Written work

Who needs to submit cover sheets and written work? Only applicants for subjects which are listed here as requiring written work .

How should the written work and cover sheets be submitted? All applicants are sent an email containing a link to the Applicant Additional Documentation Form where written work needs to be uploaded .  Please create a single, multi-page PDF file containing all the pages of your document. If asked for two essays, please submit these as separate files.  Download the cover sheet and find guidance here.  

Deadline: 2nd November 2023

2. Portfolio

Who needs to submit this form? ONLY applicants for Architecture or Design

How should the Portfolio and cover sheet be submitted?  All applicants are sent an email containing a link to the Applicant Additional Documentation Form where your Architecture portfolio needs to be uploaded . Full information on what should be included in your portfolio can be found here .  Please upload your sample artwork using this link and include the relevant cover sheet.   Download the cover sheet here . 

Your portfolio should be:

• a PDF file 
• 6-pages long (7 pages including cover sheet)
• using A4-sized pages 
• maximum of 15MB file size 

Deadline:   2nd November 2023

3. Disability/Specific Learning/ Long-term illness Difficulties Interview Adjustment Form

Who needs to submit this form? Applicants with a disability or specific learning difficulty. If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia or dyspraxia, please complete the form and return this to us as soon as possible. We wish to ensure that, wherever possible and required, we can make appropriate arrangements if you are called for interview.

How should the form be submitted? Please complete the form here . Please upload this document using the link to the Applicant Additional Documentation Form you have been emailed.  

Deadline:  2nd November 2023

4. Extenuating Circumstances Form (ECF)

Who needs to submit this form? Applicants who have experienced particular personal, social or educational disadvantage. More information is available here .

How should the form be submitted? Submit an Extenuating Circumstances Form here . The ECF should normally be completed and submitted by the applicant's school/college.

Deadline:  23 October 2023. If there will be any delay to the submission of your ECF then please let us know via email at [email protected]

Data Protection

By applying to St John's College applicants give consent for their data to be processed in accordance to the University of Cambridge's guidelines on data protection . Applicant information is retained by the College and University for as long as it remains relevant. In the case of unsuccessful applications this normally means that personal information will be destroyed on the 1st September in the year following the application, and electronic files are anonymised and kept for research and statistical purposes.

St John's interviews all applicants using Zoom, so there is no need to travel to Cambridge or take several days off school. You will need a reliable wifi connection, a device with video and audio capability, and a room where you can be on your own. Some subjects* require you to use a Zoom whiteboard, which means you will need a tablet and stylus in addition to the device you are using for the interview. If you have any trouble accessing one to use in your interview or for practice, please contact the Admissions Office here at St John's and we will help you.

Your interview(s) will typically take place within a small window on the same day. We try hard to minimise disruption to your school day. Candidates who are in different time zones will normally have their interviews scheduled at a reasonable time for them. St John's applicants are typically given one or two interviews, with two interviewers per interview and a total interview time of between 35-50 minutes in length. The interview panel will usually include the Director of Studies and College Fellows within the subject you've applied for, who wish to learn more about your aptitude and interest for the course. You are not being assessed on your clothes or appearance or Zoom background but we recommend wearing something comfortable and having a plain wall behind you to minimise distractions during the interview. We want you to be able to concentrate on our questions, rather than on anything extraneous. We try to make the interviews as relaxed as possible, so if you have any questions or problems do let us know in advance and we will do our best to help. Our interviews are designed to find out what you do know, not what you don't. The interviewers want to see how you think spontaneously, and where your interests and enthusiasms lie, particularly in relation to the course you are applying for.

* Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Economics, Engineering and Physical Natural Sciences

Preparing for your interview

The University's  guide to preparing for interviews  gives general advice on preparation for Cambridge interviews.

The Tutor for Undergraduate Admissions will be hosting webinars to help applicants prepare for their interview. These will be held on the following dates/times. All times are given in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

•    Friday 24 November: 6 – 6.45pm

•    Saturday 25 November: 8.30 – 9.15am

•    Tuesday 28 November: 6 – 6.45pm

•    Thursday 30 November: 8 – 8.45am

Joining instructions will be provided via email to shortlisted applicants in their invitation to interview. Please note that attendance is not mandatory and links to useful online interview preparation information will also be included in interview invites.

Interview arrangements have not yet been finalised for the 2023-24 Admissions Round but interviews typically take place during the first three weeks of December. We will try to give each applicant at least two weeks' advance notice of the timing of interviews, but there may be occasions when this is not possible.

Dates for each subject's interviews be will be listed as they become available and will otherwise be listed as to be confirmed (tbc). All dates are provisional and subject to change should unforeseen circumstances arise . 

• Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic  
• Archaeology  
• Architecture  
• Asian and Middle Eastern Studies  
• Chemical Engineering  
• Classics  
• Computer Science  
• Design  
• Economics  
• Education 
• Engineering 
• English 
• Geography 
• History 
• History of Art  
• History and Modern Languages  
• History and Politics  
• Human, Social and Political Sciences  
• Land Economy  
• Linguistics 
• Mathematics 
• Medical Sciences 
• Modern and Medieval Languages  
• Music 
• Natural Sciences (Biological)  
• Natural Sciences (Physical)  
• Philosophy 
• Psychological and Behavioural Sciences  
• Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion
• Veterinary Medicine    

Please avoid other fixed commitments that might clash with interviews during this period as we may not be able to re-arrange interview times assigned to you. The College does not normally offer undergraduate places to candidates who are unavailable for interview.

If you are unable to attend an interview during this period please contact the Admissions Office  as soon as possible as well as noting these restrictions in your additional application questionnaire. If enough notice is given, it may be possible to avoid scheduling your interviews on particular days.

Interviews can start as early as 8.00am, with the later ones finishing at 6.30pm UK time. It may not be possible to make any changes after you have been notified of your interview times. Any special arrangements for interviews in individual subjects will be communicated when you are notified of your interview date.

All applicants for entry in 2024 and deferred entry in 2025 across the University will be informed of the outcome of their application via UCAS on 24 January 2024. 

Decisions on which candidates will receive an offer of a place are made on a holistic basis, combining performance in interviews, the school or college reference, actual and predicted exam results, and any other relevant factors concerning the application. So far as possible, both intellectual achievement and potential are taken into consideration. Our aim is to choose students of high ability who have a keen interest in their subject and who are likely to benefit most from the unique opportunities in this field of education at Cambridge.

There are three possible outcomes of the application process:

• Your application is successful and you receive a conditional (or unconditional) offer to study at St John’s. You will be notified of your offer via UCAS and will receive an e-mail confirming your offer shortly thereafter. You will need to accept your offer via UCAS.
• Your application is placed in the Winter Pool . This means that whilst we are unable to offer you a place at St John's, we believe that your application should be considered by other Cambridge Colleges. If your application is picked out by another College in the Winter Pool, they may make you an offer straight away, or you might be invited for an interview at another College. Pool interviews will be conducted in late January 2024.
• Your application is unsuccessful.

Whatever happens, don’t let the fear of being unsuccessful put you off – we can’t offer you a place if you don’t apply!

Undergraduate Admissions Complaints and Appeals

Please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office in the first instance to discuss your appeal or complaint and see if we can resolve any doubts or concerns about procedural errors or the way your application was treated. If direct contact with the Undergraduate Admissions Office does not allay your concerns, please follow the procedures outlined here .

During the 2023-24 admissions round, the Undergraduate Admissions Tutor is able to provide subject specific feedback for unsuccessful applicants who have been interviewed by the College, but have failed to secure an offer, either in the first instance from St John’s College or subsequently from a pool College. Feedback will be sent to the writer of the UCAS reference by 17 April 2024. Applicants who have left school at the time of applying can receive feedback directly.

Due to the volume of applicants it can take time for the College's Admissions Office to respond to enquiries. This web page has been designed to provide as much information as possible to applicants, so before contacting the Admissions Office please carefully read the content presented here as your query might already be answered.

The University also provides a list of questions frequently asked each year by undergraduate applicants , below are frequently asked questions specific to St John's College. If you still require assistance then please contact the Admissions Office and they will be happy to help you.

Is my combination of subjects at A-Level acceptable for my chosen course? Many Triposes accept applications from students with a wide variety of subjects studied at A-Level (or equivalent) which may not be directly related to the course they have applied for. Every Tripos is different however so you are encouraged to consult your course’s subject web page on the College website for further information on essential and desirable subjects, where appropriate. For more general advice you may like to consult a helpful leaflet produced by the University .

My written work is ready but the cover sheet is not, can I send in my cover sheet later? All written work must be submitted with a completed cover sheet to be considered a valid part of your application. Each piece of written work, including the cover sheet, should be submitted as a single document. Applicants are encouraged to prepare their work in good time ahead of the deadline and to allow for any planned school closures which could delay completion of the cover sheet. Incomplete written work, or submitting written work after the deadline, may disadvantage your application.

I have left school and will not be able to have my cover sheet completed by my teacher – what should I do? Please contact the Admissions Office for further advice.

What should I write about in my personal statement? It is useful for those assessing your application to understand what draws you to the course you have applied for and why you feel you would be well suited to studying this subject. For guidance on what to include, we advise you to follow the UCAS advice on personal statements.  You might also be interested in our resources available on the page here .

I cannot attend an interview on certain dates during the interview period, what should I do? Applicants who know that they will not be available on certain days in the interview period should note this in their additional application questionnaire. If you discover that you will be unavailable for part of the interview period after submitting your application please contact the Admissions Office as soon as possible for advice. 

Due to the time pressures of the interview period and the number of applicants being interviewed we are very rarely able to amend an applicant’s interview date or time once they have been notified of their interview timetable. If you become aware that you will not be able to attend you interview at the allocated date and time after receiving your interview timetable please contact the Admissions Office as soon as possible for advice

I have special arrangements for my exams at School, what do I need to do for the interviews? Please submit a Disability/Specific Learning Difficulties interview adjustment form by 31st October. If your arrangements only become necessary after you have submitted your application please submit the Disability/Specific Learning Difficulties interview adjustment form as soon as possible and contact the Admissions Office for further advice.

Personal statements

Your personal statement gives you the chance to tell us:

• why you're interested in the course you want to study and what excites you about it
• about your academic interests
• how you've explored your interests outside of school. For example, books you've read or podcasts you've listened to

Your personal statement must be no more than 4,000 characters and is sent to all five of your university choices.  

Please remember that interviewers will review your personal statement as part of the admissions process. Make sure you read through your personal statement before your interview and remind yourself of its contents. Your interviewers may or may not draw on your personal statement during your interview.  

In addition to your UCAS application, My Cambridge Application gives you the opportunity to submit a second personal statement. This should not repeat information but instead be used to expand or fill in gaps in your personal statement. This option is mainly used by those students applying to unique courses at the University of Cambridge to express what about this course attracted them. 

Preparing your personal statement

Information about preparing a personal statement can be found at the:

How to Apply

We welcome you to apply to Trinity Hall, whatever your educational background. Make the most of our advice on this page to ensure you understand everything you need to do before and during the application process.

Applying to Cambridge is a largely standardised process, but there may be some additional steps you need to fulfil to apply to the course or college you want.

The core elements of the application process are:

• UCAS application
• My Cambridge application
• written work, pre-interview and at-interview assessments
• teacher reference
• extenuating circumstances form.

Choosing a course

Take your time to choose the right course. At university, there are a number of subjects you can study that aren’t available at school or college. Think about your strengths, passions and future career ideas to find the right course for you. If you make a good choice for your circumstances, this will shine through on your application form, and will drive you to succeed. Use this video and explore the options on our courses pages.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our admissions team at [email protected] .

Choosing a college

Your college will become your base and a home-from-home for the duration of your degree. While each college has its own feeling, most students are not disappointed by their choice of college. Consider things such as whether you want a larger or smaller college, and if you’d prefer to be in a particular location. Many applicants wonder if some colleges are easier or harder to get into than others. However, the university’s application process is designed to ensure that this is not the case, and there is sufficient moderation across all colleges that the best applicants are successful regardless of which college they apply to.

Personal Statement

The personal statement on your UCAS form is your opportunity to tell us why you’re interested in the course, and what you have done to develop your understanding of your chosen subject. At Cambridge we are particularly keen to hear about your academic pursuits and how they relate to your chosen course, so make sure the academic aspects take up more space than your non-academic achievements on the form.

As well as the UCAS personal statement, you will also have an opportunity to complete a Cambridge-specific application form. This includes a space for an additional personal statement if you wish to write specifically about the Cambridge course, rather than all the courses you are applying for through UCAS.

Written work or portfolio

We sometimes require written work or a portfolio to be submitted during the application process. Look at the entry requirements on the web page for your particular course to see if this will be necessary for your course. If we ask you for written work, this will usually be two essays written as part of your school work, to be submitted by a certain date. You do not have to send this work before applying, we will write to you after you have applied and let you know exactly what you need to send and when.

Make sure you keep a copy of the work you send in to refresh your memory before the interview. Sometimes an interviewer might want to ask questions about the work you have sent in.

Admissions assessments

Some applicants are required to take a written admission assessment. You can find out what kind of assessment you’ll be asked to do on the course web page. The course-specific written assessments are designed to supplement the information in your application and to gauge your abilities. This is to assess skills (such as comprehension and thinking skills) and, where appropriate, levels of current knowledge and understanding relevant to the course for which you have applied. Your written assessment will be taken into account alongside the other elements of your application.

Some subject require you to register in advance. The deadline for registration may be late summer or early autumn, so be prepared and check early.

We interview everyone with a realistic chance of being offered a place, and this is an important part of the application process.

At Trinity Hall, applicants are usually given two interviews that last around twenty-five minutes, each with two interviewers. The interviews are all academic in nature. The questions asked will range from topics that you have already covered at school, to new material that you have not seen before. The interviews are designed to get you thinking and discussing. We want you to enjoy the conversation and recognise that a relaxed candidate is likely to leave a truer impression of themselves than one who is tongue-tied with nerves!

All interviews at Trinity Hall will be conducted online for the 2025 admissions round.

The Winter Pool

If you apply for a course at a particular college and are unsuccessful with that college, you may be entered into the Winter Pool. This is the University’s moderation process to ensure that all applicants who have the potential to succeed at Cambridge have the opportunity to be offered a place, regardless of whether they applied to an oversubscribed college or a college with a very strong field of applicants. This process takes place in early January.

If you are ‘fished’ from the Winter Pool, you may be offered a place on your course with a different college, or a similar course at a different college – for example, an applicant for History & Modern Languages may be offered a place for History if the Admissions team at that college believe they are stronger in History than Modern Languages.

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Personal Statement

The personal statement should answer some key questions: Why is it that you want to spend three years of your life working in legal study? How can you evidence an enthusiasm for the subject, a deep interest in it and an aptitude for it? Professor Pippa Rogerson

Your UCAS personal statement is your opportunity to demonstrate your interest in Law as an academic subject and to offer specific evidence that you would be well suited to a Law degree at Cambridge.

You might consider including specific information about any independent academic exploration you have pursued. We are looking for evidence of your intellectual curiosity and independent motivation. You should also keep in mind that your personal statement is sometimes used to start a conversation in your interview, so you should be prepared to discuss any of the topics you include.

For further information regarding personal statements, please see the University’s website on UCAS applications and UCAS guidance .

Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ)

One week after submitting your UCAS online application, you will be sent an email prompting you to complete the SAQ . This Cambridge-specific aspect of your application requests some further information that is not included elsewhere on your UCAS application.

One aspect of the SAQ is the optional additional personal statement. This statement gives you the opportunity to add any further information that is specific either to Cambridge or to Law that you were not able to include elsewhere in your application. You will not be penalised for leaving this section blank. If you do choose to complete it, remember your SAQ will be reviewed alongside your UCAS application, so avoid simply repeating your UCAS personal statement.

My Cambridge Application

My Cambridge Application is an additional form that you need to complete if you're applying to study an undergraduate degree at Cambridge. Once you submit your UCAS application, you'll get an email from us within 48 hours with instructions and a link to your My Cambridge Application.

The form is personalised, so we'll only ask you the relevant questions for your application.

For most applicants, the deadline will be 23 October 2023 (6pm UK time).

The My Cambridge form also allows you to submit an additional Cambridge-specific personal statement. This is optional and should not be the same as your UCAS personal statement.

Please visit the undergraduate admissions site for more information about how to complete your My Cambridge application.

A written reference, usually provided by a teacher or tutor in your school or college, is a useful way for us to learn more about your academic ability and potential. If your chosen referee is unsure of what to include, you can direct them to the University’s guidance . For more information on choosing a referee, please see the UCAS guidance , or contact the college that you plan to apply to with further questions.

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My Cambridge Application

This page is part of the Christ's College, Cambridge application support for students applying from the UK . If you are applying from outside the UK, please see the International application support in the international section .

Within 48 hours of submitting your UCAS application , you will receive an email with log-in details for the Cambridge-specific additional for. This is called My Cambridge Application, or MyCApp and we have it because we do not write the UCAS form and we need to ask additional questions.

When you receive your log-in details and the website link, you log-in and work on your My Cambridge Application form. You can save your work and go back if you need to complete the form in multiple sessions.  

Help with MyCApp

There is help text on the form itself, and guidance on the Cambridge Admissions website to help you complete your My Cambridge Application form, as well as a helpdesk to contact with any questions. Please see your log-in email for details.

The helpdesk is specialised for My Cambridge Application, and so the advisers there are the best people to help if you have any queries that you have not been able to find the answer to on the My Cambridge Application Page or on the form itself (for My Cambridge Application questions please email the helpdesk rather than Christ's).  

If you don't receive a log-in email

You should receive your My Cambridge Application log-in email within 48 hours of UCAS application submission, but it is not normally immediate. If you do not receive your log-in email when you expect to, please first of all check the spam / junk / promotions folders in your email and contact the helpdesk ( [email protected] ) if you can't find it.  

Deadline: 22 October (18:00 UK time)

We strongly advise you not to leave your My Cambridge Application form to the last minute - if you have a problem this could have serious consequences so why risk it?

If you are applying for Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering or Natural Sciences, please take into account your assessment date which is just before the My Cambridge Application deadline. TIP: We advise that if you submit your UCAS application and My Cambridge Application nice and early, this will give you space to focus on your written assessment and it will make the process much less stressful for you.

Additional personal statement

You'll see that there's a box where you can add a brief additional personal statement if you want to. This is because your UCAS personal statement is read by all universities you are applying to and there may be things you want to say that only Cambridge reads. This is particularly relevant if there are differences in the courses you are applying to at different universities (e.g. if you are applying for Biology elsewhere but Natural Sciences at Cambridge).

If you are happy with the UCAS personal statement, don't feel that you need to complete this box - you won't be marked down if you don't write anything - it is genuinely just an opportunity to say something for students who felt limited by other universities reading the UCAS statement.

Further information

My Cambridge Application is very similar to the SAQ that applicants previously completed - the questions are the same.

A change to be aware of: in the past one of the MyCapp questions asked you to upload a digital photograph. Please note that this no longer needed for students applying in October 2024.

Back to UK application support / Next: UK transcripts (only occasionally needed) / International application support

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You apply to Cambridge through UCAS . Your school or college will be able to help you with this. You can also find general information on completing your UCAS application on the UCAS website. Once you submit your UCAS application, you can check on its progress through the UCAS Hub .

Your UCAS application is just one part of the application process. For more information, see Applying to Cambridge .

Here are some top tips for completing your UCAS application for Cambridge.

• Make sure you’ve checked the deadline for your application. For most applicants, the deadline for 2025 entry (or deferred entry in 2026) will be 15 October 2024 (6pm UK time) . There are some later application deadlines for mature students and Foundation Year applicants.
• You can only submit one application to the University in a year. Make sure you’re happy with the course you’re applying for and with your College choice.
• You will need to know our institution code (CAM C05) and your College’s campus code (you can find this on your College’s profile page). If you’re submitting an open application you should select ‘9’ as the campus code.
• Take a look at our advice on how to write a great personal statement .
• Make sure your school or college referee has looked at our advice about what we’re looking for in a reference .
• Has your education has been significantly disrupted or disadvantaged? If so, it may be appropriate for your school or college referee (or your doctor or social worker) to tell us about this. To do so, they will need to complete and submit an Extenuating Circumstances Form .
• You can nominate someone to act on your behalf in relation to your UCAS application. But we won’t automatically communicate with this person. If you want to nominate someone to act on your behalf in relation to your Cambridge application, contact the College that’s assessing your application.
• If you’re applying for the Graduate Course in Medicine or an Organ Scholarship you’ll need to complete an additional application form. Make sure you are ready for this.

How to apply to Cambridge without choosing a specific College

Making an open application.

If you don’t mind which College you attend then you don’t have to choose. You could make an open application instead.

After the closing date, your application will be allocated to a College. You’ll be allocated to a College which has received fewer applications per place for your course that year.

If you’re aged 21 or older, you will be allocated to one of the 3 mature Colleges ( Hughes Hall , St Edmund’s , or Wolfson ).

Colleges treat open applicants in the same way as applicants that apply directly to them and you won’t be asked about College choice at interview.

• If you decide to make an open application, you should select '9' as the campus code on your UCAS application.
• Entry requirements can differ between Colleges. You may be allocated to a College with a higher typical offer or that will make an offer based on particular grades in certain subjects.

We recommend that you don't make an open application if you’re an applicant with:

• unusual qualifications ( check our qualifications page )
• a mobility and/or sensory impairment
• other considerations that require particular support.

Please be aware that if you make an open application and have applied to the University before, then you may be allocated to the same College that assessed your previous application.

How to write a great personal statement

Your personal statement gives you the chance to tell us:

• why you’re interested in the course you want to study and what excites you about it
• about your academic interests
• how you’ve explored your interests outside of school. For example, books you’ve read or podcasts you’ve listened to

Use the answers to these questions to start writing concise sentences. Flesh these out into paragraphs. Organise them into a logical structure to make the case for why you would be well suited to the course.

• Aim for one idea per sentence, and one major theme per paragraph.
• Include common themes that tie your whole statement together.
• Don’t forget to include a brief introduction and a summarising conclusion.

Once you’ve got a draft statement together, start to rework it.

• Develop your most important points. Don’t be afraid to remove things that don’t fit into your overall statement.
• Avoid sweeping statements – be specific. Make every word count and always link your skills and interests back to the course.
• Your final statement should be a concise, logical argument, not just a list of ideas.
• Make sure it sounds like you – you don’t have to use a thesaurus for every word!

It’s important to remember that the information in your statement might be used as a basis for discussion at your interview. Make sure you know the topics you’ve covered well and that you’re ready to talk about these at interview.

You should also check the UCAS guidance on how to write a personal statement .

School or college references

Your UCAS application will ask for a reference. The reference is helpful because it tells us about your abilities and potential. Admissions Tutors look for indications that your academic strengths are well suited to the course and to the style of study at the University.

The reference is an important part of your application. We normally expect that it will be provided by a teacher or tutor in your school or college who can speak about your academic profile and suitability for admission to university. If you’re having difficulty securing a referee, please check the UCAS guidance on references .

References should be provided to you free of charge. If you wish to apply to Cambridge and are finding it difficult to obtain a reference or are being asked to pay for one, please contact the College that you are planning to apply to (or Student Admissions and Access if you’re making an open application).

Your application cannot be submitted until your chosen referee has completed and added your reference to the application.

Information and guidance for teachers on references can be found on our teachers' page .

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Successful Personal Statement For Natural Science (Physical) At Cambridge

Last Updated: 12th April 2022

Author: Chloe Hewitt

• Natural Sciences

Table of Contents

Welcome to our popular Personal Statement series where we present a successful Personal Statement, and our Oxbridge Tutors provide their feedback on it. 

Today, we are looking through a Natural Science applicant’s Personal Statement that helped secure a place at Cambridge University. The Natural Science Course at Cambridge is a unique and demanding course focused on blurring the boundaries between the different fields of science. 

Read on to see how this candidate wrote a Personal Statement that helped secure their place on a reputable degree. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Personal Statement:

SUCCESSFUL?

The universities this candidate applied to were the following:

Enrolling on our Cambridge Natural Science comprehensive Programme will give you access to Personal Statement redrafts. 

Your tutor will give you actionable feedback with insider tips on how to improve and make your Personal Statement Oxbridge quality for the best chances of success.  

Natural Science (Physical) Personal Statement

The more I discover about physics, the less I realise that I know, and the keener I am to further explore unfamiliar topics at university. Studying areas such as special relativity and quantum mechanics have made me question concepts I took as given, such as the nature and manipulation of time and the degree of certainty to which we can truly know anything.

My particular interest in physics was sparked when I read an article on quantum physics, and was introduced to a simple description of the fundamental constituents of matter. This led me to read further about particle physics. I particularly enjoyed Brian Greene’s The Elegant Universe, which gave me a brief insight into the intricacies of string theory, and The Feynman Lectures on Physics, from which I learnt new mechanics and probability theory. I watch lectures on the MIT website, read New Scientist and am a junior member of the IoP to further my knowledge of new scientific developments. I enjoyed visiting CERN last year and learning more about the experiments conducted there. I have also competed in national challenges to develop my thinking skills further, achieving bronze in the Physics Olympiad, silver in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge and gold in the Senior Maths Challenge. Additionally, this year I won the school leavers’ physics prize.

Last summer I attended a residential Headstart physics course at the University of Leicester, and spent three days at the Debate Chamber physics school. I enjoyed performing undergraduate experiments, and was particularly interested by the lectures on recent developments in nanotechnology and the ways in which nanoparticles could be used to destroy cancerous cells in the body. I also had a tantalising glimpse of some of the complex mathematics behind General Relativity, and would love to study this intricate topic in more detail. These experiences confirmed my love of physics as well as increasing my appreciation of more complicated subjects not covered by my A Level courses. Furthermore, they helped to develop my skills in processing new information and quickly adapting to unfamiliar concepts.

I recently took part in an extended-essay competition at school, producing an independently researched piece of work on the superluminal neutrinos apparently found in 2011. I focused on the impossibility of faster-than-light travel according to special relativity, and the implications for time travel the discovery would have had if the measurements had been correct. This gave me the chance to explore further a subject I was interested in but had not studied at school. I researched my essay by reading scientific journals and textbooks, and speaking to scientists I met at physics events.

I will shortly begin a paid internship at Hildebrand Technology Ltd, where I will be using mathematical modelling of real life situations for statistical analysis. This will be an opportunity to apply mathematical techniques I have learnt in school to more complex problems. This placement, along with self-studying university textbooks and extra further maths modules, will ensure that I maintain and expand my maths skills and scientific knowledge during my gap year.

In my final year I was captain of the school Boat Club. I have rowed in the top senior boat since I was 15, and in 2013 I won silver at National Schools and gold at Schools Head. This sport has involved intensive training, which demands self-discipline and commitment. I love music, and take part in many close harmony groups and choirs, as well as taking grades in musical theatre, singing and piano. My music and sport, along with lifeguarding and weekly volunteering at a local primary school, have allowed me to develop my time management skills and use the time I have for work efficiently and productively.

I am a hardworking and intellectually curious student and am excited by the prospect of developing my mathematical skills and studying physics at a more advanced level at university.

For more inspiration, take a look through our other successful Personal Statement a nalysis articles:

Successful Personal Statement For Economics At Cambridge

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Download our Free Personal Statement Starter Guide 

Good Points Of The Personal Statement

This is a very good statement. The statement is well structured, and the student’s motivation to study physics is clear. All points are explained clearly, and experiences expanded on. The student uses examples beyond their A-level studies to explain their desire to study physics, which comes across very well to the reader.

Bad Points Of The Personal Statement

The student forgets to use quotation marks around the names of books etc., and also ‘the’ before ‘New Scientist’. Whilst these are rudimentary errors, a simple proof-read would have found these. The main issue with this statement is its length. There are eight paragraphs in total.  By the penultimate paragraph it is clear enough that the student has done many physics-related extra-curricular activities. The quality of the statement will not be reduced if it is shortened.  The student does not explain acronyms, e.g. ‘IoP’. Some sentences can be shortened in order to save space, e.g. ‘I have also competed in national challenges to develop my thinking skills further, achieving bronze in the Physics Olympiad, silver in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge and gold in the Senior Maths Challenge’ can be shortened to ‘I have also competed in national challenges to develop my thinking skills further, achieving bronze, silver and gold medals in the Physics Olympiad, Cambridge Chemistry and Senior Maths Challenges respectively’.

UniAdmissions Overall Score:

In general, this is a very good statement. It is well written, and the student’s motivation to study physics at university is clear from the very beginning. Due to the length of the statement, it is quite cumbersome to read. With some shortening, this would be a compact and powerful statement.

This Personal Statement for Natural Science is a solid example of demonstrating a wealth of knowledge, motivation and interest, vital to Admissions Tutors.

Remember, at Cambridge, these Admissions Tutors are often the people who will be teaching you for the next few years, so you need to appeal directly to them.

Check out our other successful personal statements and our expert guides on our Free Personal Statement Resources page.

Our expert tutors are on hand to help you craft the perfect Personal Statement for your Cambridge Natural Science application.

With our  Cambridge Natural Science Premium Programme, we help you craft the perfect Personal   Statement , perform strongly on the Admissions Test  and teach you how to  Interview effectively .

Discover our Cambridge Natural Science Premium Programme  by clicking the button below to  enrol and triple your chances of success.

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any personal statement or Cambridge application advice?

• Statement of Purpose, Personal Statement, and Writing Sample

Details about submitting a statement of purpose, personal statement, and a writing sample as part of your degree program application

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Statement of Purpose 

The statement of purpose is very important to programs when deciding whether to admit a candidate. Your statement should be focused, informative, and convey your research interests and qualifications. You should describe your reasons and motivations for pursuing a graduate degree in your chosen degree program, noting the experiences that shaped your research ambitions, indicating briefly your career objectives, and concisely stating your past work in your intended field of study and in related fields. Your degree program of interest may have specific guidance or requirements for the statement of purpose, so be sure to review the degree program page for more information. Unless otherwise noted, your statement should not exceed 1,000 words. 

Personal Statement

Please describe the personal experiences that led you to pursue graduate education and how these experiences will contribute to the academic environment and/or community in your program or Harvard Griffin GSAS. These may include social and cultural experiences, leadership positions, community engagement, equity and inclusion efforts, other opportunities, or challenges. Your statement should be no longer than 500 words.

Please note that there is no expectation to share detailed sensitive information and you should refrain from including anything that you would not feel at ease sharing. Please also note that the Personal Statement should complement rather than duplicate the content provided in the Statement of Purpose. 

Visit Degree Programs and navigate to your degree program of interest to determine if a Personal Statement is required. The degree program pages will be updated by early September indicating if the Personal Statement is required for your program.

Writing Sample 

Please visit Degree Programs and navigate to your degree program of interest to determine if a writing sample is required. When preparing your writing sample, be sure to follow program requirements, which may include format, topic, or length. 

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