How to Apply
Are you one of the top-achieving students in your school, getting high exam marks?
Then please think about coming to Pembroke, if we offer a course that interests you. We can’t give you a place unless you apply!
We want to admit the highest achieving students, whatever your background. Pembroke is an open, friendly, and diverse community, and that diversity plays a big part in making the College so strong academically.
We take a holistic approach and consider all aspects of your application. We look at your exam record and predicted results, but also your school reference, your personal statement, written work, and (if applicable), performance in pre-registration assessments, alongside your performance at interview. If you have any extenuating circumstances, that may have affected your academic record, we'd encourage you to complete the Extenuating Circumstances Form so we get as full a picture as possible about your academic context.
It all helps us build an overall impression that lets us rank your application in comparison with others we receive in the same year.
Watch the video below to hear more about what we look for in applications!
Admissions Assessment Changes from 2024 Applications
Pearson VUE will be the new provider for pre-registration admissions assessments at Cambridge. From October 2024 students will take a new computer based assessment at a Pearson VUE test centre.
Applicants will be required to register themselves and pay an administration charge to take the tests, but a fee waiver will be applied for UK-based applicants who are eligible for free school meals or who meet a number of other widening participation criteria.
Specimen papers for the new ESAT will be available from May 2024, or shortly thereafter.
This table summaries all changes to pre-registration admissions assessments from October 2024.
To find out more about admissions assessments, see Admission tests and assessments | Undergraduate Study (cam.ac.uk)
| Course | Changes? | Assessment from 2024 Applications | Summary of Changes |
| Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology | Y | Engineering and Sciences Admissions Test (ESAT) |
15 - 17 October 2024 Computer based Individual student registrations Pearson VUE Test Centre |
| Computer Science | Y | Test of Mathematics for University Admissions (TMUA) |
15 - 17 October 2024 Computer based Individual student registrations Pearson VUE Test Centre |
| Economics | Y | Test of Mathematics for University Admissions (TMUA) |
15 - 17 October 2024 Computer based Individual student registrations Pearson VUE Test Centre |
| Engineering | Y | Engineering and Sciences Admissions Test (ESAT) |
15 - 17 October 2024 Computer based Individual student registrations Pearson VUE Test Centre |
| Law | N | LNAT | No changes |
| Medicine | Y | University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) |
Dates TBC Computer based Individual student registrations Pearson VUE Test Centre |
| Natural Sciences | Y | Engineering and Sciences Admissions Test (ESAT) |
15 - 17 October 2024 Computer based Individual student registrations Pearson VUE Test Centre |
| Veterinary Medicine | Y | Engineering and Sciences Admissions Test (ESAT) |
15 - 17 October 2024 Computer based Individual student registrations Pearson VUE Test Centre |
Application Timeline
See below for an application timeline. International Students, please also see the extra information on the International Students page!
Date |
Information |
| Summer |
Course and College ChoiceStart thinking about which course you'd like to study as early as possible. It's best to choose one that you are personally interested in and will enjoy studying! It's important that you check that you meet the entrance requirements for the course as well. College choice should be based on where you'd like to live when you're here. You indicate this in your UCAS application. Though if you don't have a preferred College, you're welcome to make an open application to Cambridge. Institution Name: CAM Institution Code: C05 College Code for Pembroke: P |
|
1 August - 15 September 15 October |
LNATFor Law, you're required to take the LNAT, which has earlier deadlines and different arrangements to other Cambridge pre-registration assessments. For 2024 entry, you must take the LNAT by 15 October. You can register for the LNAT between 1 August and 15 September, and the LNAT can be taken from 1 September. The assessment can be taken at any LNAT test centre – there’s over 500 test centres around the world with 150 in the UK. Further information and details about how to register can be found on the LNAT website. |
| 16 September |
ESAT and TMUA Assessment Registration deadlineShould your chosen course have a pre-registration assessment, you will need to ensure you are registered for it by the deadline. More information can be found on the Cambridge University website. |
| 19 September |
UCAT Registration deadlineIf you are applying for Medicine you must register for the UCAT by this date. |
| 26 September |
UCAT AssessmentIf you are applying for Medicine you must take the UCAT by this date. |
| 15 October |
UCAS deadlineAll undergraduate and affiliated applications must be submitted by this deadline. Additional information regarding making an application through UCAS can be found on the Cambridge Admissions Office website. |
| 15 - 16 October |
Pre-Registration Assessment: ESATCheck the Cambridge Admissions Office website for more information regarding dates, registration, and subjects. |
| 16 - 17 October |
Pre-Registration Assessment: TMUACheck the Cambridge Admissions Office website for more information regarding dates, registration, and subjects. |
| 22 October 18:00 UK Time |
My Cambridge Application deadlineIt's essential that applicants complete and return the My Cambridge Application questionnaire by this deadline. The My Cambridge Application gets sent to your email, so please keep an eye out for it once you've submitted your UCAS application! Extenuating Circumstances Form deadlineIf you faced extenuating circumstances that affected your education, your teacher, doctor or social worker should let us know via this form. |
| 25 October |
Application ConfirmationBy this date, all applicants will receive a confirmation email containing important information and deadlines. Please read this carefully! We'll also send you a Disability Adjustment Form if you've declared a disability on your UCAS application. Please do complete and return this to us to let us know what you may need if we call you for interview. |
| Early November |
Disability Adjustment Form deadlineIf you've declared a disability on your UCAS application form we will send you a Disability Adjustment Form. Please ensure that your Disability Adjustment Form is returned to us by the date specified in our email (if applicable). |
| TBC November |
Written Work DeadlineIf your subject requires written work to be submitted, we must have received it by this date. Full details of written work requirements will be sent to you when we acknowledge your application. |
| November |
Invitation to InterviewWe will contact you to confirm if you have/have not been invited for interview. If you haven't heard from us by the final week of November, please contact the Admissions Office to let us know! Please don't get in touch before the final week of November, as we will still be finalising interview invitations. |
| November |
College Registered Admissions AssessmentsAssessments for various subjects will take place towards the end of November. You can find a full list of subjects and dates online: Written assessments: Cambridge College registered | Undergraduate Study You will receive additional details of the assessment if you are invited to interview. |
| November/December |
InterviewsApplicants based in the UK: Pembroke will be interviewing applicants in person (those eligible for Free School Meals will have their travel costs to attend interview covered). Applicants based internationally: Most international candidates will be interviewed online, though requests to be interviewed in person will be considered if requested by the deadline. Additional information is available on the Undergraduate Study website. There are lots of helpful resources on the Cambridge website, including interview videos, to help you prepare. |
| January |
Invitation to Further InterviewSome applicants who we think are strong, but whom we don't have space to offer a place to, are placed in the 'winter pool'. Other Colleges may invite these candidates back for an additional interview in early January. |
| January |
DecisionsDecisions will be communicated to all applications in late January. In some circumstances, this may be that your application is still being considered. Decisions will also show on the UCAS Hub. |
|
February
|
FeedbackCandidates who have been interviewed by the College, but have failed to secure an offer, either in the first instance from Pembroke College or subsequently from a pool College, will have information provided in their decision letter to contextualise the outcome. If candidates would like to request further individual feedback on their application, their referee will be able to request this on their behalf by completing a Feedback Request Form. This request form will be available here from 1-28 February 2024. |