# University of Cambridge

> University of Cambridge guide: campus culture, colleges and housing, international fees from £25,068, living costs, and UCAS admissions for Cambridge.

University of Cambridge (Founded 1209, Cambridge, England) ranks #2 in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Supervisions, 31 colleges, and the strongest science bench in Europe.

## Campus culture

Cambridge's supervision system means weekly small-group teaching with an expert, often in your college. Terms are famously short and intense (8 weeks), the workload is crushing by reputation, and the city is a postcard: punting, formal halls, May Balls in June. Science and maths dominate its identity; the collegiate structure keeps a huge research university feeling small.

## Colleges and housing

31 colleges. As at Oxford, you apply to one college or make an open application; teaching is the same everywhere. Consider accommodation guarantees (most colleges house you for 3+ years), location (central vs. slightly out), and size. Trinity, King's, and St John's are the famous names, but smaller colleges often give a warmer experience and better odds in some subjects.

## Costs

International fees from about £25,068 a year (higher for medicine and some sciences). Living costs £1,300 to £1,800 a month; college accommodation, guaranteed for most undergraduates, keeps rent predictable. Home fee capped (currently £9,535). The Cambridge Bursary Scheme supports UK students from lower-income households.

## Admissions

UCAS by October 15, written assessments for most courses, interviews in December. Typical offers: A*A*A to A*AA. Cambridge interviews are famously problem-solving oriented: they want to see how you think, not what you memorized. Strong performance in the admissions test is often the real filter before interview.

## Frequently asked questions
### What is Cambridge known for?

Cambridge's supervision system means weekly small-group teaching with an expert, often in your college. Terms are famously short and intense (8 weeks), the workload is crushing by reputation, and the city is a postcard: punting, formal halls, May Balls in June. Science and maths dominate its identity; the collegiate structure keeps a huge research university feeling small.

### How much does Cambridge cost for international students?

International fees from about £25,068 a year (higher for medicine and some sciences). Living costs £1,300 to £1,800 a month; college accommodation, guaranteed for most undergraduates, keeps rent predictable. Home fee capped (currently £9,535). The Cambridge Bursary Scheme supports UK students from lower-income households.

### How do I apply to Cambridge?

UCAS by October 15, written assessments for most courses, interviews in December. Typical offers: A*A*A to A*AA. Cambridge interviews are famously problem-solving oriented: they want to see how you think, not what you memorized. Strong performance in the admissions test is often the real filter before interview.

### Is accommodation guaranteed at Cambridge?

31 colleges. As at Oxford, you apply to one college or make an open application; teaching is the same everywhere. Consider accommodation guarantees (most colleges house you for 3+ years), location (central vs. slightly out), and size. Trinity, King's, and St John's are the famous names, but smaller colleges often give a warmer experience and better odds in some subjects.

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