Cambridge University acceptance rate, called the success rate in Cambridge's undergraduate statistics, was 16.3% in the 2025 admissions cycle. Cambridge recorded 22,513 applications, 4,893 offers, and 3,669 acceptances. Its offer rate was 21.7%.
For postgraduate study in 2024/25, the application-to-admission rate was 16.1% for postgraduate taught courses and 11.0% for postgraduate research. The figures are separate, so do not use the undergraduate success rate to judge a master's or PhD application.
- Undergraduate, all applicants: 16.3% success rate in the 2025 cycle.
- Undergraduate, India domicile: 6.8% success rate, with 25 acceptances from 370 applications in 2025.
- Postgraduate taught: 16.1% application-to-admission rate in 2024/25.
- Postgraduate research: 11.0% application-to-admission rate in 2024/25.
Also Check: University of Cambridge Fees Breakdown
Table of Contents
- Cambridge University Acceptance Rate
- What Cambridge University Acceptance Rate Means
- Cambridge University Acceptance Rate for Indian Students
- Cambridge University Acceptance Rate by Programme
- Cambridge University Application Timeline and Decisions
- How to Improve Your Chances at Cambridge University
- Is Cambridge University Realistic for Indian Students?
- Cambridge University Acceptance Rate FAQs
Cambridge University Acceptance Rate
Cambridge publishes applications, offers, and acceptances for undergraduate study, and applications, offers, and admissions for postgraduate study. The labels matter because an offer can be conditional, while acceptance or admission describes a later stage.
| Level and applicant group | Cycle | Applications | Offers | Acceptances or admissions | Relevant rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate, all applicants | 2025 | 22,513 | 4,893 | 3,669 acceptances | 16.3% success rate |
| Undergraduate, India domicile | 2025 | 370 | 38 | 25 acceptances | 6.8% success rate |
| Postgraduate taught | 2024/25 | 25,032 | 7,146 | 4,019 admissions | 16.1% application-to-admission rate |
| Postgraduate research | 2024/25 | 14,891 | 3,133 | 1,644 admissions | 11.0% application-to-admission rate |
Cambridge's undergraduate applications, offers, and acceptances data records the 2025 cycle used for the undergraduate figures.
What Cambridge University Acceptance Rate Means
The 16.3% undergraduate success rate shows the share of applicants who held an unconditional firm place after confirmation in the 2025 cycle. It is not an individual probability and it does not mean that every course has the same level of competition.
- Offer rate: offers divided by applications. Cambridge's overall undergraduate offer rate was 21.7% in 2025.
- Success rate: acceptances divided by applications after confirmation.
- Conditional offer: an offer that requires you to meet stated exam, test, or other conditions.
- Postgraduate taught: a master's-level course. Postgraduate research: a research degree such as a PhD.
Course capacity, required subjects, admissions assessments, College choice, interview performance, and the applicant pool can all change the relevant figure. Use the exact course requirement before drawing a conclusion from the university-wide rate.
Check Out: University of Cambridge Rankings
Cambridge University Acceptance Rate for Indian Students
For applicants with India as their country of domicile, Cambridge recorded 370 applications, 38 offers, and 25 acceptances in the 2025 cycle. This is a 6.8% success rate, but it is not a rate for all Indian citizens studying in another country.
| Level | Official India requirement | What you should check |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate, CBSE Class XII | Some Colleges accept CBSE Class XII for specified courses with 5 relevant A1 grades. | Whether your course and shortlisted College are on Cambridge's accepted list. |
| Undergraduate, other boards or courses | Cambridge strongly recommends further study where Class XII is not CBSE, the College does not accept it, or the course is not listed. | Whether A levels, IB, 5 AP scores of 5, or first-year university study is suitable. |
| Postgraduate, UK 2:1 equivalent | A recognised qualifying Indian degree normally requires at least 70% or CGPA 7.3/10. | The exact course requirement, as some courses ask for a High 2:1 or First. |
| English language | Cambridge normally states IELTS Academic 7.5 overall with 7.0 in each element for undergraduate entry. | The course and College language requirement, including accepted alternatives. |
Cambridge's international entry requirements identify which CBSE qualifications and courses are accepted for 2027 entry.
Cambridge University Acceptance Rate by Programme
Cambridge's current course pages show applications per place and accepted students, which are more useful than an overall rate when you are selecting a course. Applications per place is a competition indicator, not an offer or acceptance rate.
| Undergraduate course | Cycle | Applications per place | Accepted students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | 2025 | 10 | 164 |
| Human, Social, and Political Sciences | 2025 | 7 | 173 |
| Education | 2025 | 5 | 34 |
For the full subject list and course comparison, use the University of Cambridge course guide, then verify required subjects and admissions assessments with Cambridge.
Cambridge University Application Timeline and Decisions
For 2027 undergraduate entry, submit UCAS by 15 October 2026 at 10:30 PM IST. Cambridge gives the deadline as 6:00 PM UK time, which is British Summer Time on that date.
| Stage | Date and time for Indian applicants | Action |
|---|---|---|
| UCAS submission | 15 October 2026, 10:30 PM IST | Submit the UCAS application for most undergraduate courses. |
| My Cambridge Application | 22 October 2026, 10:30 PM IST | Complete the additional Cambridge form. It is not required for the Graduate Course in Medicine. |
| ESAT | 12 to 16 October 2026 | Take the Engineering and Science Admissions Test if applying for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Engineering, Natural Sciences, or Veterinary Medicine. |
| Interviews | 7 to 18 December 2026 | Attend if shortlisted. Cambridge describes interviews as academic conversations about your chosen subject. |
| Decision for main interview period | 27 January 2027 | Check the outcome of your application. |
Postgraduate deadlines are course-specific. Submit a complete graduate application by the exact course deadline, rather than relying on the undergraduate October timetable.
How to Improve Your Chances at Cambridge University
Improve your Cambridge application by matching the published course requirements, then showing strong subject preparation in the parts of the application that Cambridge actually reviews.
How to Get into Cambridge University from India
- Choose one exact course and level: compare undergraduate, postgraduate taught, and postgraduate research requirements separately.
- Check your qualification route: confirm whether your CBSE Class XII, additional qualification, or Indian degree is accepted by the relevant College and course.
- Register for the required assessment: ESAT is required for designated science and engineering courses, while TMUA is required for Computer Science, Economics, and Mathematics.
- Prepare the correct documents: complete UCAS and My Cambridge Application for undergraduate study, or the course-specific graduate application with its required transcript, references, statement, proposal, or written work.
- Meet the correct route deadline: use the 15 October 2026, 10:30 PM IST UCAS deadline for most undergraduate applicants and the programme deadline for postgraduate study.
- Prepare for the interview: if shortlisted, be ready to discuss and reason through material related to your chosen subject.
For the admissions route and document checklist after you have verified Cambridge's official requirements, use the University of Cambridge admissions guide.
Is Cambridge University Realistic for Indian Students?
Cambridge can be realistic only when your qualification route and subject preparation match the exact course. The latest India-domicile undergraduate success rate was 6.8%, while postgraduate application-to-admission rates were 16.1% for taught study and 11.0% for research.
- For UG: confirm the College accepts your Class XII route and prepare the relevant assessment and interview.
- For taught PG: compare your degree result with the course's required UK-equivalent class.
- For research PG: prioritise research fit, required proposal or written work, and the department deadline.
Use Cambridge's course-level data and your verified academic route to make the decision. The overall rate is useful context, but it cannot predict one application from India.
FAQs
Ques. What is the Cambridge University acceptance rate?
Ans. Cambridge's undergraduate success rate was 16.3% in the 2025 cycle. It recorded 3,669 acceptances from 22,513 applications.
Ques. What is Cambridge's offer rate?
Ans. Cambridge made 4,893 offers from 22,513 undergraduate applications in the 2025 cycle. This is a 21.7% offer rate, which is higher than the success rate because not every offer becomes an acceptance.
Ques. What is the Cambridge acceptance rate for Indian students?
Ans. For applicants domiciled in India, Cambridge recorded 25 acceptances from 370 applications in the 2025 cycle. This is a 6.8% success rate.
Ques. Does Cambridge accept CBSE Class XII for undergraduate study?
Ans. Some Cambridge Colleges accept CBSE Class XII for specified courses with 5 relevant A1 grades. Other boards, Colleges, and courses may require additional study or qualifications.
Ques. What is the Cambridge UCAS deadline for 2027 entry from India?
Ans. The deadline is 15 October 2026 at 10:30 PM IST. Cambridge gives the deadline as 6:00 PM UK time, which converts to the same date in India.
Ques. What is Cambridge's postgraduate acceptance rate?
Ans. In 2024/25, Cambridge reported a 16.1% application-to-admission rate for postgraduate taught courses and 11.0% for postgraduate research courses.
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