To apply to Cambridge for 2023 entry [or deferred entry in 2024] you must submit a UCAS application by 15 October 2022 [6pm UK time].*
Applications to UCAS are made online through the UCAS Hub. Click 'Apply 2023' for application for 2023 entry or 2024 deferred entry to the University of Cambridge.
Your school or college will be able to advise you about the process — or you can consult the UCAS website — but we’ve included some information below about personal statements and school/college references. If you've left school or college or are a resident abroad you should contact UCAS for more information.
Once you've submitted your UCAS application, you can check on its progress online through your UCAS Hub.
When your UCAS application has been received here in Cambridge:
- it will be acknowledged by the College you applied to [open applications are allocated to Colleges shortly after the 15 October deadline].
- you will be emailed a link and asked to complete My Cambridge Application.
Please note:
You need to submit another application in addition to your UCAS application if you're:
- applying for the Graduate Course in Medicine
- applying for an Organ Scholarship
If you have a disability, specific leaning difficulty, long-term health condition or mental health condition, we strongly encourage you to disclose this in your UCAS application and provide any relevant information.
If your education has been significantly disrupted or disadvantaged, it may be appropriate for your school/college referee [or your doctor or social worker] to complete and submit an Extenuating Circumstances Form by 22 October 2022.
We're aware that you can now nominate an individual to act on your behalf when dealing with matters relating to your UCAS application. Please note that the University of Cambridge will not automatically liaise with this person. Should you wish to nominate someone to act on your behalf, please contact the College to which you have applied/been allocated, in order to discuss your particular circumstances.
Personal statement
As part of your UCAS application you’ll need to write a personal statement. Personal statements give you the chance to tell us about your subject interest[s], and the process of writing a personal statement can often help you to better understand your academic interests and intellectual motivations.
For guidance on what to include, we advise you to follow the UCAS advice on personal statements. See also, our article on How to write a great personal statement.
At Cambridge, all admissions decisions are based solely on academic criteria [ability and potential]. Therefore, in your personal statement, we’d like you to:
- explain your reasons for wanting to study the subject at university
- demonstrate enthusiasm for and commitment to your chosen course
- express any particular interests within the field
- outline how you’ve pursued your subject interest in your own time
This information is often used as a basis for discussion at interview.
School/college reference
Your UCAS application also asks for a reference. The reference is helpful because it tells us about your abilities and potential. Admissions Tutors look for indications that your academic strengths are well suited both to the course and to the style of study at the University.
The reference is an important part of your application, and we expect that it will normally be provided by a teacher or tutor in your school/college who can speak authoritatively about your academic profile and suitability for admission to university. If you’re having difficulty securing a referee, please see the UCAS guidance on references.
Please note that references should be provided to applicants free of charge. If you wish to apply to Cambridge and are finding it difficult to obtain a reference or are being asked to pay for one, please contact the College to which you wish to apply [or the Cambridge Admissions Office in the case of open applications] for further advice.
Your application cannot be submitted until your chosen referee has completed and added your reference to the application.
Information and guidance for teachers on references can be found on our teachers and parents page.
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*Earlier or later deadlines may apply for International Students, Mature Students and Foundation Year applicants.
Navigating the UCAS application key dates can seem daunting.
We’re here to help you meet a number of deadlines set by UCAS [the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service]. This guide highlights those key dates, making sure you are clear on what is coming up for the 2023 admissions cycle.
UCAS Key Dates 2023 Entry
Year 1 [2022]
UCAS Entry Registration
- Date: 3rd May 2022
Although 2023 applicants can register, they cannot pay and submit their applications until the 6th of September 2022.
UCAS Conservatoire Registration
- Date: 15th Jul 2022
If you applying to study at a Conservatoire in 2023, your application opens today.
UCAS Application Submission
- Date: 6th Sep 2022
UCAS applications for 2023 entry can be submitted.
Universities can also begin to make decisions on the applications they have received.
Closing Date For Music Applications
- Date: 3rd Oct 2022
Closing date for music applications.
Applications received after this date at 18:00 UK time will be classed as ‘late’ and are not guaranteed to be considered by the conservatoires.
UCAS Deadline for Oxbridge & Medicine
- Date: 15th Oct 2022
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Year 2 [2023]
UCAS Application Deadline
- Date: 25th Jan 2023
This is the 2023 UCAS entry deadline for the majority of undergraduate courses without the October 15th deadline.
Applications must be submitted by 18:00 GMT to be considered equally against other candidates. Universities can, but do not have to, consider applications received after this deadline if they still have spaces they would like to fill.
UCAS Extra Opens
- Date: 23rd Feb 2023
UCAS Extra is available for candidates who are not holding any offers and have used all five of their choices.
If eligible for UCAS Extra, you can apply to more universities one at a time.
University Decisions Are Made
- Date: Late Mar 2023
Most universities will have made decisions about your application if sent before the January 25th 2023 deadline. There may still be some outstanding applications that haven’t heard back yet.
Universities To Respond Deadline
- Date: Late May 2023
All universities and colleges must respond to applications made on or before the 25th of January 2023. If they do not respond, UCAS will mark the application as unsuccessful on their behalf.
University Clearing Opens
- Date: 5th Jul 2023
You can apply for a course using Clearing if you’re not already holding an offer from a university or college, and the course still has places, or you’ve declined your firm place using the ‘decline my place’ button in your application.
A-Level Results Day & Adjustment
- Date: 18th Aug 2023
If you’ve done better than you expected with your A-levels, you can use Adjustment to consider an alternative course. You can use adjustment if you’ve had a conditional choice accepted into an unconditional firm choice. As some students may have missed their conditions, there are sometimes open spaces on previously full courses.
Final UCAS Deadline For Course Entry
- Date: 21st Sep 2023
Final UCAS deadline for 2023 course entry.
This is the final deadline for students wanting to start university in the 2023 entry cycle. The hard deadline is 18:00 GMT.
Final UCAS Clearing Deadline Date
- Date: 17th Oct 2023
Final UCAS Clearing deadline date and university decision deadline.
This is the final date you can apply for Clearing through UCAS Track and the final date universities can accept applicants in Clearing.
For more information on UCAS, take a look through our other insightful guides:
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