cambridge university application essay

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

Events and open days
Fees and finance
Student blogs and videos
Why Cambridge
Qualifications directory
How to apply
Fees and funding
Frequently asked questions
International students
Continuing education
Executive and professional education
Courses in education
How the University and Colleges work
Visiting the University
Term dates and calendars
Video and audio
Find an expert
Publications
International Cambridge
Public engagement
Giving to Cambridge
For current students
For business
Colleges & departments
Libraries & facilities
Museums & collections
Email & phone search

Faculty of English

Studying at Cambridge

Undergraduate
Postgraduate
Visiting Scholars
Academic Staff
Research Staff
Postgraduate Students
Emeritus, Visiting and Honorary Fellows
Administrative Staff
Faculty Research
Research Map
English Handwriting Online
Scriptorium
The Tennysons Archive
Transkills for English
Troilus & Criseyde: Translation & Commentary
Directors of Studies
Teaching Officers & Research Fellows
Faculty Computing
BBC Short Story

Undergraduate Admissions

How to Apply

We welcome and warmly encourage applications from talented students from every educational and social background. Our students come with diverse casts of mind, and diverse personal, ethnic, educational, and geographical backgrounds. To learn more about the work we do to ensure that an applicant’s educational and economic background will form no barrier to them in their application, visit our Access and Widening Participation Page .

There is no typical English student at Cambridge. While entry to Cambridge is certainly competitive, if you are among the brightest students in your school or college, if you are really interested in literature, and if you are on course to achieve top grades in your forthcoming exams, you should definitely consider applying. You will be a serious candidate.

What our students share is intellectual curiosity, and delight in reading. Given the shape of our course, they are unafraid of a challenge, and glad to branch out – say, to try Elizabethan poetry or South African fiction for the first time. They have initiative in solving puzzles or finding topics for enquiry for themselves. They have the capacity to manage the independent parts of their studies, and meet their deadlines.

Applications

In Cambridge, admissions are handled by individual Colleges, so you should consult the webpage of the College to which you would like to apply (or to which you are assigned, if you make an Open Application) for details of the likely format of the interview, or any written test. For College-specific information, please visit:

http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/english

For general guidelines, advice, and deadlines, please visit the University's Undergraduate Admissions pages:

http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying

All applicants for English are required to take a written assessment if shortlisted for interview. You will not need to register in advance for this assessment: the Colleges will provide details directly to you and the test will be administered online and there is no charge. We encourage you not to be nervous about it, but rather to enjoy it as a chance to practise: it is designed to test your skills rather than your knowledge.

For more information: https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying/admissions-assessments/college-registered

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some answers to the frequently asked questions we receive from candidates applying to study English:

What do we look for in UCAS applications?

There are many ways of demonstrating an interest in the subject, but the most important is showing evidence of further reading in your spare time. We hope you will tell us about the literature you have studied and read outside school, and what you thought of it, in your UCAS personal statement and at interview.

The UCAS personal statement allows you an opportunity to tell us what you find most interesting about your chosen subject, and why you want to continue to study it at university. We often use it as a starting point for discussion at interview, but not always. We look for good written English, and for what and how you think: rather than listing titles you've read, try describing why you enjoyed reading these books, and what you thought of them.

What are we looking for in submitted written work?

You don't need to write something specially. It's a good idea to send in something you enjoyed writing and would be happy to discuss at interview. When we read these essays, we are looking for evidence of good written English, coherent structure, and full and effective analysis and argument.

What will we talk about at interview?

Books! This encompasses the literature you have studied and read for pleasure in the last year or so, the books you have written about in your submitted essays, and anything you have told us about your reading in your personal statement. We encourage you to read widely in advance, and think about what you read. It is a good idea to read pre-twentieth century works as well as more contemporary writing, and to read poetry and drama as well as prose, for any good degree course will lead you to these things. But this is not essential: what matters is ambitious reading and thinking outside school.

In a lot of interviews, the applicant is given a poem or short passage to read ‘unseen’ and asked what she or he thinks of it. If you regularly read poems independently, without your teacher instructing you, this ‘unseen’ test will soon be not daunting but delighting, a chance to exercise your intelligence, creativity, and literary insight. A good anthology of poetry from all periods is one place to start, and it will introduce you to writers whose other work you could then seek out. The key point is to read beyond the syllabus of your schoolwork, thus showing your initiative and enthusiasm.

While it is a myth that there are no wrong answers in English, there are certainly many ways of reading and thinking. So do not be shy to respond for yourself in interview – or ever: describe precisely what you see; ask yourself searching questions about it and think about why it matters; consider connections between what you know already and what you are only just discovering; support your analyses with careful evidence. The interviewers love to read and talk about literature, and they look forward to hearing what you have to say.

What should I be reading?

There is no one answer to this question. The truth is, anything you like, and everything that interests you. You should challenge yourself, however, to move beyond the texts you feel comfortable and secure amongst, and beyond the confines of your A-level set texts. You might begin by exploring the authors and texts found in our Resources for Applicants pages.

Strategic Guidance

Private Oxbridge Consultation
International Oxbridge Consultation
Postgraduate Applications Guidance
Book a Complimentary Call

Comprehensive Support

The Premier Service
Oxford and Cambridge Interview Preparation Weekend

Targeted Support

Oxbridge Personal Statement Support
Oxbridge Admissions Test Support
Oxbridge Interview Preparation Support
Admissions Test Preparation Day 2024

Application Guidance

‘Aspiring to Oxbridge’ School Talk
Teacher Training Workshop
Individual Guidance Consultations

Personal Statement Support

Personal Statement Group Workshop
Personal Statement Consultations

Admissions Test Preparation

Admissions Test Day
Admissions Test Course

Interview Preparation

Interview Preparation Day
Interview Preparation Course

Free Library

Oxbridge Interview Resources
Admissions Tests Resources
Student Library
Teacher Library
Keeping You Current
Webinar Library

Our Publications

Course reports, oxbridge applications.

Become A Tutor
Our Offices
Dukes Education

News & Press

Widening Access
Publications
Sign In Register
Sign In Register

Admission Tests: Essay Sections

Admissions tests: essay sections.

Most admissions tests are made up of several different components and many will involve essays or an essay-based section. This resource breaks down each Oxford and Cambridge Admission Test that includes an essay element, and gives our Oxbridge graduate tutors’ advice on how best to approach it.

NEED STRATEGIC GUIDANCE?

Our Private Consultations provide in-depth evaluation, strategy and next steps to achieve results. Suitable for those aged 14 upwards.

ELAT (English / Oxford and Cambridge)

Essay Format The ELAT gives you a choice of six texts (prose or poetry) and asks you to consider two or three of the different extracts, comparing and contrasting them.

Approach When approaching the ELAT, a good starting point is to focus on specific literary devices. Try thinking about the imagery and language, as well as the rhetorical devices being used. Make sure, however, that if you’re using literary terminology you know exactly what it means and are sure that what you’re discussing is an accurate example, and always back up your definition with an explanation of why it has been used and the effect it’s having. When comparing the passages, think about how they differ or are similar. Think about this not just in terms of the content, but also the form, structure, syntax, and style of the writers so as to give a comprehensive analysis of the text from all angles. In this test you are being assessed on your ability to analyse as well as your depth of analysis. You will also be required to demonstrate an eloquent writing style.

‘Many students are under the impression that picking three texts to compare and contrast rather than two may give them the advantage. The ELAT is all about close analysis, so the more detail you go into during the test, the stronger your essay will be. Thus, it would be unwise to bring in other texts if you don’t feel it is vital. Talking about outside texts may give the impression that you are avoiding the close analysis.
Make sure that you divide your concentration evenly over the sources. If you write on two texts, make sure that you spend half your time on each of the texts. This is a compare and contrast exercise, so this is important. Practice poems can easily found online, however support from teachers can be invaluable when locating examples of prose and plays, as thematically-similar extracts can be hard to find. Similarly, matching extracts with common themes can also be a useful practice tool in itself.
You should try to structure your argument thematically. Not only should you avoid talking about texts separately, but you should also avoid talking about form, language and style separately: use themes and ideas to integrate these points in each paragraph, talking about both extracts in each.
The ELAT shows students’ close analysis technique, which will underpin English courses at Oxford and Cambridge. At Cambridge, one of the modules, ‘practical criticism’, is virtually identical to this Admissions Test, and carries throughout the three years.’

CLT/LNAT (Law / Cambridge and Oxford)

Essay Format In both the Cambridge Law Test and the National Law Admissions Test, you are required to write one essay in the space of one hour. These tests are designed to assess how well you can structure and make a convincing argument. The assessors want to see if you have the ability to weigh up both sides of an argument and make a persuasive case for one side or the other.

Approach It’s important to remember here that examiners aren’t particularly interested in which side of the argument you take, as they are not assessing interpretation. Lots of students argue opposing sides of the argument, but still come out with equally strong marks. The test also does not require you to have knowledge of law terminology or any other subject for that matter, as it is first an foremost an exercise in essay writing and argument making. Make sure that you are up to date on current affairs to help inform your argument, brush up on your writing skills and eloquence, and always double check your grammar. Before writing your answer, make sure that you have read the question properly and be sure not to rush into writing straight away. Think about how you’re planning to back up your arguments, and create a small written plan or at least a mental draft of how each point will flow into the next.

To be able to understand the abstract issues which underlie the question.
To be able to recognise the tension between the values expressed in the question. The question will most likely present controversial and complex ideas, and students should make sure that they do not underestimate their complexity.
To be able to argue clearly and concisely, writing in paragraphs that include an initial point, and then defend the point throughout the rest of the paragraph.
You may want to inform your arguments by bringing in examples, for instance if the question talks about liberty, you may wish to talk about recent terror attacks. If you cannot think of any relevant real examples, you can also use hypothetical examples.
Try to avoid preamble. You must remember to write an essay, rather than a speech, so don’t use rhetorical devices like adjectives and adverbs. Contrary to popular opinion, you can use the word ‘I’, however avoid phrases like ‘I think’ or ‘in my opinion’. It is best to use ‘I’ in the context of ‘I will conclude’, ‘I agree’ or ‘I will argue’.
In Oxford, studying Law Jurisprudence, you will write an essay a week following the LNAT format, the only difference being that you will refer to Law. The LNAT and the CLT give you the opportunity to show that you can write in this style competently.
Use this tip – Look through your paragraphs and check that every line advances the argument. If it doesn’t, then it needs cutting or rephrasing.
Don’t ‘beg the question’. Don’t assume the thing that the question wants you to examine. Make sure you really think about what the question wants you to discuss.’

BMAT (Medicine / Oxford and Cambridge)

Essay Format The BioMedical Admissions Test essay section presents you with a quote which you will have to define, argue both for and against, and come to a conclusion on. The essay is used to determine whether you can present information in an organised and reasoned manner, so it’s important that you write concisely. Doctors are frequently asked to summarise cases, coming to a conclusion based on their professional opinion; this essay is designed to replicate such a task and test your ability to do so.

Approach Particularly given that many Medicine applicants haven’t studied an essay-based subject since GCSE, this part of the test can represent a point of anxiety for many applicants. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s best to begin re-familiarising yourself with essay-writing as a skill. Remember to plan and structure your essay well (since you will only have one side of A4) before writing it in proper and eloquent English where possible. Make sure not to use any shorthand or bullet points as you will be marked down for this.

‘Examiners assess how coherent and logical the argument presented can be. Unlike a Humanities degree, they are not looking for a creative, opinionated, imaginative essay, they are looking for a well structured, precise, short piece of writing.
The question or quote which is given can be extremely varied. They are usually scientific, either involving scientific language, or from a scientific source. There will always be a question that sounds medical, which the majority of students will choose. There is NO NEED to do that, it will not give you an advantage.
Unlike section two, there is no syllabus to revise, however despite this, the BMAT essay section is very easy to practice. The formula of the question is so predictable and methodical that you can easily use your own quotes or statements to make mock tests.
You shouldn’t feel like you need to shoehorn medical references into your essays. The essay section is about writing style and analysis, and less about your knowledge of the subject; this will be displayed in section two of the BMAT.
The essay is designed to show time management, precision and organisation within a highly pressured environment. This is to show that you have the desired transferable skills to be a doctor, or a scientist.

YOUR GUIDE TO OXBRIDGE MEDICINE

If you’re considering Oxbridge Medicine, it’s important you understand how it’s different from other Med Schools – and how you can choose between Oxford and Cambridge, because you can only apply to one. Read our guide we produced with our Dukes Family, The Medic Portal.

TSA Oxford (Experimental Psychology, Geography, Human Sciences, PPE, and PPL (Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics) / Oxford)

Essay Format If you are sitting the Thinking Skills Assessment for Oxford, you will need to sit an additional essay section. You will asked to choose one of four questions and write about your conclusions. Approach The questions aren’t subject specific, and there isn’t an set structure on how to answer this section, however it is best if you make sure you present an argument, back it up, assess the opposing side, and then come to a conclusion. Make sure you follow a reasoned and clear plan to give yourself the best chance of performing well.

Will Small is one of our top tutors for the TSA (Oxford and Cambridge). He studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at St John’s College, Oxford: ‘Examiners are assessing your ability to: write a structured and clear essay, be able to argue competently, and demonstrate an ability to work well under strict time constraints. You will not have time to write in convoluted, flowery language. Your teachers can help refine your technique by ironing out individual idiosyncrasies within your writing style. Your teachers can also help you to demonstrate your passion for your subject. If your application is pooled, then your Admissions Test can help you to stand out, and therefore you should have a curiosity and knowledge of your subject that informs your argument. You will not need a bank of statistics, and should not think too much about bringing in outside sources or examples. Again, the allocated time is very short, and includes question choice and planning, so you should start arguing as fast as possible. In my course (PPE), I was writing two essays a week, informed by an enormous amount of reading. This meant by the end of my first year, I was writing in an incredibly concise manner. The TSA (Oxford) gives you the opportunity to practice this skill.’

HAT/HAA (History / Oxford and Cambridge)

Essay Format In both the History Admissions Test and the History Admissions Assessment, you will have a definition exercise, then an explanation exercise, and finally an essay. The essay part of the exam assesses how a student can structure an argument. Again, as is the case in many of the Admissions Tests, the essay section is not about what you know, it is about the skills you can display.

Approach Be wary of waffling! In GCSE, and occasionally even A-level, students can sometimes get away with a lot of preamble and big ideas without backing them up with hard arguments and evidence. However, in both the HAT and the HAA, you are being assessed on your originality, clarity, and precision, as well as your ability to spot flaws, which leaves little room for pontificating.

Through tutoring the HAT and the HAA, our Oxbridge consultants have compiled these tips for the essays:

The HAT essay section is designed to test your ability to analyse a source critically and offer a coherent argument. You will be doing this throughout your course at either Oxford or Cambridge. Again, as a Humanities subject, there may be a temptation to write in a flowery, creative way. Due to the amount of time that you have, you should only spend half an hour on the essay section. This doesn’t allow for much time to demonstrate your essay writing prowess, so you should concentrate on your argument.
You are allowed to bring in other historical sources, however make sure that if you do that it informs the sources presented in the test. You should not spend too much time discussing something which is not on the paper.
The question may well be relatively open-ended, and whilst making sure that you answer the question directly, you should think about the different perspective lenses that you can analyse the content through. The source may be referring to a historical battle, but students could analyse through various different themes, such as colonialism or monarchy.
The examiner will appreciate originality and this can be presented in a variety of different forms. This may come in your perspective on a source, the areas of the text you choose to focus on, or your conclusions. Take time before you leap into writing your argument to think about how you can stand out from your peers.

It’s worth noting that, although these are the main tests required for the above subjects, some colleges have different entry requirements or may set different tests (sometimes for each candidate in rare circumstances) so always make sure that you’re preparing for the correct test(s) when using these resources.

Overall, an essay section of an admissions test is designed to give the admissions tutors an idea of your ability to structure an argument, reason logically, and persuade the reader in clear and concise language in a given direction. Really focus on making your argument and thinking processes stand out, rather than trying to shoehorn in specific pieces of knowledge that you feel may be relevant, as this is not the purpose of the exercise. If you’ve got an essay test coming up, or any other form of admissions test, and aren’t sure where to begin, get in touch with our Oxbridge graduate consultants for up-to-date advice and bespoke guidance.

YOUR GUIDE TO THE HAT

Everything you should know before taking the HAT test and how to be successful.

Download our e-book

New scholarships at Cambridge Judge thanks to very generous alumnus donation

The donation pledge of £750,000 over 5 years from Dimitris Tsikopoulos (MBA 1994), CEO of Greece-based maritime technology firm Navarino, funds the Navarino CJBS Masters Studentships for outstanding candidates to attend Cambridge Judge Business School.

Degree programmes

Masters degrees overview
Executive MBA
Executive Master of Accounting
Master of Finance (MFin)
MSt in Entrepreneurship
MSt in Social Innovation
MPhil in Management
MPhil in Technology Policy
PhD and research masters overview
PhD pathways
Business Doctorate
Master of Research in Management
MPhil in Finance
MPhil in Innovation, Strategy and Organisation
MPhil in Strategy, Marketing, Operations and Organisational Behaviour
Management Studies (Tripos)
Virtual tours of the Business School
Cambridge life
Entrepreneurship at Cambridge Judge
Financial aid
Admission events

Non-degree programmes

Entrepreneurship programmes overview
Accelerate Cambridge
Enterprise Tuesday
Venture Creation
EnterpriseTECH
EnterpriseWOMEN
Social Venture Weekend
First Certificate in Business overview
For learners
For organisations
Executive Education overview
Online ExecEd programmes
Open programmes for individuals
Custom programmes for organisations

Need help funding your degree programme studies at Cambridge Judge?

Explore our scholarship and loan opportunities.

Executive Education

Open programmes for individuals overview
Programme finder
New programmes
Online programmes
Managing People
Managing Organisations
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
Innovation and Technology
Professional Service Firms
Custom programmes for organisations overview
Open programmes for organisations
Clients and case studies
Psychometric services
Professional service firms
Certificate of Achievement
B Corp certification
Digital certificates
Visa information
Meet the team

Not sure which programme is for you?

Search our portfolio of over 40 well-crafted programmes that will expand your skills and understanding in service of your organisational, personal development and career objectives.

Research and teaching staff
Honorary appointments
Subject groups overview
Economics and Policy
Operations and Technology Management
Organisational Behaviour
Organisational Theory and Information Systems
Strategy and International Business
Research centre finder
Alternative Finance
Behavioural Economics and Policy
Business Research
Chinese Management
Circular Economy
Digital Innovation
Endowment Asset Management
Energy Policy Research Group
Entrepreneurship
Experimental & Behavioural Economics Group
Finance, Technology and Regulation
Financial Reporting and Accountability
Health Leadership and Enterprise
India and Global Business
International Human Resource Management
Process Excellence and Innovation
Psychometrics
Risk Studies
Social Innovation
Wo+Men’s Leadership
Initiatives
Impact and practitioner engagement overview
Collaborate with our faculty
Publications overview
The Cadbury Archive
Information and Library Services overview
Research seminars

Faculty and research

AI and technology
Behavioural economics
Career and personal development
Entrepreneurship and innovation
ESG and sustainability
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Finance and accounting
Future of work
Global strategy and international business
Governance, economics, and policy
Leadership and organisational behaviour
Operations management
Philanthropy
Social impact

Fighting cancer: how biotech companies are making an impact

Amid rising cancer concerns, scientists and entrepreneurs worldwide are racing to develop novel treatments.

Find an expert

We have faculty, who can speak on many current UK and global issues, and are happy to be contacted by journalists.

All insights
Alumni council
Regional Alumni groups
Alumni Special Interest Groups (ASIGs)
Alumni toolkit
Alumni profiles
Get involved
CJBS network
CJBS Connects: Worldwide

Leave your mark in LT1

The iconic Lecture Theatre 1 (LT1) is due for a refurbishment, and with it comes the opportunity for alumni, friends and other supporters of Cambridge Judge Business School to claim their seat in LT1.

Masters degrees
The Cambridge M…

How to apply

Curriculum overview
Core courses and electives
Concentrations
Sustainability pathway
Career impact overview
MBA employment report
MBA career development programme
Careers in entrepreneurship
Careers in consulting
Careers in finance
Careers in technology
Class profile overview
Student and alumni profiles
Student experience
Fees and funding overview
Scholarships and loans
Scholarship recipients

Applying for the MBA

Each year we are proud to admit an incredibly talented, driven, diverse and international class of MBA students representing a myriad of different professions and cultures.

Together, they are committed to making the most of their Cambridge MBA experience, and to creating impact in their chosen field and career.

We’re delighted you’re thinking of joining us. Innovators, world-shapers, ground-breakers – this is your place.

Applications now open

Applications for Cambridge MBA 2025 entry are now open.

Application dates

We operate a staged admissions process with 4 rounds. We encourage you to apply early, especially if you’re relying on scholarships, bursaries or loans to fund your studies.

27 Aug 2024

Application deadline

Interviews : 30 Sep-14 Oct 2024 On campus interviews : 14 Oct 2024

Interviews : 11-25 Nov 2024 On campus interviews : 25 Nov 2024

Interviews : 17 Feb-10 Mar 2025

On campus interviews : 10 Mar 2025

31 Mar 2025

Interviews : 28 Apr-12 May 2025

On campus interviews : 12 May 2025

Benefits of an in-person interview

Meet faculty, students and alumni.

The MBA interview offers candidates the chance to meet faculty and speak to students and alumni who have experienced the programme for themselves.

Experience the city, College dinners and network

For those joining us on campus, we are able to show you the unique city of Cambridge, from the spectacular College Dinner the evening before the interview, through to the opportunity to network and build connections with your peers and future classmates before your MBA year begins.

Take a careers masterclass and review career goals

We also offer candidates a Careers Masterclass where you can discuss and review your MBA goals for the year ahead with the CJBS Careers team.

Ensure the programme is right for you

Visiting Cambridge and meeting staff, students and alumni in person can make all the difference in your decision making, ensuring that the Cambridge MBA is the right fit for you and your MBA year.

Charlotte Russell-Green, Head of Cambridge MBA Recruitment & Admissions image

Enjoy the day! Cambridge is a wonderful city and location for study, and we hope to give you a taste of this at the in-person interview. Talk to people and be curious – you will make connections here, wherever you finally undertake your MBA.

Who we’re looking for

The Cambridge MBA is right for you if:

2+ years of work experience and strong evidence of career progression
a bachelor’s degree (equivalent to a high 2:1 on the UK scale) and have excelled academically
a valid GMAT, GMAT Focus Edition or GRE score*
excellent English language abilities
a learning mindset and strong interpersonal and collaborative skills
confidence, resilience, ambition and thrive under pressure.

*mean averages: GMAT – 680-690, GMAT Focus Edition – 625-635, GRE: verbal is 78%, quant is 71%

Intellectual ability and mindset are key to our admissions requirements, but we value diversity and understand the variety of international experiences and opportunity our candidates may have faced. If you only meet some of these criteria but still think you’re a good fit, read our apply page to learn more about exceptions we may make.

Tom Lovelace, Senior Business Development Manager, Tink image

When I first visited Cambridge, I fell in love with the city and the colleges and the atmosphere across the Business School as well.

Class profile

Learn more about our current MBA class and see how well you’d fit in.

Alan Sternberg, Capital Planning Manager, Amazon image

I visited Cambridge in person for my MBA interview. I wanted to get a sense of what it would be like to both live and study here. The visit was a key point in my decision to do the MBA.

Application process

Applications for the September 2025 class are now open.

Our application process is simple and friendly.

Step 1: Preparation Step 2: Application submission Step 3: Application review Step 4: Interview Step 5: Conditional offer Step 6: Unconditional offer
Step 2: Application submission Step 1: Preparation Step 3: Application review Step 4: Interview Step 5: Conditional offer Step 6: Unconditional offer
Step 3: Application review Step 1: Preparation Step 2: Application submission Step 4: Interview Step 5: Conditional offer Step 6: Unconditional offer
Step 4: Interview Step 1: Preparation Step 2: Application submission Step 3: Application review Step 5: Conditional offer Step 6: Unconditional offer
Step 5: Conditional offer Step 1: Preparation Step 2: Application submission Step 3: Application review Step 4: Interview Step 6: Unconditional offer
Step 6: Unconditional offer Step 1: Preparation Step 2: Application submission Step 3: Application review Step 4: Interview Step 5: Conditional offer

Preparation

Create an account and start your application .

Fill out your MBA application on our online portal. You can save your application as many times as you like. Take your time and make sure you have all your supporting documentation ready to go before you submit.

Go to the MBA application portal

Application submission

When you’re sure you’re ready, submit your application.

Make sure your application is complete. For your application to be reviewed, you’ll need to submit with all supporting documents attached and the £165 application fee.

Application review

Your application will be reviewed by the Cambridge Admissions Committee.

Our Admissions Committee will review your entire application in full and decide whether to short-list you for interview.

We’ll notify you within 3 weeks if you’ve been short-listed to interview.

Keep checking your inbox. We’ll notify you whether or not you’ve been invited to interview by the date given in the round you apply.

Unfortunately, due to the number of applications we receive we are unable to provide individual feedback to unsuccessful candidates.

Fraudulent applications

The University of Cambridge takes robust action against admissions fraud. If we find that fake documents or false information has been submitted, we will withdraw the application and any others made by the same person.

Learn more about postgraduate admissions fraud

Short-listed candidates will be invited to an interview.

Your interview may be held at Cambridge Judge Business School or virtually. More information will be provided in your interview invite.

Conditional offer

Successful candidates will receive a ‘Conditional Offer’ within 3 weeks.

If you are successful at interview, you will be given a ‘Conditional Offer’. within 3 weeks, however it can sometimes take longer.

You’ll need to inform us of your decision within 3 weeks.

If you accept your offer, you’ll be asked to pay a non-refundable reservation fee of £7,950 and provide a financial guarantee that you can meet programme costs. This payment goes towards your tuition fees.

Certain conditions must be met in order for your offer to be converted to an Unconditional Offer.

Unconditional offer

Accept your offer, pay reservation fees, and meet all outstanding offer conditions .

Congratulations. The final stage of the Cambridge MBA application process, once you have met all conditions of your offer, is a letter confirming you have reached this stage.

If you are a national from outside the UK or Ireland, you will have to apply for a student visa to study on the MBA.

You should refer to the UK Visas and Immigration website for the latest information regarding student visas to see if you require a visa, and the criteria that you will have to fulfil.

For more information, visit the Admissions Process section of our FAQs page .

Sarah Lester, Equity Research, Morgan Stanley image

I was steadfast in my decision to study at Cambridge Judge after the interview weekend. Every corner of Cambridge inspired me, I came away feeling like I had found the place that I belonged.

Our minimum requirements

Make sure you have everything necessary to submit the strongest application possible. Below is a list of requirements for applying to the Cambridge MBA.

Please note, if you are a national from outside the UK or Ireland, you will normally require a student visa in order to study our MBA. Please refer to the information on the University’s international students webpages for detailed guidance.

Complete application and application fee

All applications are made online, and you need to submit all required supporting documentation. An online payment of £165 will be charged for the submission of your completed application.

Undergraduate degree

We require a good 2:1 Honours degree on the UK grading scale or international equivalent . Lower scores may be considered, but you will need a good GMAT or GRE score. Masters degree details can be included but are not required.

Work experience

You must have a minimum of 2 years’ experience by the start of the programme. Our class average is around 6 years of work experience.

GMAT/GRE score

You’ll need either a GMAT, GMAT Focus Edition or GRE score to apply to the Cambridge MBA.

GMAT mean average: 680-690 (GMAT Focus Edition – 625-635)
GRE mean average: Verbal – 78%, Quant – 71%

Scores are valid for 5 years and your score must be valid at the point of application.

GMAT programme code: WF1-T3-68 GRE institution code: 0832

You will need one reference from a supervisor. We do not accept academic references or those from relatives, peers, or colleagues. The reference must come from someone who has worked with you in a supervisory or managerial role.

Choose your referee and get them started early so your application is not held up by late reference submission.

Your referee will receive an automatic reference request once you have entered their contact details on our online application system.

You must complete the careers objectives statement and 3, shorter essays:

What are your short and long-term career objectives? How will the Cambridge MBA equip you to achieve these?
Looking at your short-term career goal, describe the research you have done to understand how this industry/role/location recruits MBA talent and what they are looking for in a candidate?
How confident do you feel about meeting your short-term career goal? What skills/characteristics do you already have that will help you to achieve them, and what preparation are you doing now?
Tell us about a time when you made a professional mistake. How could it have ended differently? (up to 200 words)
Tell us about the best team you worked with. What made the team successful? (up to 200 words)
Provide an example of when someone else positively impacted your life. What did you learn from this experience? (up to 200 words)

English language requirements

Fluency in English is a pre-requisite for the Cambridge MBA. If English is not your first language, you must have taken a recognised English proficiency test in the 2 years prior to September on the year for which you’re applying for entry.

View our full English Language policy

Ability to finance your MBA

You need to think carefully now about how you plan to fund your MBA. Do not wait until later. See our fees and funding pages for more information.

Fees and funding

Learn more about funding your Cambridge MBA.

Admissions advice

Still have questions? Learn more from the Cambridge MBA admissions team and current students.

7 steps to a flawless MBA application experience

Ensuring your MBA application stands out from the crowd involves a combination of strategic planning, self-awareness, and effective communication. There are many important factors – essay questions, submitting your GMAT score, organising a reference – it can seem like a lot to do. Here we provide you with some clear steps to consider.

Jumpstart your MBA journey – acing the GMAT test

As the new admissions cycle for entry in September 2025 opens in July, it pays to prepare ahead as much as possible and the GMAT or GRE tests are one way to start framing your MBA journey and working through the steps to reach your goal and succeed.

Jumpstart your journey – financing your MBA studies

An MBA is a significant commitment of time and your resources, alongside the fees for any MBA programme, there are also expenses associated with an MBA, from general living expenses to visa costs and travel and accommodation costs. Here we share some tips and insights to support your learning journey and help make financing your studies that little bit easier.

Admissions events

We’d love to meet you. Join us at one of our upcoming fairs, webinars or open days to learn exactly what makes the Cambridge MBA so special.

Virtual Forté MBA Forum

Join us at the Virtual Forté MBA Forum to learn about the Cambridge MBA.

The MBA Tour, Cape Town

Join us in Cape Town to learn more about the Cambridge MBA programme.

MBA Expo, Johannesburg

Join us in Johannesburg to learn more about the Cambridge MBA.

Cambridge MBA information session: Online

Join our information session in to hear more about the Cambridge MBA programme.

Follow the Cambridge MBA on social media:

Introduce yourself

Download the MBA brochure

Attend an event

Start your application

What is your application fee?

The application fee is currently £165.

Do you have a staged application process?

Yes. Our application deadlines and related interview day schedules can be found on our  MBA apply page .

Cambridge Libraries

Study Skills

Wolfson college academic skills: academic writing.

Transition to Wolfson
Finding Information on Reading List
Literature Searching
Keeping up to date
Critical reading and evaluation
Speed reading
Reference management
Note making
Research Data Management
Academic writing
Finishing a long document in Word
Publishing your research
Using AI for Academic Purposes
Reflection and setting goals
Responding to and using feedback
Time management
Digital wellbeing
Working remotely
Exam and Revision Tips

typewriter with paper saying 'write something'

Your writing style will have no doubt changed significantly over the last few years and will still be developing. Your style will also be responsive to the task: an exam answer is very different to an essay. Your department will be able to advise you on specific expectations in your discipline but there are many general principles which be useful to all students, some of which we cover here.

The writing process is book-ended by two other key skills which we cover elsewhere:

First, you will need to take effective notes that so that you can refer to them during writing. If they are well-formed, they will act as the basis of your written work. Learn more under the Note Making section of this guide.
Finally, it is essential that you correctly credit the work and ideas of others that you have used in your writing. To learn more about this read our pages on Referencing and Avoiding Plagiarism .

This section focuses on essay writing in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Scientific disciplines will provide guidance on specific writing styles for their subject area.

Read the assignment carefully and identify key words within the question.
Work backwards from the due date of the assignment. After you have the number of days you have available to write your assignment, divide the time into pre-writing activities such as reading, reviewing your notes and free writing, drafting activities such as organising your arguments and editing activities such as checking grammar, punctuation and references.
Spend some time planning and organising your essay before writing. Having a clear road map for your work can ensure your writing flows clearly and you do not drift away from addressing the question you set out to write.
Don't forget to schedule some down time while you are writing. Creating some distance from your work will help keep you refreshed and allow you time to see new perspectives and process further information.
If you are experiencing writer's block, try freewriting for 10 minutes. During this time, do not worry about grammar or structure; the goal should be to get your thoughts out on a piece of paper or the screen. Free writing can help unlock some of the factors contributing to the block, and since you will have some words after the 10 minutes, it may kick start a new writing cycle for you.

Below you will find a series of videos that provide a survey of academic writing and a closer look at introductions, paragraphs and conclusions. While there may be a heavier emphasis on the writing done in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the general concepts of strong academic writing presented will also apply to other disciplines.

Academic Writing- An Overview
Writing an abstract
Reducing your work count

None of the below will cut all the words you need in one go. But they may help you spot sytlistic tendancies than mean your style is unnecessarily verbose.

As with all proofreading, reading aloud can help you spot awkward wording and clumsy phrasing. Eliminate problematic words or highlight phrases as you go, so that you can tighten them up later.

Rearranging content

Once you have a rough draft, to reverse outline your document. This way you can make sure that your ideas and arguments develop logically. Write down what each section is about and if you spot anything extraneous, it is a candidate for deletion.

If you are still well above yoru word count, rank the points you use to sunstantiate your argument. That way, you can eliminate ones which aren't as important as others.

If you don't want to eliminate a point, take the topic sentence or main idea of several less important paragraphs and create combined paragraphs with less detail than the more important arguments.

Removing extraneous words

Look through your work and seeif you find any adverbs, especially those that end 'ly'. These are often filler words that don't add anything beneficial. These might include actually, commonly, continually, correctly, finally, fully, greatly, perfectly, rigidly, sadly, totally, urgently. If they're not necessary, remove them!

In much the same way as advebs make their way into writing, multiple adjectives are used when one (or none) would suffice. Only use them if they add to the meaning of the sentence.

Writers sometimes clog up their prose with one or more extra words or phrases that seem to modify the meaning of a noun, but don't add meaning to the sentence e.g. kind of, sort of, basically, for all intents and purposes.

Excessive detail

Watch out for phrases or longer passges that repeat earlier writing. If the words don't buils on the conent, they are rarely necessary.

Many words imply one another: 'finish' implies 'complete' and so 'completely finish' is redundant in most cases. There are many other phrases like this: past memories, future plan, terrible tragedy. each individual, end result, final outcome, unexpected surprise, sudden crisis.

There are also illogical expressions such as 'very unique'. Since unique means one-of-a-kind, it doesn't need a modifier of degree such as: very, so, especially, somewhat, or extremely. There are no gradations; either it is unique or not.

Replacing vague phrases with specific words

Many commonly used phrases can be replaced with a single word. We often feel that they make writing more 'formal' but they can detract, rather than add to, meaning. For example:

'the reason for', 'owing to the fact that', 'in light of the fact that' 'given that', considering the fact that' could be replaced with because, since or why
'in the event that' or 'under circumstance in which' could be replaced with if
'it is necessary that' can be replaced with must or should
'on the occasion of' or 'in a situation in which' could be replaced with when
'in reference to', 'as regards', 'concerning the matter of' could be replaced with about
'in anticipation of', 'at the same time as', 'following on from' could be replaced with before, when or after.

Identify negatives and change them to affirmatives

Expressing ideas in negative means you must use an extra word and and it makes it harder to figure out your meaning.

e.g. If you do not have more than five years of experience, do not call for an interview if you have not already emailed Human Resources.

can be revised as: Applicants with more than five years’ experience can call for an interview. Otherwise, email Human Resources.

Breaking down the question
Structuring your writing
Refining your writing

It is important to understand what you are being asked to do before you begin writing. Regardless of the task, you will be marked more highly for answering the question than simply showing how much you know about a topic. Ask yourself the following three questions when you start a new task:

What are you being asked about? Identify the topics that you need to focus on and take care to note that there may be multiple topics in any one task. Alternatively, it may be an open-ended task, and you need to define the parameters. If this is the case, make sure that you explain why you have limited your answer in this way. For example, you may choose to limit your answer to a few examples. Why have you selected them? Also, make clear that you understand the context in which these few examples sit.
What are you being asked to use? Identify sources, materials, theories and examples that you are expected to refer to. You may be told these in the question itself, the reading list, or need to identify them from the work you have already done on this topic.
What are you being asked to do? Identify the verb or question word in your task such as compare, describe, contrast, evaluation, explain, examine, summarise, or analyse. If you aren't sure what they mean, download this list of instruction words and their definitions. Try breaking the question down into sub-questions. This will focus your reading and help to formulate the structure of your essay.

If you are not sure what the words mean in the question, have a look at this list of instruction words and their definitions.

Use Manchester University's Phrasebank . This aims to provide you with examples of some of the phraseological ‘nuts and bolts’ of writing organised according to the main sections of a research paper or dissertation. The items in the Academic Phrasebank are mostly content neutral and generic in nature; in using them, therefore, you are not stealing other people’s ideas and this does not constitute plagiarism. It gives you alternative ways of saying the same thing.

The top level sections are:

Being cautious
Being critical
Classifying and listing
Compare and contrast
Defining terms
Describing trends
Describing quantities
Explaining causality
Giving examples
Signalling transition
Writing about the past

Find out more

Wolfson and cambridge university support for writing.

If you need support in thinking through the structure of an essay, brainstorming ideas, considering flow and clarity, and other matters related to the mechanics of writing you can book an appointment with one of our Wolfson College Writing Consultants .
If you are thinking about writing for publication, Wolfson offers workshops as part of the regular WolfWorks programme during the Lent Term.
The college offers a proofreading service for dissertations and theses prior to submission. Please contact the Academic Skills Librarian for further information.
If you looking for some time to get some writing done, Wolfson runs Write Here, Write Now at Wolfson Sessions . These provide a space for students to come together to work silently for an hour, then take a collective break and discuss what they are writing on, and then carry on writing for an hour and then take a break and so on. These are very productive sessions, and the peer support works well.
As part of Academic Writing Month 2023 we asked members of the Wolfson Community to describe their writing process and provide a tip they would give to writers. We have collated the videos on our YouTube channel under Academic Writing Month 2023 .
If you need support with your style, The Royal Literary Fund Fellow provides writing support two days a week. Contact Vitali Vitaliev, the Royal Literary Fund Fellow for a 50-minute in-person appointment. He is based at Magdalene College but works with our students too. The Royal Literary Fund also produces an online essay writing guide .
There are a number of online writing resources provided by the University's Language Centre, but which are useful for all students.
Cambridge's MMLL has produced a very useful dissertation toolkit .

External Writing Support

Very detailed academic writing support from Purdue University from establishing arguments to active and passive voice. Also sections on English as a second language and writing for job applications.
Manchester's Academic Phrasebank gives you a range of alternative ways of expressing your ideas. You can approach it by the part of the Sections include being critical, giving examples, comparing and contrasting, writing conclusions and signalling transition between topics.
The Skills Hub at Sussex University has resources on report writing, as well as essay writing.
Leeds University has a series of pages to work through on academic writing.
Monash University has produced a practical online guide to Excel at Writing for both undergraduates and postgraduates.

Unless otherwise stated, this work is licenced under a CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence by Wolfson College Cambridge.

<< Previous: Creating and communicating
Next: Plagiarism >>
Last Updated: Aug 14, 2024 3:43 PM
URL: https://libguides.cam.ac.uk/wolfsoncollege

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

Undergraduate courses
Events and open days
Fees and finance
Postgraduate courses
How to apply
Postgraduate events
Fees and funding
International students
Continuing education
Executive and professional education
Courses in education
How the University and Colleges work
Term dates and calendars
Visiting the University
Annual reports
Equality and diversity
A global university
Public engagement
Give to Cambridge
For Cambridge students
For our researchers
Business and enterprise
Colleges & departments
Email & phone search
Museums & collections
Applying to Cambridge
Entry requirements
Postgraduate Study
Why Cambridge overview
Chat with our students
Cambridge explained overview
The supervision system
Student life overview
In and around Cambridge
Leisure activities
Student unions
Music awards
Student support overview
Mental health and wellbeing
Disabled students
Accommodation
Language tuition
Skills training
Support for refugees
Courses overview
Course Directory
Department directory
Qualification types
Funded studentships
Part-time study
Research degrees
Visiting students
Finance overview
Fees overview
What is my fee status?
Part-time fees
Application fee
Living costs
Funding overview
Funding search
How to apply for funding
University funding overview
Research Councils (UKRI)
External funding and loans overview
Funding searches
External scholarships
Charities and the voluntary sector
Funding for disabled students
Widening participation in funding
Colleges overview
What is a College?
Choosing a College
Applying overview
Before you apply
Application deadlines
How do I apply? overview
Application fee overview
Application fee waiver
Life Science courses
Terms and conditions
Continuing students
Disabled applicants
Supporting documents overview
Academic documents
Finance documents
Evidence of competence in English
AI and postgraduate applications
Terms and Conditions
Applicant portal and self-service
After you apply overview
Confirmation of admission
Student registry
Previous criminal convictions
Deferring an application
Updating your personal details
Appeals and Complaints
Widening participation
Postgraduate admissions fraud
International overview
Immigration overview
ATAS overview
Applying for an ATAS certificate
Current Cambridge students
International qualifications
Competence in English overview
What tests are accepted?
International events
International student views overview
Akhila’s story
Alex’s story
Huijie’s story
Kelsey’s story
Nilesh’s story
Get in touch!
Events overview
Upcoming events
Postgraduate Open Days overview
Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD Study webinars
Virtual tour
Research Internships
How we use participant data
Postgraduate Newsletter
How do I apply?
After you apply
Why Cambridge
International

There are minimum requirements for postgraduate admission to the University. Some departments may set higher academic or language requirements. Please consult the Course Directory for full information on each course’s requirements.

Key requirements

Postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge is intense and very intellectually demanding, so the University has high academic entry requirements. You are normally expected to hold or to have achieved by the start of your course:

minimum of a good upper second class (good 2:1) honours degree from a UK university or an equivalent standard from an overseas university; and
completion of, or intermission from any current training or education course

To check if your international qualification meets the University minimum requirement, please consult the international requirements page.

This is a minimum requirement and meeting it is not in itself sufficient to gain a place. Entry to our courses is very competitive and we are unable to make offers to many candidates who meet the academic minimum.

If you believe your academic performance is or has been negatively affected by your circumstances, for example ill health, it is important that you use the exam mitigation process at your current university. If you wish to draw our attention to any factors, you should do this within your application.

Further information on fees, other costs and funding can be found in our Finance pages. If you are made a conditional offer of admission, you will then need to confirm that you are able to meet your fees and living costs for the length of your course. However, if you do already have funding for your study in place, you can provide details of this with your application.

College membership

All applicants who are made a formal offer of admission will receive an offer of College membership. The University of Cambridge is a collegiate university, and all its students are required to be members of a College.

English language

All applicants are required to meet a minimum English language requirement before you are admitted to your proposed course of study. For more details check the Competence in English section of the website.

Part-time Portal

This page is part of the portal for Part-time Applicants

Postgraduate Admissions Office

Admissions Statistics
Start an Application
Applicant Self-Service

At a glance

Bringing a family
Current Postgraduates
Cambridge Students' Union (SU)

University Policy and Guidelines

Information compliance

Equality and Diversity

Terms of Study

About this site

About our website

Contact the University
Accessibility
Freedom of information
Privacy policy and cookies
Statement on Modern Slavery
University A-Z
Undergraduate
Postgraduate
Research news
About research at Cambridge
Spotlight on...

Applicant Portal

Already have an account.

If you do not yet have an Applicant Portal account, click here to register.

Join Now to View Premium Content

GradeSaver provides access to 2365 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 11012 literature essays, 2781 sample college application essays, 926 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, “Members Only” section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.

Cambridge University

Personal statement alessia mortara, personal statement.

My academic life has represented a process of acquaintance with my talents, values, and flaws. I have strived to fulfill my potential and now wish to pursue a future in the field of Political Science. I have cultivated an interest in languages (bilingual in English/Italian, proficient in French and able in Sanskrit), in the Humanities, in the Arts and in Mathematics and Physics (Young Scientist Award), developing a varied spectrum of skills and abilities.

Living in Italy, the UK and the United States has given me multi-cultural exposure and a broad range of influences from which to expand my knowledge. However, I have also been fortunate enough to travel, exploring the essential similarities and points of divergence of different customs which form humans with a common nature, but different nurture, due to the influence of different environments. I have always been curious about people; their ideals, hopes and dreams, both as individuals and as entities and the reflection of these shared values in aspects of society such as politics.

Through the study of Islam in my History course, I was able to elaborate on a topic that I found particularly stimulating, giving me an insight into the origins of modern relations with the Arabic...

GradeSaver provides access to 2314 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 10989 literature essays, 2752 sample college application essays, 911 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, “Members Only” section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.

Already a member? Log in

2024-2025 Cambridge Judge MBA Essay Tips and Example Essays

Jul 10, 2024

Who is Cambridge looking for?
How should I answer the Cambridge essay questions?
Get Admitted to Cambridge Judge
Cambridge Deadlines

UPDATE : This article was originally posted on August 24, 2020. It has been updated with new information and tips below.

With its location in the Silicon Fen, Cambridge Judge is at the top of the list for an increasing number of applicants who seek to pursue (or continue pursuing) a high-impact, global career.

However, with a practical yet innovative curriculum that gives students ample opportunity to incorporate hands-on learning into their MBA experience, competition to join Cambridge’s elite MBA is more difficult than ever.

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Cambridge admissions essays to stand out. We’ve rounded up our best tips and links to Cambridge Judge MBA sample essays to ensure you give your Cambridge Judge application your best shot.

1. Who is Cambridge looking for?

(Photo courtesy of @cambridgejudge on Instagram)

“The MBA is a broad management degree designed to develop deep understanding, practical application and vital interpersonal and leadership skills. Inspired by the University of Cambridge tradition of tutorial discussion and debate, the MBA delivers a lively and engaging learning experience in an intensive one-year programme.” Cambridge Judge Admissions

Every year, Cambridge literally searches the globe (more than 40 countries are represented) for the outstanding professionals given the honor of joining its annual class of just over 200 students for its 1-year MBA program. With a strong emphasis on diversity, there is no “typical” Cambridge student, yet the average admitted student in the Class of 2025 had a mean GMAT score of 682 (down from 690 in previous years) and 6 years of work experience.

Beyond the impressive statistics, though, Cambridge is looking for candidates who want to make a positive impact on the world through their careers. That’s why, in addition to strong academic performance (demonstrated through the GMAT and university grades), Cambridge seeks candidates who possess the following qualities:

We want people who have:

excelled in previous academic achievements (top 25 percent of class in undergraduate degree)
are highly motivated and ambitious, thrive under pressure, and have already exhibited clear progression within their career
have had some international experiences through their work and have a global outlook
are confident, creative, innovative, with strong interpersonal and collaborative skills
an interesting and varied life outside their work

If this sounds like a community in which you’d be right at home, you’ll first have to prove you’ve got what it takes by successfully answering Cambridge’s admissions essay questions.

2. How should I answer the Cambridge essay questions?

2.1. Essay 1 Tips

Essay 1: Please provide details of your post-MBA career plans. The statement should not exceed 500 words and must address the following:

What are your short- and long-term career objectives? How will the Cambridge MBA equip you to achieve these?
Looking at your short-term career goal, describe the research you have done to understand how this industry/role/location recruits MBA talent and what they are looking for in a candidate.
How confident do you feel about meeting your short-term career goal? What skills/characteristics do you already have that will help you to achieve them, and what preparation are you doing now?

This question is essentially a traditional goals essay, a common type of essay required of applicants at many elite business schools, with a unique twist.

In this essay, you have a big task. In around 500 words , you need to discuss:

Context for your goals
Your specific-post MBA goals
Why you have chosen these goals and how you are prepared for them
Why you believe an MBA is necessary to reach these goals
How a Cambridge MBA will help you reach these goals
What actions you will take between now and starting at Cambridge to help you reach your goals

Each of these elements must be included and must build off of each other.

First of all, many candidates think they do not need to specifically state their goals, or that it’s better to leave “their options open.” If you are applying to elite business schools, however, you must have and present absolute clarity about your goals.

TOP TIP : If you’re having trouble figuring out what your post-MBA goals are, we’ve prepared this post to help you decipher this essential part of the application process!

However, goals without context can be a little confusing to decipher or understand (or they can just seem a bit lackluster). For this reason, we suggest starting your essay with context.

For example, a client last year initially started his essay by saying:

“I want to become a Business Development Director at a Brazilian company.”

While interesting, it’s better to give a little bit of context to help these goals come to life. Check out the final version of the same essay’s introduction:

“In the 1970s, the phrase “think global, act local” came into use, suggesting that to have global impact, one must be active locally. With this mindset, I focused my career on Brazilian multinational companies to start creating global change at home. While at Company 1, I led a diverse global team, which showed me that clear communication is essential. I later accepted a finance position at a real estate company where I learned how new technologies can impact traditional local industries and that leaders must adapt to these trends to maintain competitiveness. Most recently, I joined Company 2 to participate in its daring globalization plan. At Company 2, I have learned how challenging it is to formulate effective global strategies to thrive in diverse markets. I have also developed management skills since becoming Financial Coordinator, learning how important establishing a culture of collaboration is to providing stability for organizations.

I now seek to take the next step to becoming a “global” leader by becoming Business Development Director at a Brazilian company pursuing globalization, giving me the experience to assume my long-term goal of CEO of one such company.”

Second, discuss how you are prepared for these goals, and if you haven’t already, why you are motivated to achieve them. Since Cambridge specifically asks you to state which skills and characteristics you already possess that are relevant to achieving your goals, make sure not just to speak in generalities here. Instead, use clear examples that demonstrate you have a strong track record that will directly contribute to your success in achieving your career goals.

In this section, you should also discuss the research that you have already done on the industry and how recruiters are selecting people. This is important because Cambridge wants to see that you have clearly prepared for your goals and that you will use their MBA wisely and give them a good reputation. Be sure to mention how you found the information that you have. This section can serve as a great transition between what experience you already have and what you still need to gain in terms of skills and knowledge.

Third, you should clearly demonstrate why you need an MBA.

An MBA is not a catch-all degree that serves a purpose for all career paths. As such, you need to demonstrate that the goals you have set for yourself require the additional training an MBA can provide.

Be thoughtful about this particular section. If you don’t need to improve in any meaningful way, you might be presenting the argument the admissions committee needs for why you can’t actually benefit from an MBA.

Furthermore, if you show fluffy or unsupported reasons you need to hone your skills, you’ll also likely see your application tossed aside in favor of an applicant who was able to clearly demonstrate how they plan to leverage their time at business school.

Fourth, add how Cambridge can specifically help you grow in the areas you’ve identified. Mentioning that you want to go to Cambridge because of its ranking or 1-year format will not cut it here.

Instead, show that you understand Cambridge’s uniquely innovative curriculum and have done significant, thoughtful research into how the opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom can help you grow. If you have space, it’s also highly recommended that you mention how you can contribute to the community.

Finally, make sure that you fully answer Cambridge’s unique twist on this question by demonstrating what you are doing or plan to do before your MBA to prepare yourself to reach your stated goals.

For example, Renato, after clearly articulating how he plans to benefit from Cambridge’s curriculum, states: “To expand my strategic vision and network, I plan to be active in the Technology SIG, create bonds with leaders within the Silicon Fen, and maintain close lifelong relationships with Judge’s faculty and students. I have already met many such alumni, such as ALUM1 and ALUM2, in my quest to integrate myself with the Judge community. Innovation can only flourish in a collaborative setting, and the Judge environment will enable me to connect knowledge and people.”

Though there are many ways in which you can prepare to reach your goals before your MBA, make sure to include clear, concrete examples of your plans in this area in your essay.

End with a winning conclusion statement that reinforces your personal brand and ties the whole essay together.

Need more guidance?

Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of Cambridge MBA essays that worked to get our clients admitted to help you plan out a winning Cambridge Judge essay.

2.2. Essay 2 Tips

Essay 2: Tell us about a time when you made a professional mistake. How could it have ended differently? (up to 200 words)

With a general theme of self-awareness running throughout the application, the Cambridge Judge admissions committee’s first non-goals-related essay asks you to recount a mistake you made and reflect on what you could have done to obtain a better outcome.

In general, I have noticed that our clients tend to want to avoid anything that makes them look bad. And this is a good instinct in general in an MBA application! However, by seeing you honestly express the mistake you made, how you overcame it, and what you would have done differently/what you learned from the experience, we’re able to see your capacity for self-awareness and growth in action.

As always when it comes to tricky questions, we suggest you start brainstorming examples. You want to focus on examples where you made a mistake at work . You want to make sure you choose a mistake that you were responsible for . Choosing a mistake that was only partially your fault will look like you lack self-awareness and the ability to admit your failings.

After selecting examples where you made a clear mistake, choose a few to deep-dive into. I would suggest that you think of examples that can fit the following format:

Decision I had to make/issue I faced/project I was working on
Mistake I made
The results of my decision
What I could have done differently and how this experience shaped me

If your examples don’t fit this format, I would suggest that you discard them. They are not likely to fit the STAR format of telling stories adequately or are not likely to answer all the aspects of this question.

After placing your stories in this format, consider what you learned/how you grew from the experience and what each one tells the admissions committee about you. The best example should clearly stand out!

When telling the STAR story, make sure you clearly convey the mistake, give a specific example of how you would do things differently and why you believe this would be a better approach, and share how the skills you built or the perspective you developed as a result of the mistake positively contributed to making you the better professional you are today.

TOP TIP : Including so much information in such a short essay can be highly challenging. That’s why we’ve prepared this post , designed to help you tell your story in a compelling way, even when word count is tight!

2.3. Essay 3 Tips

Essay 3: Tell us about the best team you worked with. What made the team successful? (up to 200 words)

When discussing what the MBA experience will be like with clients, I always like to joke that the only part of the program you’ll do alone is your final exams. All joking aside, the MBA is a highly team-focused, collaborative experience that demands excellent teamwork skills.

This question gets right to the core of this issue, focusing on your capacity to work effectively in a team.

First, to start writing this essay, brainstorm a list of potential achievements to focus on, making sure each has a clear team component. Since Cambridge does not state that you need to choose a professional example, feel free to brainstorm ideas from both your personal and professional lives. However, we suggest making sure your overall essay set is balanced, so choosing a personal example would complement your professional example in Essay 2.

Note: You don’t have to choose a specific story here; you could describe a team in general. However, using a STAR-format story here can be especially helpful in showing the team’s success, explaining effectively why the team was successful, and demonstrating how you contributed to that outcome.

After brainstorming a list, select the example you feel best demonstrates your ability to thrive and grow in a team setting. I would suggest that you focus on a story that shows your team overcoming some type of challenge since this also goes a long way to demonstrating the team’s success and can make it easier for you when analyzing why this team worked so well.

Finally, after sharing the team’s victorious outcome, make sure you clearly state 1-2 reasons why this team worked so well together. Was it effective communication? Mutual knowledge sharing? Picking up the slack when other members of the team struggled? There’s no right answer here as long as the reasons you choose directly connect to the example you share. Additionally, be sure to state what you learned about teamwork or in what ways the experience helped you become a better team player.

Ultimately, your example should demonstrate that you thrive in collaborative environments, so make sure that all elements of your essay retain a positive tone that shows your ability to thrive as a member of a team.

2.4. Essay 4 Tips

Essay 4: Provide an example of when someone else positively impacted your life. What did you learn from this experience? (up to 200 words)

This is another example to demonstrate your self-awareness to the Cambridge admissions committee.

As with essay 3, you are free to choose a personal or professional example here. You can choose a mentor, co-worker, friend, boss, teammate, or coach from a sports team – the possibilities are endless. The point here is not showing off your network; it’s sharing who you are as a person and your capacity to reflect on being on the receiving end of impact.

For this reason, I think it’s important to first think about STAR stories that fit here. The question asks for a single example of a time that someone positively impacted your life. As such, start by thinking of some of the most impactful moments in your life and the people who facilitated these moments. You want to make sure to focus on examples with a clear beginning, middle, and end and a clear impact on you .

Then, consider what you learned from each experience and how it has shaped you ever since. The learnings and how it’s impacted you can vary here – you can focus on internal results, like how it impacted how you see yourself, or on external results, like how you interact with the world around you or specific ways the experience motivated you to act or behave.

Whichever you choose, make sure the learnings and impact are crystal clear since this part of the question is just as important as the example!

2.5. Job Essay 1 Tips

Describe your previous roles/promotions at your current company – including dates (150 words)

This straightforward response should comprehensively cover your past roles and promotions at your current company . Make sure to anchor each role/promotion with specific dates and briefly contextualize any special circumstances.

If you find yourself with a bit of extra space, you may want to share a bit more detail to contextualize why you were promoted, as this can help establish your track record of excellence.

2.6. Job Essay 2 Tips

Describe your primary job responsibilities, including: 1) type and size of internal and external teams with which you work or supervise 2) type and number of clients or projects you manage 3) size of budget or revenue for which you are responsible 4) international experience or exposure (250 words)

For this question, the most important thing is to answer all elements of the question and maintain focus on your current role.

You’ll have plenty of room to discuss your past career choices and future ambitions in other essays, so make sure you give the adcom a full picture of what you do on a daily basis.

If you’re currently working on a particularly interesting project, you can include information about the project and your related responsibilities, but don’t bog your reader down with an exhaustive list of every project and result you’ve ever obtained in your current role.

Should you feel a little bit of context is necessary to understand your current role, feel free to provide it. Keep in mind, however, that this is not the place to recount your entire career trajectory up to the present day.

Finally, make sure to include the data they ask for, specifically related to budget, number of people you manage, and international experience/exposure.

TOP TIP : If you have a bit of extra space after answering the core aspects of this question, you may want to include a mini work example to illustrate what your work “looks” like on a daily basis.

2.7. Job Essay 3 Tips

What has been your most significant professional challenge? (200 words)

This essay effectively calls for a single professional challenge. As such, refrain from broader generalizations, listing multiple situations, or using an extraprofessional experience.

Rather, focus on a landmark engagement where your actions overcame a specific challenge for a significant, measurable result. While the heart of this essay should be describing the challenge and then showing how you navigated it, the story does not necessarily have to end in failure. However, if it does, then make sure to articulate what lessons you learned.

Begin your essay with a brief hook introduction that sets the stage. While this essay’s brevity disallows elaborate introductory stories, the introduction should lay the foundation for your professional challenge’s significance and relevance to your life.

Then, show the challenge you were facing.

Continue by showing what you did to address the challenge. During this section, focus on showing how you accomplished what you did and why you felt the actions you took were appropriate for the challenge.

End your essay by showing the results you were able to achieve and how they are significant to you. If your greatest challenge ends in failure, make sure to show what you learned from the experience.

2.8. Job Essay 4 Tips

What has been your most significant professional achievement? (200 words)

This prompt calls for your single most significant professional achievement.

First, we suggest you brainstorm a list of your greatest accomplishments . Then, filter out the accomplishments that overlap with stories you are telling in other essays, including the previous essay on your most significant challenge. The ideal achievement would serve as a defining milestone or turning point for your career.

The key to this essay is demonstrating significance. This means grounding the scope of the engagement, both in relation to the engagement itself (such as budget, team size, clients, etc.) and within the context of your professional trajectory.

Furthermore, you should be showing how your specific actions were crucial. If your role is quite passive and your actions are vague, it will be difficult to establish significance with even the largest projects.

Finally, conclude your essay by quantifying the results you achieved and reflecting on their importance to you.

2.9. Optional Job Essay

Please explain any gaps in your CV (200 words)

This short optional essay is dedicated to contextualizing the circumstances of any gaps in your CV. You should strive to not only clarify the reasons behind gaps but also connect them with the general trajectory of your professional life.

For example, if you spent a few months preparing for a career-pivoting qualification, make sure to articulate how that time was spent acquiring specific, tangible tools and knowledge indispensable to your professional success.

2.10. Reapplicant Essay

Additional question for re-applicants. Describe any relevant developments since you last applied to the Cambridge MBA? (up to 200 words)

Here, make sure you clearly demonstrate how you have improved since your previous application. Also, include any relevant updates on your goals and interaction with the school, as applicable.

We have written a separate post on the topic of reapplying to business school , including insider tips and tricks to help make sure your second shot at your dream school is successful!

Looking for Cambridge Judge MBA essay examples?

Check out our real sample essays that got our clients admitted here .

3. Get Admitted to Cambridge Judge

Landing a spot at Cambridge is no easy task. You’ve spent years building a track record of professional success, dedicated yourself to getting a good GMAT score, and carefully developed your application strategy .

Now is the time to make sure your accomplishments truly shine, and the only way to do so is to write a clear, compelling admissions essay .

Ellin Lolis Consulting began with one mission: provide the best possible service to our clients and get them the best possible results .

Serving our customers is at the core of our company, and we know that applying for an MBA can be a difficult, long process, but our goal is to take away as much of the stress as possible by acting as your ally in the process.

So if you need much more than just a few comments on your essay, but instead want focused help shaping how you present your life’s greatest hits to one of the world’s toughest critics, you can count on us.

In the words of our client Henrique ,

“Ellin helped me in the application process from the beginning on how to organize myself for the whole year. I truly believe that my interactions with her not only provided a foundation for the application creation, but also, and more importantly, structured my life at business school. I even got a scholarship. I really recommend her since she is really committed and hard-working, and made me feel comfortable and confident during the entire process. Thanks for the phenomenal service, Ellin.”

Get in touch and let our award-winning team of writers and storytellers help you make an unforgettable first impression.

4. Cambridge Deadlines

Here are the deadlines for the 2024-2025 season. You can access the Cambridge application by clicking here .

Cambridge Judge Round 1 Deadlines

Application Deadline : August 27, 2024

Interviews : September 30-October 24, 2024

On-campus interviews : October 14, 2024

Decisions Released : About 3 weeks of completing the interview

Cambridge Judge Round 2 Deadlines

Application Deadline : October 7, 2024

Interviews : November 11-25, 2024

On-campus interviews : November 25, 2024

Cambridge Judge Round 3 Deadlines

Application Deadline : January 6, 2025

Interviews : February 17-March 10, 2025

On-campus interviews : March 10, 2025

Cambridge Judge Round 4 Deadlines

Application Deadline : March 31, 2025

Interviews : April 28-May 12, 2025

On-campus interviews : May 12, 2025

Real MBA Essays That Got People In

School-specific sample essays that got our clients accepted

Get Access Now

98.9% Success Rate

With our expertise and 98.9% success rate in placing our consulting clients in at least one of their target schools, we can add more value to your application than you ever thought possible.

Recent Articles

2024-2025 IMD MBA Essay Tips

Aug 9, 2024

UPDATE: This article was originally posted on June 8, 2020. It has been...

Vanderbilt Owen MBA Deadlines for 2024-2025

Aug 6, 2024

If you’re preparing for the Vanderbilt Owen MBA (check out our essay tips and sample essays here!), ensuring you finish everything on time is essential. Here are the deadlines for the Class of 2027. Round 1 Application Deadline: October 8, 2024 Interview...

Oxford Saïd MBA Deadlines for 2024-2025

Aug 5, 2024

If you’re preparing for the Oxford Saïd MBA (check out our essay tips and sample essays here!), ensuring you finish everything on time is essential. Here are the deadlines for the Class of 2027. Round 1 Application Deadline: September 2, 2024 Interview...

Ready to start your MBA Success?

Which program are you applying to?

Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

February 29, 2024

Writing Your Career Goals Essay

Check out all the blog posts in this series:

Identifying the Ingredients of a Winning Essay
Finding a Theme for Your Statement of Purpose
Revise and Polish Your Application Essays

Your career goals essay demands a laser-like focus. A personal statement, by contrast, allows for some flexibility in its content, though you can – and often should – discuss your career goals. But a career goals essay has a particular and packed agenda. In fact, the prompt for a career goals essay could actually include multiple questions, and in such cases, you want to make sure you address each of them.

For example, in 2022, Kellogg asked applicants to its one-year program to respond to the following prompt: “Please discuss your post-MBA career goal, the current experience you will leverage to support the transition, and the Kellogg 1Y opportunities that will help you reach this goal.”

This prompt has three parts: (1) What do you want to do post-MBA ? (2) Why is the 1Y program appropriate for you? And (3) what experience has so far prepared you to succeed in your target role?

So, always pay close attention to your target school’s prompt to ensure that you answer all the questions within its “single” question.

Three elements of a successful career goals essay

In addition to having a distinct theme , your career goals essay should achieve the following:

Highlight specific career achievements. Choose from your most notable or defining experiences. These could be related to your work, community involvement, or extracurricular activities. The experiences you select should showcase your leadership skills , creative thinking, collaborative abilities, and personal reflections about what you learned or gained.
Explain why your experiences and influences make your career goal a logical and wise choice.
Demonstrate why you are suited to a particular field as a result of your education, experience, abilities, and enthusiasm. Ideally, the material you choose to include will also allow you to prove your knowledge about industry trends and suggest how your abilities and strengths can help you contribute to that field.

It’s a very tall order to achieve all this.

Putting these elements together to create your goals essay

Let’s take a look at a sample MBA Goals Essay and see how these three key elements are incorporated.

You should be able to easily recognize why the writer’s opening is attention-getting for all the right reasons. The writer introduces herself as the supremely busy executive she visualizes becoming in the future. She trades large amounts of stock, rushes off to a Zoom conference, hurries downstairs, flags down a taxi, then hops on a plane. As she describes this whirlwind of activity, we can practically feel her heart pumping.

After establishing her voice and personality in this opening, she offers context for her MBA goal. Notice that in writing about her work as an accountant for a major firm, she provides relevant details, including how many years she has been in the field, her bilingualism, and her specialty area as an auditor. This information is her springboard to explain why she is pursuing an MBA: she’s bursting out of her limited role as an accountant. Her eyes and ambition are set on a larger playing field as an international investment manager.

Write an essay, not a list or CV

Outstanding career goals essays are not lists of an applicant’s roles and achievements. Instead, they have a narrative flow and arc that convey the candidate’s palpable excitement about their career choice. This writer’s enthusiastic, dreamy first paragraph achieves this, and she returns to that image at the end, where she paints her idealized (if frantically busy) future. She also proves her seriousness by noting that she registered for the CFA exam.

Connect your career goals to your reasons for choosing a particular program

Many essay questions, especially those for MBA programs , will ask why you have chosen the school you’re applying to. Be prepared to respond knowledgeably and enthusiastically. And the only way to become knowledgeable – and enthusiastic – is by visiting campus in-person or virtually, attending student recruitment meetings, participating in forums, reading student blogs, watching videos of students speaking about their experiences, communicating directly with students and/or recent alumni, and otherwise doing your homework. As part of your research, make sure you have familiarized yourself with the courses and specializations that are relevant to your goals.

Summary Tips

Focus on answering each and every question asked in a career goals essay prompt. Often, there is more than one.
Highlight specific achievements vividly and in a way that shows that your career choice is logical for you.
Do the research so you can write about why the school is a good fit for you and do so with genuine enthusiasm.

In the next post in this series , we’ll explain how to take all this advice and apply it to create an exemplary first draft.

Work one-on-one with an expert who will walk you through the process of creating a slam-dunk application. Check out our full catalog of application services . Our admissions consultants have read thousands of essays and know the exact ingredients of an outstanding essay.

By Judy Gruen, former Accepted admissions consultant. Judy holds a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University. She is also the co-author of Accepted’s first full-length book, MBA Admission for Smarties: The No-Nonsense Guide to Acceptance at Top Business Schools . Want an admissions expert help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related resources:

The Winning Ingredients of a Dynamic MBA Goals Essay , a free guide
Grad School Personal Statement Examples
Focus on Fit , podcast Episode 162

About Us Press Room Contact Us Podcast Accepted Blog Privacy Policy Website Terms of Use Disclaimer Client Terms of Service

The scholarship
The experience
The University
Eligibility
How to apply
How we select
The Impact Prize 2025
Current Scholars

Pedro Vallejo Ramirez - igniting the curiosity of the young in science >>

Pedro Vallejo Ramirez

2016 PhD Biotechnology
Robinson College

Born in Colombia but raised in Panama, I grew up playing with Legos. I rendered my thoughts in the form of colored bricks, building until my fingertips hurt from pushing pieces together. This passion for building translated into a love for science, which resulted in a Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering at the University of Rochester. During my studies I explored the ray, wave, and quantum natures of light and I fell in love with its inherent duality. There’s no absolute definition to light’s character, it depends on the context in which it interacts with its surroundings. Science and technology inspire me, and management and entrepreneurship are my driving passions. I truly enjoy working with people, especially to push forward new technologies to improve our society’s living standards. At Cambridge I will work with Professor Clemens Kaminski’s group to pioneer new trade-offs between optical and digital complexity in super resolution microscopy to better understand chemical reactions in the human body at a nanometer scale. This could allow scientists to better understand protein aggregation in the brain for early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. In the long term I want to become involved in international public policy on technological innovation and energy awareness; I want to bridge the gap between technical knowledge, management decisions, and policy making in the optics and photonics industry.

Previous Education

University of Rochester

The application process

Watch the University’s short overview film about applying for postgraduate admission and funding and then read below about specific requirements for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.

A combined application form

Applicants submit their application for admission and funding (Gates Cambridge and other funding) via the University’s Graduate Application Portal.

To be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you must complete the section to apply for admission to a course and a College place and the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section. Gates Cambridge has access to the full application for admission and funding when reviewing applications.

The admission section

In this section you are applying to a specific graduate course and a College place. You will provide all of the usual details about yourself, your academic background, plans and suitability for the proposed course.

The funding section

In this section you can apply for a range of funding offered by the University and associated bodies, including the Gates Cambridge Scholarships, which has it’s own sub-section. When applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you will be asked to provide the following:

Gates Cambridge statement

In the application form we ask:

In no more than 3000 characters (approximately 500 words) please explain why you are applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship and how you meet the four main criteria. Full details about how to apply, including selection criteria and guidance on completing this statement, can be found at: www.gatescambridge.org

The statement is used by Gates Cambridge to help distinguish between those candidates who have nominated by academic departments. It helps us identify those candidates who, as well as being academically outstanding, possess a capacity for leadership and commitment to improving the lives of others. This is the only part of the application form where applicants are specifically asked about their fit with the Gates Cambridge programme and you should use your background, achievements, experiences and future aims to show how you specifically meet the programme’s criteria.

Research proposal (PhD applicants only)

Gates Cambridge requires PhD applicants only to submit a research proposal as part of their application for funding. Most PhD applicants will upload a research proposal as part of their application for admission, but where this is not the case a research proposal is required to apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. If you are applying for a degree other than the PhD you do not need to submit a research proposal as part of your materials of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship .

Gates Cambridge reference

In addition to two academic references for admission, Gates Cambridge applicants must arrange for someone to submit a reference setting out how they meet the scholarship’s criteria.

Please give your assessment of the applicant’s suitability for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. These are awarded on the following criteria: intellectual ability, justification for the choice of course, a commitment to improving the lives of others and leadership capacity.

We also ask:

How highly would you rank the applicant for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship?
On what overall group are you basing this ranking?
What is the size of this group?

The Gates Cambridge reference is used in the same way as the Gates Cambridge statement – to help distinguish between those candidates who have nominated by academic departments.

Referees are also asked how they rate the applicant for the scholarship: exceptional, strong, not strong, weak. They may paste/type up to 4,000 characters into the on-line reference or upload a separate letter.

Who should write the Gates Cambridge reference?

You should ask someone of appropriate standing who is able to answer the question with authority and who understands the criteria and highly competitive nature of the Gates Cambridge programme and academic standards at the University of Cambridge.

Many applicants ask a current or former academic advisor who is aware of their personal attributes, a current or former employer, or a senior member of an organisation with whom they have volunteered – although this is by no means an exhaustive list. Some applicants ask one of their two academic referees to write the Gates Cambridge reference: this is fine, as long as that person has a good understanding of your personal qualities and writes specifically about how you meet the Gates Cambridge criteria (and does not provide a third academic reference).

You should not ask a friend or a family member, or someone who is unable to comment on your suitability for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship.

Some points to consider are:

It is essential that the Gates Cambridge referee is fully briefed about the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, especially its selection criteria, so they can write the most appropriate reference for you;
It is useful when referees use specific examples of how you meet the Scholarship’s criteria;
You will need to ensure your Gates Cambridge referee understands the need to keep the reference focused on the Gates Cambridge criteria (and not, for example, rehash a standard or previous reference).
You must ensure both your academic and gates Cambridge referees submit their references by the specified deadline

Our Scholars

Privacy and cookies
Data Protection
Modern Slavery Statement
Web Design by Chameleon Studios

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

Undergraduate courses
Events and open days
Fees and finance
Postgraduate courses
How to apply
Postgraduate events
Fees and funding

International students

Continuing education
Executive and professional education
Courses in education
How the University and Colleges work
Term dates and calendars
Visiting the University
Annual reports
Equality and diversity
A global university
Public engagement
Give to Cambridge
For Cambridge students
For our researchers
Business and enterprise
Colleges & departments
Email & phone search
Museums & collections
Undergraduate Study
Student life overview
Why Cambridge
Accommodation
Sport and societies
Courses overview
Choosing a course
How you will learn
Careers and graduate prospects
Subject A-Z
Colleges overview
What is a College?
Choosing a College
College contacts
Area links scheme
Finance overview
Tuition fees
Living costs
Financial support
Music awards
Applying overview
Application timeline
Before you apply
After you apply
AI and undergraduate applications
International overview
Chat with our students
Why Cambridge?
What can I study?
Entry requirements
Tuition fees and costs
International visits and events
Visas and immigration
Year abroad
Get in touch!
Open Days and Events overview
Upcoming events
Cambridge Open Days
Virtual Tour
Think Cambridge
Applicant Webinar Series
Subject Masterclasses
Teachers and advisers' events
HE fairs and exhibitions
Find out more overview
Sign up to our Newsletter
Widening participation

Parents and supporters

Teachers and advisers

Getting here
Why Cambridge overview
Study facilities and libraries
Cambridge explained
Support overview
College welfare

Disabled students

Mature students

Counselling
Care leavers overview
Travel Fund
Young carers
Student parents and childcare
Estranged students
Area links scheme overview
East Midlands overview
Leicester City
Leicestershire
Lincolnshire
Northamptonshire
Nottinghamshire
East of England overview
Bedfordshire
Cambridgeshire
Hertfordshire
Peterborough
Southend-on-Sea
Greater London overview
Barking and Dagenham
City of London
City of Westminster
Hammersmith and Fulham
Kensington and Chelsea
Tower Hamlets
Waltham Forest
North East overview
Middlesbrough
North Tyneside
Northumberland
Redcar and Cleveland
South Tyneside
Stockton-on-Tees
North West overview
Blackburn with Darwen
Telford and Wrekin
Northern Ireland
South East overview
Bracknell Forest
Milton Keynes
Oxfordshire
Southampton
Isle of Wight
Buckinghamshire
West Berkshire
South West overview
Bath and North East Somerset
Bournemouth
Gloucestershire
North Somerset
South Gloucestershire
Wales overview
North Wales
Mid and South Wales
West Midlands overview
Herefordshire
Staffordshire
Warwickshire
Wolverhampton
Worcestershire
Yorkshire and Humber overview
East Yorkshire
Huddersfield and Kirklees
Kingston-upon-Hull
North East Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire
North Yorkshire
Isle of Man
Living costs overview
Study costs
Financial support overview
Cambridge financial support
Government financial support
Family contribution
Outreach Scholarships overview
Stormzy Scholarship
Formula 1 Scholarship
Geography Scholarship
Clare College Area Links Scholarships
Student Funding and Sharia Law
Music awards overview
Choral awards overview
Instrumental awards overview
Organ scholarships overview
College vacancies and course restrictions
When are the auditions and interviews?
What do the Organ Trials involve?
How do I apply?
Further information
Choosing high school subjects
Improve your application
Entry requirements overview
Qualifications we accept
Sixth Term Exam (STEP)
International entry requirements
Application statistics
Mature student applications
Second undergraduate degrees
UCAS application
Admission tests overview
Clinical aptitude test (UCAT)
Law test (LNAT)
Engineering and Science test (ESAT)
Mathematics test (TMUA)
College admission assessments
My Cambridge Application overview
Providing a transcript
Disruption to your studies
Written work and portfolios
Cambridge interviews overview
Prepare for an interview
Application decisions overview
Admissions Policy
Unspent criminal convictions
Contextual data
Outcome of your application overview
Terms of Admission
Admissions complaints
After you get your exam results overview
Information for new students
Applying for reconsideration overview
Reconsideration eligibility criteria
Tuition fees and costs overview
International financial support
International visits and events overview
Cambridge Open Days overview
Open Days Programme, September 2024 overview
College sessions
General support
Open Days FAQ
Teachers and advisers' events overview
Teachers and Advisers' Webinars
Teachers and Advisers' Conference
Widening participation overview
Access and Participation Plans
Insight Discover
Insight Explore
Sutton Trust Summer Schools
Apply: Cambridge
Safeguarding
Parents and supporters overview
Parents' Newsletter
Teachers and advisers overview
How similar are Oxford and Cambridge?
Helping students prepare
School/college reference
Teachers' Newsletter
Events for Teachers and Advisers
Inspiring Educator Awards

Application dates and deadlines for Cambridge

Student life
International
Open Days and Events
Find out more

Are you planning to start an undergraduate course at Cambridge in 2025? We’ve listed the main activities, dates and deadlines for Cambridge. Other deadlines apply for Music Award applicants .

You will need to meet all relevant deadlines for your application to be considered.

If you're looking to apply to a postgraduate course at Cambridge, view postgraduate application dates and deadlines .

30 April 2024

Search for courses on the UCAS website . 2025 entry courses will be live on UCAS from this date.

14 May 2024

You can start your UCAS application from this point, but you can’t submit it until September.

3 June 2024

Applications open for bursary vouchers and access arrangements for the ESAT and TMUA admissions tests. You’ll need to take the ESAT if you want to study Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Engineering, Natural Sciences or Veterinary Medicine, and the TMUA if you want to study Computer Science or Economics.

18 June 2024

Booking for the UCAT admission test opens, if you want to study Medicine or Graduate Medicine.

8 July 2024

UCAT admission testing starts, if you want to study Medicine or Graduate Medicine.

1 August 2024

Registration opens for LNAT admission test if you want to study Law.
Registration for the ESAT and TMUA admissions tests opens.

29 August 2024

Deadline to apply for access arrangements for the ESAT and TMUA admissions tests.

1 September 2024

Deadline for submitting a transcript, if you’ve applied for an organ scholarship (TBC).

3 September 2024 onwards

Submit your UCAS application for Cambridge from this date. Make sure you submit your application by the relevant deadline. You can start to complete your UCAS application from May.

15 September 2024

Deadline to register for the LNAT admission test if you want to study Law.
Deadline to apply for access arrangements for the UCAT admission test if you want to study Medicine or Graduate Medicine.

16 September 2024

Deadline to register for the ESAT and TMUA admissions tests. This is also the deadline to apply for a bursary voucher for these tests.

19 September 2024

Deadline to register for the UCAT admission test if you want to study Medicine or Graduate Medicine.

26 September 2024

Take the UCAT admission test by this date if you want to study Medicine or Graduate Medicine.

15 October 2024

Deadline to submit your UCAS application (6pm UK time). If you’re a mature student (21+) you can apply to one of the mature Colleges for some courses in March .
Take the LNAT admission test by this date if you want to study Law.
Take the ESAT admissions test on 15 or 16 October if you want to study Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Engineering, Natural Sciences or Veterinary Medicine.

16 October 2024

Take the  TMUA admissions test  on 16 or 17 October if you want to study Computer Science or Economics.

22 October 2024

Deadline to submit My Cambridge Application (6pm UK time). This is an extra application form that you need to complete if you want to study at Cambridge. If you’re applying for the graduate course in Medicine, you won’t need to complete My Cambridge Application.
Deadline to provide your transcript , if you’re an international student.
If you applied for the graduate course in Medicine , this is the deadline to submit your additional application form. This is an extra form that you need to complete if you want to study Medicine (Graduate Course).
Deadline to submit your Extenuating Circumstances Form (ECF) . This is an extra form that your teacher or doctor can complete if you found it difficult to study.

November 2024

The College you applied to will invite you for an interview, if you’ve been shortlisted. Find out how to prepare for an interview .

December 2024

Most College interviews take place in the first 3 weeks of December.

January 2025

The College you applied to may be impressed by your application, but not have a place for you. If this happens they may share your application with other Colleges to consider. Find out more about how we make a decision on your application .
If you applied in October, we will let you know whether we have decided to offer you a place. Find out what to do when you are told the outcome of your application .

29 January 2025

Deadline to apply if you want to study the Foundation Year (6pm UK time).

1 March 2025

Deadline to apply for a course as part of the March application round , if you’re a mature student (11.59pm UK time).
Take the LNAT admission assessment by this date if you want to study Law and have applied as a mature student in the March application round.

8 March 2025

Deadline to submit My Cambridge Application (6pm UK time) if you apply as part of the March application round for mature students.

May to June 2025

You take your A levels, IB and other examinations.
Take the Sixth Term Examination Paper (STEP) if you’ve applied for a course where it’s required.

August 2025

Exam results are released. Find out what to do when you get your exam results .
We will confirm our final decision on your application. Find out how we make application decisions and what you need to do when you are told the outcome of your application .

Cambridge application deadlines

UCAS application deadline: 15 October 2024 (6pm UK time)

University term dates

Each academic year consists of three eight-week terms:

2023-24 3 Oct - 1 Dec 2023 (Michaelmas) 16 Jan - 15 Mar 2024 (Lent) 23 Apr - 14 Jun 2024 (Easter)

2024-25 8 Oct - 6 Dec 2024 (Michaelmas) 21 Jan - 21 Mar 2025 (Lent) 29 Apr - 20 Jun 2025 (Easter)

2025-26 7 Oct - 5 Dec 2025 (Michaelmas) 20 Jan - 20 Mar 2026 (Lent) 28 Apr - 19 Jun 2026 (Easter)

Cambridge Admissions Office

Cambridge Admissions Office Student Services Centre New Museums Site Cambridge CB2 3PT
Events: [email protected]
General admissions: [email protected]
Students chat

About this site

Our website

Participant data and booking policies

Information for

Care leavers and estranged students

Contact the University
Accessibility
Freedom of information
Privacy policy and cookies
Statement on Modern Slavery
Terms and conditions
University A-Z
Undergraduate
Postgraduate
Research news
About research at Cambridge
Spotlight on...

IMAGES

Cambridge Admission Essay Sample
Cambridge Essay
College Essay
HOW TO WRITE AN ESSAY FOR THE CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH PROFICIENCY (CPE) EXAM
Expert Guide to Write a College Application Essay
College application essay example

VIDEO

JFK's Harvard Application Essay in Copperplate Script Calligraphy #fountainpen #handwriting
What personal statement will get you an interview? (Cambridge admissions officer explains)
Why are you interested in becoming a part of the #Columbia Business School #MBA community #VincePrep
The #1 Essay Hack to Use for Your University Application Essay
Lnmu Part 2 Absent/Promoted/Pending Result Application. Lnmu University को Application कैसे लिखें
My Cambridge application STATS #decisionday #cambridge #uniapplications

COMMENTS

Applying to Cambridge
It's time to: Register and prepare for your admissions assessment, if needed for your course. Read our tips to complete your UCAS application and write a great personal statement. Prepare to complete My Cambridge Application. This is an extra form that you need to fill in once you've submitted the UCAS application.
Completing 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. Applicants to the Graduate Course in Medicine do not need to complete My Cambridge Application. Once you submit your UCAS application, you'll get an email from us within 48 hours with instructions and a link ...
How I wrote 1st class essays at Cambridge University (how to ...
📌Watch my Essay Writing Masterclass: https://www.doctorshaene.com/essay-masterclass📌How to critically analyse evidence: https://youtu.be/XFNjjurJ0BI📌Watch...
Faculty of English
In Cambridge, admissions are handled by individual Colleges, so you should consult the webpage of the College to which you would like to apply (or to which you are assigned, if you make an Open Application) for details of the likely format of the interview, or any written test. ... For general guidelines, advice, and deadlines, please visit the ...
Cambridge University Undergraduate College Application Essays
Join Now to View Premium Content. GradeSaver provides access to 2364 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 11008 literature essays, 2775 sample college application essays, 926 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, "Members Only" section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.
Admission Tests: Essay Sections
Most admissions tests are made up of several different components and many will involve essays or an essay-based section. This resource breaks down each Oxford and Cambridge Admission Test that includes an essay element, and gives our Oxbridge graduate tutors' advice on how best to approach it. Our Private Consultations provide in-depth ...
How to apply
Your application will be reviewed by the Cambridge Admissions Committee. ... You must complete the careers objectives statement and 3, shorter essays: ... University of Cambridge, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1AG, UK. Tel +44 (0)1223 339700. For staff & students.
The Personal Statement That Got Me a Large Scholarship to Cambridge
As a result of the same application materials and essays, however, I was awarded a Cambridge Overseas Trust Scholarship for £10,000 ($17,000) which covered most of my tuition. Because of this funding, I ended up going to Cambridge and studying Latin American film. I also took away some incredible lessons from Gates Cambridge interview, and ...
Written work and portfolios
Check the size of your files and reduce them if you need to. Files need to be up to 100MB or 15MB if you're submitting an Architecture portfolio. Name your PDF file following this format: Lastname_Firstname_UCAS ID_WrittenWork1. For example, Wilkinson_Joe_0123456789_WrittenWork1. Submit the PDF your College in the way they've asked you to.
The Essay that Got Me into Cambridge
I was accepted to Cambridge as a law student. The UK personal statement is much more academic than the US Essay but I also enjoyed writing it because it really makes you reflect on why you want to study a specific subject. Here is the written version of my personal statement: Growing up in Germany, I realised the importance of law when learning ...
Completing your UCAS application
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.
Wolfson College Academic Skills: Academic writing
Wolfson and Cambridge University Support for Writing. If you need support in thinking through the structure of an essay, brainstorming ideas, considering flow and clarity, and other matters related to the mechanics of writing you can book an appointment with one of our Wolfson College Writing Consultants.
Entry requirements
Academic. Postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge is intense and very intellectually demanding, so the University has high academic entry requirements. You are normally expected to hold or to have achieved by the start of your course: minimum of a good upper second class (good 2:1) honours degree from a UK university or an equivalent ...
University of Cambridge: Applicant Portal
University of Cambridge: Applicant Portal. Confirm to log out? Applicant Portal. Login Already have an account. Email * Password * Login. Forgotten? Register. If you do not yet have an Applicant Portal account, click here to register. Version 7.6.8-SNAPSHOT (2024-08-19T07:32:41Z) ...
10+ Outstanding Common App Essay Examples 2024
Brainstorm (I think it's the most important step). Structure your essay according to your topic. Draft. Revise. Repeat. Common App essay word limit. The word limit for the Common App essay is 650. That doesn't mean you need to use all 650 words—many of the great example essays below don't.
Personal Statement
GradeSaver provides access to 2365 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 11012 literature essays, 2781 sample college application essays, 926 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, "Members Only" section of the site!
Cambridge / Judge MBA Essays: 2024-2025 Analysis
The following essay topic analysis examines the Cambridge / Judge MBA admissions essays for the 2024-2025 admissions season. You can also review essay topic analyses for all of the other leading MBA programs as well as general Essay Tips to further aid you in developing your admissions essays.. Cambridge / Judge Essay Topic Analysis 2024-2025. Let's take a look at each of this year's prompts:
2024-2025 Cambridge Judge MBA Essay Tips & Examples
You can access the Cambridge application by clicking here. Cambridge Judge Round 1 Deadlines. Application Deadline: August 27, 2024. Interviews: September 30-October 24, 2024. On-campus interviews: October 14, 2024. Decisions Released: About 3 weeks of completing the interview . Cambridge Judge Round 2 Deadlines. Application Deadline: October 7 ...
Admission tests and assessments
Admission tests and assessments. Many applicants need to take a written or verbal test as part of their Cambridge application. Your test will be relevant to the subject you've applied for. We take your performance into account alongside the other elements of your application. If you need to take a test for your course, you will either take it:
Entry requirements
If you'll be under the age of 16 on admission, you may need to meet additional requirements and restrictions to comply with legislation. Transferring to Cambridge from another UK university. We normally do not consider applications from students enrolled on a degree course at another UK university. We'll only consider this if:
Writing Your Career Goals Essay
Three elements of a successful career goals essay. In addition to having a distinct theme, your career goals essay should achieve the following: Highlight specific career achievements. Choose from your most notable or defining experiences. These could be related to your work, community involvement, or extracurricular activities.
How to Apply for a Cambridge Scholarship
When applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you will be asked to provide the following: Gates Cambridge statement. In the application form we ask: In no more than 3000 characters (approximately 500 words) please explain why you are applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship and how you meet the four main criteria.
Application dates and deadlines for Cambridge
15 October 2024. Deadline to submit your UCAS application (6pm UK time). If you're a mature student (21+) you can apply to one of the mature Colleges for some courses in March. Take the LNAT admission test by this date if you want to study Law. Take the ESAT admissions test on 15 or 16 October if you want to study Chemical Engineering and ...

Study at Cambridge

Faculty of English

Undergraduate Admissions

Applications

Frequently Asked Questions

What do we look for in UCAS applications?

What are we looking for in submitted written work?

What will we talk about at interview?

What should I be reading?

Related Links

Strategic Guidance

Comprehensive Support

Targeted Support

Application Guidance

Personal Statement Support

Admissions Test Preparation

Interview Preparation

Free Library

Our Publications

News & Press

Admission Tests: Essay Sections

ELAT (English / Oxford and Cambridge)

CLT/LNAT (Law / Cambridge and Oxford)

BMAT (Medicine / Oxford and Cambridge)

TSA Oxford (Experimental Psychology, Geography, Human Sciences, PPE, and PPL (Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics) / Oxford)

HAT/HAA (History / Oxford and Cambridge)

Download our e-book

Related Content

Recently Updated Blogs

New scholarships at Cambridge Judge thanks to very generous alumnus donation

Non-degree programmes

Need help funding your degree programme studies at Cambridge Judge?

Not sure which programme is for you?

Fighting cancer: how biotech companies are making an impact

Find an expert

Leave your mark in LT1

How to apply

Applying for the MBA

Applications now open

Application dates

27 Aug 2024

31 Mar 2025

Benefits of an in-person interview

Experience the city, College dinners and network

Take a careers masterclass and review career goals

Ensure the programme is right for you

Who we’re looking for

Class profile

Application process

Preparation

Application submission

Application review

Conditional offer

Unconditional offer

Our minimum requirements

Complete application and application fee

Undergraduate degree

Work experience

GMAT/GRE score

English language requirements

Ability to finance your MBA

Fees and funding

Admissions advice

7 steps to a flawless MBA application experience

Jumpstart your MBA journey – acing the GMAT test

Jumpstart your journey – financing your MBA studies

Admissions events

Virtual Forté MBA Forum

The MBA Tour, Cape Town

MBA Expo, Johannesburg

Cambridge MBA information session: Online

What is your application fee?

Do you have a staged application process?

Study Skills

Rearranging content

Removing extraneous words

Excessive detail

Replacing vague phrases with specific words

Identify negatives and change them to affirmatives

Find out more