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How to apply

The process of applying to Cambridge starts a bit earlier than for some other universities, and there are a few extra steps, but it isn’t complicated, and you shouldn’t let this put you off applying.

The application process

Since Cambridge is a collegiate university, applications are handled by individual Colleges and not by Departments.

The same application process is used by all the colleges, though entry requirements (e.g. whether A Level/IB Higher Level Geography is required) may vary slightly.

You can either apply directly to a particular College or make an ‘open’ application, in which case your application will be assigned to a College by Cambridge Admissions Office. There is plenty of information available about different Colleges on their individual websites, and all of them hold their own Open Days and events which will give you a flavour of the place. In general, all Colleges select candidates on the basis of school and personal statements, interviews (read more and see videos) and results in public examinations.

Almost all Cambridge Colleges that admit Undergraduates will accept applications for Geography, the current exception is Peterhouse. Newnham and Murray Edwards only accept applications from women. Wolfson, Hughes Hall and St Edmunds only admit students who are over 21 at the time the course starts. In some years, certain Colleges have more Geography students than others, but the pattern fluctuates from year to year.

Pre-interview written assessment

Geography no longer asks applicants to complete a pre-interview assessment. However, some colleges may ask applicants who are invited to an interview to submit one or two examples of your written work from a relevant A Level/IB (or equivalent) course.

The interview

Each College organises their admissions interviews and decides their format. Whether online or in-person, the aims and content are the same. For more information on how online interviews work, please visit the University’s online interviews page, You can find out more about the types of questions and topics covered in an interview in this video:

How to apply

The University’s main website gives full details on how to apply.

Full details on how to apply

Open days

The Department holds Open Days each July.