St Edmund’s College is home to 213 undergraduate students from 68 different countries.
We accept students for every course offered at the University of Cambridge.
Many of our undergraduates are studying for their first degree and some are studying for an additional second degree. If you already hold a degree, you can apply to take your Cambridge course as an “affiliate student”, which means you would take the course in two years instead of three. More information can be found here.
All single undergraduate students are guaranteed a room in College for the duration of their studies. We have a range of accommodation available including single study bedrooms, en-suite study bedrooms and studio flats. We have some accommodation suitable for couples and families and this is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information on accommodation visit our accommodation pages.
How to Apply
If you would like to apply for an undergraduate degree, the process is outlined below
For mature students applying for undergraduate degrees, there are two admissions cycles each year. One is in October, and the second in March.
The October Admissions Round
In the October admissions round, you can apply for all courses offered at the University of Cambridge, and you can apply to any Cambridge college. If, however, you are a mature student then we strongly encourage you to apply to a mature college (such as St Edmund’s) as they have a lot more experience in assessing applications from mature applicants and you will stand a much better chance of being admitted to the University.
To apply in the October admissions round, you must submit your UCAS form by 18:00 (UK time) on 15 October 2024.
Following the submission of your UCAS application you will be sent a supplementary application form called the ‘My Cambridge Application’ via email. Please make sure that you check your Junk or Spam folder so that you don’t miss this. You must submit your My Cambridge Application form by 23 October 2024.
Failure to meet either of these deadlines will result in your application being rejected automatically.
Your application will then be assessed, and if you are shortlisted you will be invited to attend an admissions interview. Interviews for all candidates who apply in the October round will take place in December.
If you are an international student who wishes to apply for funding from the Cambridge Trust, you will need to make your application in October.
The March Admissions Round
During the March admissions round you can only apply for these subjects and you can only apply to one of the mature colleges (St Edmund’s, Hughes Hall or Wolfson).
To apply in March, you must submit your UCAS form by 23:59 (UK time) on 1 March 2025.
Following the submission of your UCAS application you will be sent a supplementary application form called the ‘My Cambridge Application’ via email. Please make sure that you check your Junk or Spam folder so that you don’t miss this. You must submit your My Cambridge Application form by the deadline given in your email.
Failure to meet either of these deadlines will result in your application being rejected automatically.
We assess all applications in exactly the same way in both admissions cycles. Competitive applicants for subjects available in the March round stand as good a chance as those who apply in October.
The March deadline is particularly suitable for mature students who are studying qualifications in a single academic year for example Access to HE Diplomas and Open University courses. We find that students on these courses have often not covered sufficient content to be competitive at interview in December but can be successful in March once they have completed more of their coursework, allowing their referees to write more convincing references for them.
You can find out more about the March application round here.
We treat each application on its own merits, and all parts of the application are viewed holistically. Please note that under the provisions of the Data Protection Act, we require permission in writing from the applicant if another person is to deputise for them during the admissions process.
Further information about both admissions rounds can be requested by emailing us at: admissions@st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk
Extenuating Circumstances
Many successful applicants have a past history of underperformance, or gaps in their education, and we take all of these contextual factors into account in our decision-making process. For that reason, it is important that you provide information about the educational institutions you have attended, and any challenges you have encountered, in your UCAS form and My Cambridge Application form. We generally expect all applicants to have attainment in recent qualifications that match the University requirements.
If your education has been seriously disrupted or disadvantaged through ill health, disability, difficulties with schooling, or challenging personal or family circumstances, we would encourage you to submit an Extenuating Circumstances Form (ECF) with your application. This will enable us to take your personal situation into consideration when assessing your application. For further guidance, please refer to the University guidance here.
For mature applicants, we do not expect your school or college to submit your ECF for you. Instead, you are welcome to fill this in and submit it to us yourself. The ECF should normally be submitted by 22 October. Please be assured that these forms are kept securely, treated confidentially and will only be read by the relevant parties involved in your admissions assessment so that they can make the most informed decision as possible on your application.
Entry Requirements
More information on our entry requirements, admissions assessments and submitting written work can be found here.
Hear from our Current Students
Watch this video to listen to our students discussing what has brought them to St Edmund’s and how they applied for their degrees.