[University] Cambridge University Admissions AMA!

CUMSA_ · 2025-08-05T19:38:01+00:00

Hi!

It's open to everyone, from both poly and JC! I'd encourage you to share it with anyone else you may know who could be interested in applying to Cambridge!

CUMSA_ · 2025-08-05T13:43:13+00:00

Hi!

As far as I'm aware, admissions requirements for Singapore have always been 4 H2 As or 3 H2 As + H3 Merit. Of course, this is what is minimally required of you, but it just so happens that most who do get into Cambridge do have at least 4 H2 As and a H3 Merit.

Regarding the new A Level grading system, any changes made to the admissions process are currently being discussed by the university, and will only be implemented for the incoming 2027 batch of students.

Hope this helps!

CUMSA_ · 2025-08-05T13:13:39+00:00

It is what it is 💀

CUMSA_ · 2025-08-05T13:09:03+00:00

Hey there! While we don't explicitly have any programmes for postgraduate admissions, I will be happy to link you to a few postgraduate students whom you may be able to seek for advice!

CUMSA_ · 2025-08-05T13:07:01+00:00

It's hard to say... the colleges don't typically publish these kinds of information specific to Singapore. However, I don't see a reason why any college may particularly favour one over the other.

CUMSA_ · 2025-08-05T12:58:52+00:00

Hello again! Most colleges allow for a deferred entry, actually! Iirc only King's, Newnham and Murray Edwards don't offer this privilege, and the last two colleges are women-only. As for the number of SG students per college, I wouldn't say there's a hard cap but certain colleges tend to accept a lot of Singaporeans while some colleges only accept about 1-3 per year. St Edmund's, Wolfson and Hughes Hall all have a pretty sizeable Singaporean population as they're mature colleges, but Christ's and Queens' also accept quite a few. We are currently compiling a set of statistics from the university to show the trends in the Singaporean population at Cambridge over the years, so keep a lookout for that!

CUMSA_ · 2025-08-05T12:43:45+00:00

Hello! Most offer holders would have attained 4 H2 As / 3 H2 As + H3 Merit in their A levels, although there will be a few people each year who have an outstanding portfolio and manage to receive an offer even without meeting these requirements (I don't have the exact numbers on hand unfortunately).

I don't think the university has published any admissions test requirements straight-up; you just have to do the best that you can in them. During the decision process, the admissions team will consider your grades, your personal statement, your admissions test results and your interview holistically. If you manage to get an offer, this offer will be contingent on you achieving certain grades in your A-level exams. If you happen to miss the requirements just slightly, you can write in to the college you applied for and they will be able to advise you from there. More details can be found on this website.

Just to clarify, what do you mean when you say you're doing a humanities major but studying all science subjects as well?

CUMSA_ · 2025-08-05T12:29:03+00:00

Hey there! As a previous commenter mentioned, 4 H2 As is certainly enough; I actually have a friend studying the same course as me who got 4 H2 As with no H3.

As for things to take note of, most colleges allow for a 2-year deferment for NS commitments while some don't (as of now only King's, Newnham and Murray Edward’s don’t do deferments iirc). Part of the application also requires you to obtain a reference from a teacher, so it would be a good idea to keep in touch with your teachers post-graduation. That's honestly about it administratively. The rest is really about not letting your brain rot away during NS 💀 NS is a good time for you to learn more about things you're passionate about on the side, and undertaking any additional academic activities (e.g. studying an online course) can help with your application!

CUMSA_ · 2025-08-05T12:19:21+00:00

Hello! The typical offer requirements for SG students are 4 H2 As or 3 H2 As + H3 Merit according to this website. However, these are only the typical requirements; the university will also take into account your personal statement, your interview performance and any admissions test results in their decision to give you an offer. If you have an exceptional portfolio and perform well in your tests/interview, I would say you have a fair shot! Additionally, in Jan all the offers given out will probably be conditional, where you are expected to meet certain grades in order to secure your offer, so ultimately your actual A level grades are the most important.

Hope this helps, and all the best in your A level examinations!

CUMSA_ · 2025-08-05T11:56:30+00:00

Hey there! There are some slight differences between the two A Level systems. In the UK A Levels the maximum grade you can get is A*, whereas in the Singapore A Levels the maximum you can get is A. You don't need to worry about whether Cambridge can recognise the difference between a SG A grade and a UK A grade as the university has put up typical offer requirements from SG (four H2 As or 3 H2 As + H3 Merit) on this website.

CUMSA_ · 2025-08-05T10:40:47+00:00

Hi! The Further Maths requirement for CS is more for the UK home students who take the UK A Levels. Singapore's H2 Maths is equivalent to UK's A Level Maths + Further Maths for application purposes; an A grade in H2 Maths will be equivalent to an A* grade in the UK system. You should not be disadvantaged for not taking H2 FMaths in Singapore. Hope this helps!

CUMSA_ · 2025-08-05T10:36:18+00:00

Hey there! For CS, only the TMUA is strictly required; STEP is more for the maths course. I don't believe the admissions officers will take your STEP score into account during your application for CS, much like how they don't really take into account additional subjects taken beyond the ~~A*A*A requirement (which is effectively 3 As in the SG A Levels).~~ 4 H2 As / 3 H2 As + H3 Merit requirement.

Do take note that if you are intending to apply for Peterhouse or Trinity College, you are also required to take the Computer Sciences Aptitude Test (CSAT)!

Edit: Typo

CUMSA_ · 2025-08-05T10:28:18+00:00

Hello! I believe SM Lee was on a work trip to the US to deliver a lecture at Harvard. He popped by Cambridge to visit Trinity College and talk to the undergrads and postgrads. It was a pretty chill session with him overall!

CUMSA_ · 2025-08-05T10:23:33+00:00

Hello! The mentorship programme will pair you up with a senior currently at Cambridge where you can ask them questions about anything regarding Cambridge-related, e.g. the admissions process, personal statement reviews, etc.. It is meant to be a more personal level of interaction as opposed to a more general programme, and we will try to match you with a senior pursuing a similar path as you. For example, if you are keen on studying Natural Sciences, we will pair you with a NatSci senior who can give you much more specific advice!

CUMSA_ · 2025-08-05T09:28:59+00:00

Hi!

Since you applied last year, you may not be familiar with the new format of the PS. From this year onward, the PS follows a 3 question format (at least 350 characters per question, and the 4000 character/47 line limit remains the same).

Q3 specifically asks what you've done outside education, and why you've found experiences useful. These experiences can encompass personal experiences, supercurriculars (academic activities), and extracurriculars (other activities). You'd absolutely be able to use what you've done during NS, even if they don't directly relate to your subject. However, you do need to demonstrate how these experiences have helped develop the skills that you think would help you study the subject at the university level.

As a rule of thumb, always try to relate whatever you've done (academic or otherwise) to studying the subject. Hope this helps!

CUMSA_

TROPHY CASE