Board of Graduate Studies

The Board of Graduate Studies issues a comprehensive Graduate Studies Prospectus for each academical year. A very brief summary of some of the information given follows but it is advised that applicants address any queries to the Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies or request a copy of the Prospectus. Enquiries can also be made to the Secretary of the Degree Committe or Faculty Board or Head of Department concerned.

Application Procedure

Applications are made on the Graduate Application Form (GAF) which is available form the Secretary, Board of Graduate Studies, 4 Mill Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1RA or online. The Board co-ordinates the consideration of applications by the appropriate Faculty or Department of the University and by the Colleges nominated by the applicant.

Applicants for certain scholarships offered through the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and associated Trusts should submit their applications as instructed on the special application forms issued by the Trust concerned and not to the office of the Board of Graduate Studies.

Pembroke College has a number of studentships, scholarships and bursaries which it hopes to award each year. If you wish to apply for any of them, application should be made on the Cambridge Intercollegiate Graduate Application Scheme (CIGAS) Form A as early as possible. Preference is given to those who nominate Pembroke as their first-choice college.

Procedure on Receipt of Application

When the application has been received by the Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies and the necessary supporting documents have been received, one copy is sent to the Head of Department or Degree Committee or Faculty Board concerned. Once the Department has agreed to admit the candidate the other copy is sent to the applicant's chosen two colleges in order of preference. If the application is not accepted by one of those two colleges, but is acceptable to the University Faculty or Department concerned, it is considered by all other colleges. If the application is not acceptable to a University Faculty or Department, or is not acceptable to any College, it fails and the applicant is so informed. (Please note that the college does not see the application until after the Degree Committee or Faculty Board has accepted the candidate.)

Notification of Conditional and Confirmed Admission

The Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies notifies successful applicants of the result of their application for admission and sets out in his letter the conditions upon which admission is offered.

These conditions may include the satisfaction of academic and financial requirements. Candidates should send copies of documents satisfying these requirements to Pembroke as well as to the Board of Graduate Studies. Once the Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies has received the necessary documentary evidence that all the conditions specified have been met, the applicant's admission is confirmed and the Secretary writes to inform the applicant accordingly. The evidence to satisfy the conditions should therefore be submitted promptly to the office of the Board of Graduate Studies and to Pembroke.