What to expect at your Cambridge interview

How many interviews

You’ll be informed in advance about how many interviews to expect. The number of interviews you have does not relate to how strong your application is.

• Most applicants will have 1 or 2 interviews lasting a total of 35 minutes to an hour.
• Some may have 3 or 4 interviews, depending on subject and College.
• If you're placed in the winter pool, you may be invited to an additional interview at a different College in January.

Interview support

• Travel expenses: For in-person interviews, travel support is available for UK students eligible for Free School Meals. Accommodation and meals may also be provided – contact your College for details. Some Colleges may offer support to other students with financial need.
• Disability support: You can request any adjustments you might need at interview by completing an Adjustment at Interview form. The College that is interviewing you will provide you with the form. Return it as soon as possible to allow the College to make the appropriate arrangements. Find out more about support for disabled students.
• Technology: If you're being interviewed online and are eligible for Free School Meals, you can contact the College for help accessing suitable technology.

Why we interview

Interviews give us the opportunity to find out about your strengths, abilities, and potential, as well as your motivation for applying for your chosen course. They help us assess:

• your understanding of your chosen subject area
• your readiness to study at a high academic level
• whether you’ll thrive in the Cambridge learning environment
• your ability to think critically and independently
• your curiosity and openness to new ideas
• your enthusiasm for your subject

They also give you the chance to learn more about us.

What happens in the interview

Each interview is different, depending on the course and College you’ve applied to. Most people will have at least one subject-specific interview. Some people will also have a more general academic interview.

Subject-specific interviews

You're likely to be asked to:

• discuss topics with two or three interviewers
• apply your knowledge to new situations, materials, problems or scenarios
• explain your understanding of vocational aspects of the course, if applying for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, or similar courses

You may also be asked about:

• why you want to study at Cambridge and why you chose your course
• key issues or developments in your subject
• recent topics from school or your personal statement

You may be asked to share your workings if the interviewers ask you a problem-solving question. This usually happens if you’ve applied to a science or mathematics course. There are several ways of sharing your workings. The College interviewing you will confirm arrangements in your invitation to interview.

You may be provided with material to read before your interview. You'll then discuss this material with your interviewers. The College interviewing you will advise you if this is the case.

General academic interviews

Some applicants may also have a broader academic interview, to explore:

• your other academic interests
• future plans
• suitability for your course

These interviews may be conducted by academics outside your subject area, but still assess your academic potential.

After the interview

If you applied in October, you’ll receive the outcome of your application from UCAS and Cambridge in January. Learn more about how we make decisions.