Pembroke College Cambridge

Frequently Asked Questions

Applying to the programme  |  During the programme  |  After the programme  |  Contact Us

 

Applying to the programme

Should I submit my application before or after my supporting documents are received?

You can submit your application before or after we receive your documents, it's up to you. However, we would recommend you submit before so that when we receive the supporting documents your application will be passed to the Selection Committee immediately, rather than us waiting for you to submit the application.

How should my transcript be submitted?

You will need to arrange for an academic transcript to be sent from your home institution. We cannot accept transcripts sent directly by students so please arrange for it to be sent from your home institution via one of the three following options:

  • If your university has the facility to issue officially certified .pdf electronic transcripts, they can be sent from an institutional email address directly to the Programme Director.
  • Alternatively, you can ask an official or an academic at your university to email us a scanned pdf copy of your official transcript. They should email us from an institutional email address, and send the transcript to the Programme Director.
  • The transcript can also be sent by your home institution, sealed with an official stamp, to: The Pembroke Cambridge Summer Programme, Department of International Programmes, Pembroke College, Cambridge, CB2 1RF, United Kingdom.

How should my reference be submitted?

Your reference letter has to be written by a lecturer who has regularly taught you at university level in an academic environment, ideally as part of your undergraduate course. Teaching assistants can be referees if they fulfil these criteria. References can be sent in two ways:

  • Referees can send a reference letter from their institutional email address to the Programme Director. We are unable to accept reference letters sent from personal email addresses.
  • Alternatively, referees can post their letter, sealed with an official stamp, to: The Pembroke Cambridge Summer Programme, Department of International Programmes, Pembroke College, Cambridge, CB2 1RF, United Kingdom.

What are the English language requirements for the programme?

Evidence of a high level of fluency in English is a prerequisite for attending the Pembroke Cambridge Summer Programme.

Please check our English Language Requirements page for more information.

My university doesn't use the GPA grading system, can I still apply?

If your university does not use the GPA grading system you are still welcome to apply.

I'm a first year student and don't have a transcript, can I still apply?

Yes you can still apply, as long as you will be 18 years old by the start of the programme and will have completed your first year of undergraduate study. Depending on when you apply, we will ask for an unofficial transcript or grades for the current semester, and offers will be conditional on receipt of an official academic transcript at the end of your first semester of study.

I'm a financial aid student and won't receive the funds until later in the year, how do I pay for my accommodation and courses?

Financial aid students can pay a £600 deposit to secure their accommodation and course choices without paying the full accommodation and tuition fee until their full funding has been released. In order for this to happen, we will need to receive confirmation from the Financial Office of your university, or the relevant money awarding office or institution, stating the amount or percentage of the cost the financial aid will cover and the date of disbursal of your funding. This confirmation can be sent to us by email as long as it is sent from an institutional email address.

Can I submit my own transcript?

We are only able to accept supporting documents (transcripts and references) from a university administrator or academic from an institutional email address, we cannot accept documents directly from students.

Is there an application deadline?

Yes, applications will close on Thursday 26th May at 5pm UK time. However, applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the deadline or until the programme is full, whichever is sooner. You can see on our how to apply page if applications are open or closed.

I'm interested in applying, can I see the course syllabi?

Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to share the course syllabi with students prior to their place on the programme being confirmed.

If you require syllabi for checking credit transfer prior to applying, we will be more than happy to send the syllabi for the courses you are interested in to your home institution for review. If you would like us to do this, please let us know the email address of the Registrar or university official and the courses you are most interested in.

I can't pay the programme fees with my card, can I do a bank transfer?

If you are unable to pay by card you can indeed pay by bank transfer. Send us an email with your request and we will get back to you with the details.

Why won't my payment work?

A small number of students have difficulties when paying online with their credit or debit cards and this is often because:

  • The amount is too high for their bank's cap
  • The payment is over the internet
  • A foreign currency is involved
  • Applicants are using a card that is registered in someone else's name
  • The address entered on the payment page doesn’t match the address on the bank account
  • The student is using Safari internet browser, which can occasionally cause issues on our system

Most banks place restrictions on transactions involving any of these four aspects in order to avoid fraud. If you are experiencing problems with paying online you should contact your card provider and inform them about your transaction, the amount in GBP and the name of our bank (Barclays Bank).

I've submitted my application, when will I know if it was successful?

You should receive an email with the outcome of your application within 10 working days of submission. If your application to the programme meets all the necessary criteria you will receive an offer via email which will contain information about next steps, including selecting accommodation and courses.

Can I change my accommodation choice?

The accommodation you choose is final and cannot be changed once submitted.

Do I have to stay in Pembroke accommodation?

Yes, all students must pay the accommodation fee and reside in Pembroke accommodation during the programme. The accommodation fee also covers the meal plan, formal halls and other events.

I've submitted my accommodation but the course selection isn't available?

When you submit (and pay for if applicable) your accommodation choice, the system needs a bit of time to process the submission before course selection becomes available. Try waiting for 20 minutes before refreshing the page and the course selection should appear. If you still have issues accessing the course selection page, please get in touch.

The course I want is full, will there be additional places added?

We release course places gradually throughout the year to give all students a fair chance at securing a place on the courses of their choice. Accepted students will receive prior notice of the exact time and date via email. We also recommend you keep an eye on the course list as there is usually a lot of movement with students dropping courses and choosing other ones so you may find places open up on the courses of your choice before more are released.

I selected my accommodation/courses but they've disappeared - what happened?

When you select your accommodation or courses you must also submit and pay for your choices to secure them. When you select them they will be held for you for 48 hours, but will be dropped if you don't submit and secure them by paying for them within that time.

What kind of visa do I need for the programme?

Please see our Visa Information page. If you have any queries which aren’t answered on our visa information page we highly recommend you liaise with your local visa issuing authority, as we are unable to offer specific visa advice for individual cases.

I need a visa support letter from Pembroke College, when will I get it?

We usually issue visa support letters around April. There will be further information in your offer letter as well as on our Visa Information page.

 

During the programme

Can I arrive in the UK before the programme or stay afterwards?

You can but you will not be able to stay in the college accommodation we provide as these rooms are used by other students.

Can I arrive late for the programme or depart early?

You will need to get in touch with the Programme Director to request late arrival or early departure if there are certain circumstances that require you to do so. You will need to fulfill all the academic obligations of the programme so your request must not prevent this.

How do I get to Cambridge from the airport?

There are several ways to reach Cambridge depending on how you arrive in the UK. We are not able to arrange pick ups for you, but you can prebook a taxi to collect you. The most recommended way of travelling to Cambridge from the airport is by train. Stansted Airport is the nearest but you will more likely arrive at Heathrow or Gatwick. From either one you should take the London Underground or a train to arrive at London King's Cross station where you can get a direct train to Cambridge. Cambridge station is around a 25 minute walk from Pembroke so it may be worth getting a taxi if you have a lot of luggage.

Alternatively, you can take the National Express coach from the airport to Cambridge which can be cheaper but is much slower.

Can a guest stay in my room during the programme? 

You're welcome to have guests stay in your room, but only for a maximum of three consecutive nights and only one guest at a time. Unfortunately they'll need to find alternative accommodation if they plan to stay for longer. Before your guest arrives, you'll need to inform the Programme Office as well as the Pembroke Porters.

There are extra costs involved with hosting a guest in your room, which we will notify you of when you request a guest stay. You will also need to let us know at least five days before your guest is due to stay so our Housekeeping room can set up a spare bed.

 

After the programme

When will I know my grades and receive my transcript?

We aim to send out transcripts to students within a month of the end of the programme.

How will I receive my transcript?

We will email students a copy of their transcript. If you applied via a study abroad provider such as Arcadia, IFSA, IES or an institution with a specific agreement with Pembroke College, they will receive your transcript and distribute it to you.

How do I request my transcript is sent to my home institution or another institution if I am unable to submit it myself?

Click here to request a transcript submission!

I might be applying to graduate programmes in future, can I request a transcript then?

Yes of course! Please follow the link above.

Do I have to pay for a transcript request?

There is currently no charge to request a transcript from us.

Will I be a member of Pembroke College after the programme?

You will be a member of the Pembroke Circle, but only students who matriculate as University of Cambridge students during the academic year (such as students on our Semester Programmes) are considered as full members of Pembroke College. Therefore if you are applying to a Cambridge college for a postgraduate course, your time on the Pembroke Cambridge Summer Programme won't affect your application and you won't be considered a member of the College.

 

Contact Us

If you can't find an answer to your question above, then please send us an email!