Application Process and deadlines
- Applicants must apply via UCAS by the January deadline. For 2023 entry, this is 6 pm on 25 January 2023.
- After applying, students must also complete the Foundation Year Supplementary Application Questionnaire (FYSAQ). This is your opportunity to express a preference College, provide evidence of your eligibility and provide us with further information about your suitability for the course. The deadline for this is personal to you but is usually around 2 weeks after your application (less if you apply close to the UCAS deadline).
- Shortlisted applicants will be invited to complete a pre-interview admissions assessment. This does not require advance registration and can be completed from home or school. For 2023 entry, this is released at the end of February and you have until 13 March 2023 to complete it.
- Shortlisted applicants will also be invited to interview. For 2023 entry, interviews will be in the week commencing 27 March 2023 will be conducted online.
- Offers will be issued via UCAS around 2 May 2023.
Academic entry requirements
In order to be eligible to apply to the Foundation Year, applicants must have or be projected to receive 120 UCAS academic tariff points. We accept a variety of qualifications within this academic requirement including A Levels, BTECs and Access to HE Diplomas. The full list of qualifications we accept is listed here.
Eligibility
Alongside the academic entry requirement, meet eligibility requirements relating to educational or social disadvantage and disruption and be ordinarily resident in the UK (international students see here).
Our eligibility criteria reflect experiences that have been shown to negatively impact educational attainment. These criteria are a gateway to consideration for this programme and places are awarded on academic suitability.
The full criteria are available here. However, in brief, there are three categories: individual characteristics, family characteristics and school/college characteristics. Applicants must meet one or more criteria from at least two of the categories to be eligible. Care-experienced applicants and applicants from a foreced migrant background, however, are automatically eligible. Evidence of eligibility is required during the application process and is gathered through the FYSAQ.
If you are unsure about your eligibility, please first carefully consult the details here. Enquiries about eligibility can be directed to foundation.year@admin.cam.ac.uk.
UCAS Personal Statements
Your UCAS application will include a Personal Statement. If you are applying to the Foundation Year as well as other courses at other universities, your Personal Statement can focus on the subject you are interested in and it does not have to mention your motivations for studying the Foundation Year specifically. You will get the chance to expand on this in the FYSAQ.
We have some guidance on how to write a great Personal Statement available here.