You apply to Cambridge online through the Applicant Portal. As part of your application, you'll need to submit specific documents.
Make sure you have the necessary documents ready before starting your application, as you won’t be able to submit it without them.
Documents you may need to provide
You can check which supporting documents you need on your course page.
You may be asked for:
You will be asked to provide details of 2 referees when you apply.
You'll need to nominate an additional referee if you are applying for Gates Cambridge funding (Gates website).
Your referees will need to submit your reference by your application deadline. You can submit your application before your references have been uploaded.
Check the References page for full details.
A transcript is an official summary of your academic record and the marks you have obtained to date.
You will need to provide academic transcripts and certificates for each degree you have taken.
If you are currently studying, you can provide an interim or unofficial transcript in your application. We will need a copy of the final transcript if we make you an offer.
How to provide your transcripts
Request your transcripts from your previous or current institution before you begin your application so that you have them ready to upload. The process can take a while. Your institution may charge you for this service.
When you apply, upload scanned originals to the Applicant Portal.
If you are made an offer, you will be asked to send us your original documents or certified copies so that we can verify their authenticity.
We can’t accept any documents that have been written on or defaced in any way.
International applicants
If your documents are not in English, you must upload a full translation of each document, prepared by a registered translator. Do not translate the documents yourself.
You must upload a CV to the Applicant Portal as part of your application.
If English is not your first language, you may need to show that you meet the English language requirement for your course.
Check our English language requirement page to see if this applies to you.
For most courses, you don’t need to provide your language test results until you're made an offer.
A personal statement or statement of interest should describe your relevant skills, experience, academic achievements and motivation for applying to your chosen course.
Check our guidance on writing a personal statement.
Most research courses will ask you to provide a research proposal.
If you choose to apply for more than one course, you must upload a research proposal for each application you submit, tailored to the individual requirements of each course.
Find out more about writing a research proposal.
Some courses may ask you to include samples of your written work. This helps departments to assess your knowledge and the level at which you are working.
Some departments may ask you for a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test score. If this is needed for your course, it will be stated on the course page.
You should not request a GRE score unless you have been told you need one. There is a charge for taking the GRE test.
The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is not accepted by any course.
If you have already applied for a scholarship and the awarding body has written to you, you can provide details in your application. If you're made an offer to study, you'll need to upload your funding letter to your Self-Service account.
If you wish to be considered for an award from Gates Cambridge, you will be asked to provide additional documents and an additional referee. See the Gates Cambridge website for details.
How to upload documents
Your supporting documents must be uploaded via the Applicant Portal by the relevant application deadline. This excludes references, which your referees will need to upload via the Referee Portal.
Documents should be:
- pdf format
- under 2MB
- not encrypted
If you are having difficulty uploading a document it may be encrypted or too large. Try photocopying it and uploading the copy instead.
Do not send us hard copies of documents, as these cannot be processed and will be disposed of.
Applying for more than one course
If you apply for more than one course, you will need to upload separate documents for each course.
If you nominate the same referee for multiple applications, they will need to submit a separate reference for each course you apply to.
Taking a second degree of the same type from Cambridge
It is not possible to be awarded the same type of degree at Cambridge more than once.
For example, if you have already completed a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) course from Cambridge, you may not be awarded another MPhil by the University, even if it is in a different subject.
In exceptional circumstances, the University may agree to accept you on the course. However, if you successfully complete its academic requirements, you will be awarded a certificate of satisfactory completion and not the degree.
If you wish to apply for a second Cambridge degree of the same type, you should discuss it with the department running the course. You should do this before submitting an application.
When you apply, you will need to complete and submit the 
Declaration form for applying for a second degree of the same type