The University of Cambridge, our University of the Year in the East 2026, balances eight centuries at the forefront of academic excellence, research and innovation with a continuous drive into the future, in a world-class setting. This is embodied by the new Ray Dolby Centre, the state-of-the-art site for the renowned Cavendish Laboratory, the home of world-changing discoveries from the electron to the structure of DNA.
Cambridge offers a more intimate setting than its rival, Oxford. The city is dominated by medieval quads and grand Tudor entrances and yellow sandstone buildings, many of which are linked across the River Cam by much-photographed bridges. Getting round the city is easy for students, but getting into the university is a different matter: high marks are a prerequisite. Admissions are in the hands of the 31 historic colleges and about 80 per cent of applicants are interviewed. Most lectures are delivered in person, as are its more focused small group supervisions.
What is the University of Cambridge’s reputation?
Founded in 1209 — the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world — Cambridge had an eight-year reign as No 1 in our league table, but this year it ranks joint fourth alongside Oxford.
It is still a global leader, placing sixth in the QS World University Rankings 2026 behind Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Imperial College London, Stanford, Oxford and Harvard; fifth in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025; and fourth in the Shanghai Ranking 2024, where it is the top-rated UK institution.
The university's research pedigree is confirmed by the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), which rated 93 per cent of its work as world-leading or internationally excellent. In our analysis of research quality, Cambridge is second only to Imperial College London. Cambridge was in the top three in a third of its subject areas and led the field in clinical medicine, earth sciences, architecture and land economy and business. Compared with institutions that share its broad academic range, Cambridge’s outcomes are the strongest. The university leads in 19 of our subject tables, more than any other university.
Our analysis of the latest National Student Survey (NSS) shows fairly high rates of satisfaction with teaching quality (59=). Feedback on the wider undergraduate experience is less positive, however (117).
Cambridge was awarded triple gold in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023), gaining the top grade overall, for the student experience and for student outcomes.
What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?
The three-year BA in architecture is being replaced with a four-year integrated Master of Architecture (MArch). The innovative four-year Design Tripos degree, which merges arts and sciences to tackle social and environmental challenges, a collaboration between the departments of architecture, engineering and materials science and metallurgy, welcomed its second cohort in October 2025.
What are the entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?
Minimum offers are usually A*A*A or A*AA at A-level. Cambridge does not enter clearing and does not make contextual offers with lower grades but uses applicants’ backgrounds to provide a rounded picture for admissions tutors.
Typically, Cambridge receives six applications per place but there is huge variation between courses. For admission in 2024, for example, there were 1,863 applicants for computer science, of whom 168 received an offer and 141 were accepted on to courses — an application rate higher than ten per place. Modern and medieval languages, however, attracted 218 applications, made 152 offers and accepted 117 first-years, a rate of less than two per place.
The fully funded Cambridge Foundation Year in arts, humanities and social sciences is designed for disadvantaged students and requires BBB at A-level. Successful completion allows progression to a range of undergraduate degrees.
What are the graduate prospects?
Careers get off to a flying start for Cambridge graduates, who rank joint-third in the UK for graduate prospects. More than 90 per cent are in professional-level jobs or further study 15 months after finishing. The university holds ten sector-specific careers fairs each year, and its career development platform, Handshake, advertises vacancies and internships.
How does the college system work?
Applications are made via Ucas but have an earlier deadline (October 15 for 2026 entry), and candidates can only apply to either Cambridge or Oxford in one year. Selection is handled by the 31 colleges and applicants can choose a specific college or make an open application. A "pool" system gives the most promising candidates a second chance if they miss out on their first choice — Cambridge reconsiders fewer applicants than Oxford does.
The colleges have differing characteristics. At Lucy Cavendish, for instance, 94 per cent of those accepted for a place in 2024 went to state schools; at Trinity College the proportion was 54 per cent. At Wolfson, the proportion of non-white students accepted was 28 per cent, while at Lucy Cavendish it was 44 per cent. There are two female-only colleges: Murray Edwards and Newnham.
What is the University of Cambridge’s campus like?
The university is the city. Its campus encompasses 31 colleges, six academic schools, more than 150 departments, more than 100 libraries and nine specialist museums, all within beautiful buildings and sprawling green spaces. Specialist facilities range from laboratories and surgical suites to concert halls and theatres.
Its museums house such artefacts and treasures as samurai armour, paintings by Titian and Rembrandt and even Ernest Shackleton’s snow goggles..
When can I visit?
Everything you need to know about the University of Cambridge’s student life and wellbeing support
A demanding academic schedule is crammed into eight-week terms, requiring a concerted effort from students, who spend between 42 and 46 hours a week on their studies. Undergraduates tend to throw themselves into the social side too with more than 700 societies and sports clubs — from anime and badminton to ice hockey and opera — to choose from. Each college has its own bar, and the city offers plenty of pubs and nightlife. Outstanding sports facilities are available across the university and within colleges. Arts and culture are just as richly served, with the ADC Theatre the oldest university playhouse in the country.
Since the launch of a Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Plan in 2022, Cambridge has significantly boosted investment in counselling, reducing waiting times to just three working days. Each college also has a senior tutor, nurse and wellbeing adviser — all available to students in need.
What do the students say?
“You'll benefit from small group teaching led by world-leading academics and have access to an extraordinary array of societies, from theatre to sports: there’s truly somewhere for everyone.”
Matthew Copeman, president of the students’ union
What about student accommodation at the University of Cambridge?
Most students are guaranteed a space in college-owned accommodation for three years, some for four. From the medieval to the modern, rooms are in the colleges (offered to all first-years) or in flats and houses within the university precincts, within a three-mile radius of Great St Mary’s church. Basic kitchen facilities are available and colleges offer café-style meals, and three-course dinners known as formal halls. Communal dining is encouraged, and some colleges require students to eat a certain number of meals in college each term.
How diverse and inclusive is the University of Cambridge?
The university has made strides in widening participation, with state sector admissions reaching 71 per cent in 2024. However, our social inclusion index ranks Cambridge 112th for admissions from non-selective state schools. Having met its state-school admissions target — 69.1 per cent by 2024-25 — early, the university has moved the focus on to wider socio-economic factors.
Ethnic diversity has improved to 34 per cent (51st) aided by initiatives like the Stormzy Scholarship, which has supported more than 40 Black British students. The rapper was awarded an honorary doctorate in law by the university in June, in recognition of his philanthropic work. Cambridge also works with social mobility charities and runs extensive outreach programmes to demystify the application process.
Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University of Cambridge
Generous provision is a priority. The Cambridge Bursary awarded more than £11 million to students from low to middle-income households in 2023-24, paying up to £3,500 a year to students with household incomes below £62,215. About one in three UK undergraduates receives this bursary.
There are also about 500 scholarships awarded annually for academic excellence and travel, managed by departments and colleges as well as centrally.
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