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Postgraduate Study

Expected Academic Standard

Applicants for this course should have achieved a Good II.i Honours Degree.

If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.

Applications are welcome from UK and international students. Minimum qualifications are a good II.i honours degree and an excellent command of English. All candidates for admission to the MPhil are expected to be of PhD potential and to have degree results in at least the top quarter of the graduating cohort at their previous university.

It should be emphasised that the entry system for the University of Cambridge is a flexible one, notwithstanding the required minimum academic standard. The Centre of African Studies does not follow mechanical rules to judge applicants; instead, for each individual, it considers the following: the level of academic achievement, relevant work experience, the research proposal, the suitability of the MPhil in African Studies course to the applicant’s academic and professional needs, and the applicant’s references and writing sample.

University Minimum Academic Requirements


Language Requirement

IELTS (Academic)

Element Score
Listening 7.0
Writing 7.0
Reading 7.0
Speaking 7.0
Total 7.5

TOEFL Internet Score

Element Score
Listening 25
Writing 25
Reading 25
Speaking 25
Total 110

C1 Advanced

Score: Grade A & B (overall score of 193, with no element lower than 185 plus a Language Centre assessment)

C2 Proficiency

Score: Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200 with no element lower than 185).


Visa Information

No ATAS required

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Key Information


Michaelmas 2027
Applications open
Sep. 9, 2026
Application deadline
Feb. 25, 2027
Course starts
Oct. 1, 2027
Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.
Funding Deadlines
Course Funding Deadline
Dec. 8, 2026
Gates Cambridge US round only
Oct. 14, 2026

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2027, Lent 2028 and Easter 2028.