Before applying, you need to check that you have, or are likely to achieve, the right qualifications and grades. Unlike admission to degree courses at Cambridge, the Cambridge Foundation Year uses UCAS Tariff Points for admissions. UCAS Tariff Points translate your qualifications and grades into a numerical value depending on the qualification type or size and the grade you achieve.
Qualifications we accept
We accept a wide range of common Level 3 qualifications for entry. The latest guidance is available on the course listing here. If, after consulting this guidance, you are still unsure whether your qualifications meet the entry requirements, please email foundation.year@admin.cam.ac.uk in advance of the application deadline, with as much information as you can about your qualification type and level.
English Language Requirements
If your first language isn’t English, your English language skills must be good enough for you to undertake an intensive and challenging course that’s taught and examined in English. Throughout the admissions process, we will be assessing your English language skills as well as your academic ability. See English language requirements for details.
Qualifications from outside of the UK
The Cambridge Foundation Year is for applicants ordinarily resident in the UK. However, we appreciate that some applicants may be ordinarily resident in the UK but have completed their studies outside of the UK. If this is the case, we advise you to first check if your qualification is listed in the UCAS Tariff Calculator. If it is not listed, you are welcome to contact us at foundation.year@admin.cam.ac.uk. In your email, please provide the qualification’s full title, the country in which you studied, and the grade(s) you achieved to assist us in researching the equivalency to UK FHEQ Level 3 qualifications.
Re-sits, delays, qualification availability and other factors
We recognise that even the best students can have 'bad days' when an exam doesn’t quite go to plan. Therefore, we’re not concerned if an applicant has retaken or is planning to retake a few modular units for which the results obtained are clearly out of character. A higher number of retakes would also be acceptable if justified by circumstances beyond the applicant’s control, as explained through their eligibility for the Foundation Year and made clear in the application (reference and additional application questionnaire, distributed after application). Delays in completing qualifications, and being unable to complete the qualifications you need, are among the eligibility criteria for this programme.