Applications 2022-2023
Information for current applicants
General information
Contacting the Lucy Cavendish Admissions Team
Thank you for applying to Lucy Cavendish College. We hope this page will allow you to progress smoothly through the admissions process.
Over coming weeks (and months) our Admissions Team will contact you via email letting you know next steps. We are here to support you at every stage of the application process so if you have any questions or concerns then please do not hesitate to contact us on admissions@lucy.cam.ac.uk. Please ensure you start all emails with:
- Your name (exactly as you wrote it on your UCAS form, with family name in CAPITALS),
- The course you have applied for (including 'Biological or Physical' if Natural Sciences),
- Your UCAS number,
- Your requested remote interview team if not Cambridge, UK (e.g. Singapore, Malaysia).
E.G. ‘BLOGGS, Joseph, Physical Natural Sciences, 123456789’
Please note that we prefer contact by email in the first instance. If you have not received a reply to your email, please be patient and remember that we are dealing with a lot of applicants, who all have very specific queries. Only if your question is absolutely urgent should you call us; you can do so on +44 (0)1223 330280.
Please understand that, in aherennce to UCAS regulations, we are permitted to discuss a current application with the applicant or their UCAS referee only. We are unable to speak to parents, supporters, teachers, doctors, social workers, tutors, or other third parties without the applicant’s explicit permission in writing, and even then it is our right to decline contact with third parties if we feel it is not appropriate.
Submitting documents
At various points of the application process you will need to submit key documentation, such as samples of written work. Please ensure you use admissionsdocuments@lucy.cam.ac.uk for this purpose, ensuring you use start the email in the format detailed above. The subject line of your email should contain all the same information and the type of document, E.G. 'BLOGGS, Joseph, English, 0123456789, Written Work'
Using the current applicants page
We will be updating this page regularly through the whole of the admissions round, so please ensure you continue to check it. Any important updates relating to decisions and deadlines will be posted in this area of the page for easy access, as well as in the relevant sections below. Our page is organised as follows:
- Deadlines timeline- please ensure you are aware of everything you need to do and when. Failure to meet deadlines will often result in an application being rendered invalid. We strongly advise you to plan what you need to do at each stage of the process well in advance so you have all relevant documentation available and ready before the deadline. Last minute panics are equally stressful for both you and us! If you need any help, remember to contact us as soon as you can on admissions@lucy.cam.ac.uk.
- Stages of the application process and further information- please also ensure that you are aware of when essential aspects of the application process will take place, such as pre-interview assessments. We will continue to update later sections of the process with further details, such as interviews and decisions.
Please ensure that you continue to keep referring back to this web page at all stages of the application process. If in any doubt, please consult this page before emailing us, as any information you need should be available on here .
Please also ensure that you download and complete our application checklist so that you are aware of the deadlines you must complete throughout the application process. Please note that this document is simply a checklist; you should make sure you read our website thoroughly for full information about each stage of the application process.
Deadlines timeline
Deadline |
What for? |
Further info |
|
30th September 18:00 (UK time) |
Registration for all pre-registration required assessments (BMAT, TMUA, ENGAA and NSAA) |
Subjects which have a pre-registration required assessment are:
In most cases, your assessment centre (usually your school/college) must register you for the pre-registration required assessment - you can't register yourself. Information for schools/colleges is available here. These assessments are a compulsory part of your application so, if you do not register by the deadlines, your application won’t be valid. The deadline has now passed, if you have failed to register, please contact our admissions team as soon as possible. See the BMAT information. See the TMUA information. See the ENGAA information. See the NSAA information
|
Deadline |
What for? |
Further info |
|
15th October 18:00 (UK time) |
UCAS application (including your UCAS reference) |
See information on the UCAS application here. Please ensure you referee knows about this deadline, as anything submitted even a minute late cannot be accepted. |
|
15th October |
Deadline for Law applicants to take the LNAT. |
For Law, you're required to take the LNAT, which has earlier deadlines and different arrangements to other Cambridge pre-registration assessments. For 2023 entry, you must take the LNAT by no later than 15 October 2022. You can register for the LNAT from 1 August to 15 September 2022, and the LNAT can be taken from 1 September 2022. Further information can be found on the LNAT website. |
|
22nd October 18:00 (UK time) |
My Cambridge Application form and transcript deadline |
You will receive a link to the My Cambridge Application form and log-in details by email from the University within 48 hours of submitting your UCAS application. Emails regularly go into spam mailboxes so please check both your inbox and spam mailboxes until you receive your My Cambridge form email. The My Cambridge Application form is a compulsory part of your application – your application is ineligible without it. Guidance and helpdesk contact details can be found here. You may be required to upload a high school transcript with your My Cambridge Application form. Please ensure you check whether you need to do this here. For full guidance on who should complete a transcript and what you should submit please consult our guidance document.
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22nd October
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Our further information form is designed to gather important contextual information not captured in the UCAS or My Cambridge Application form. The link to the form is as follows: https://cambridge.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cVe0ig0XRmoylee |
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22nd October 23:59 (UK time) |
The ECF should be completed if your education or home life was seriously disrupted owing to health issues, disability, difficulties with schooling or challenging personal or family circumstances. The applicant themselves does not complete the form. Rather it should be completed by your school or college, or by a doctor or social worker if your school/college is not aware of the full picture. Further guidance can be found here here. The link to the form is as follows: https://cambridge.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3EglsMeRUNiquBo Please note that this form should NOT be used to report disruption to your education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This information is collected in the Cambridge Additional Application Information form (AAIF), which must be filled in by all applicants by 3rd November 2022. |
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22nd October
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Disability/Specific Learning Difficulty/long-term illness adjustments form |
If you ticked the box on the UCAS form to say you have a disability, Specific Learning Difficulty or long-term illness, and/or if you normally receive adjustments when you take school exams, we will request additional information such that we can make any necessary arrangements at interview. We will contact you about this once we have received your application. Please ensure you read our full guidance document so that you are aware of who needs to submit the form, why we collect this information, and how you should send this information to us. The Disability/Specific Learning Difficulty/long-term illness adjustments form is here: |
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22nd October
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Transcripts/results breakdowns/curriculum details/any other requested documents |
Deadline for applicants required to submit: 1. Academic transcripts from those undertaking foundation courses, Access to HE courses and those in the first year at university. 2. Curriculum details from mature applicants, those taking a foundation course, or those in the first year at university. 3. Results breakdown, from those who have already taken any exams. 4. Any other documents we have requested from you. Please ensure you have read the full guidance document so you are aware if you need to submit a transcript or further academic documentation. |
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Deadline |
What for? |
Further info |
|
3rd November
|
Cambridge Additional Applicant Information Form (AAIF) |
The Cambridge Additional Applicant information Form (AAIF) collects information on how COVID-19 may have impacted your recent education, and also gathers details on your remote interview set-up. The AAIF is a compulsory part of your application – your application is ineligible without it The link to the form is as follows: https://cambridge.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_57NMhtpa2ylyRoi |
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3rd November
23:59 (UK time) |
The following subjects require two samples of your written work:
The following subjects require one sample of your written work:
We would like to confirm that applicants for Law are not required to submit written work. If you are required to submit written work, then please read this document thoroughly for full details of what you need to do. The coversheet for written work is here: |
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3rd November
23:59 (UK time)
|
Six page portfolio for Architecture applicants |
All applicants for Architecture are asked to send us a six page portfolio with examples of their work illustrating their interests, experience and ability in the visual and material arts.
Full details on what we are looking for, as well as submission instructions, can be found in this document. |
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3rd November
23:59 (UK time) |
Eligibility evidence for UK Government Funded Free School Meals or 16-19 Bursary |
If you are a UK student at eligible or previously eligible in the last 6 years for Free School Meals, or the 16-19 Bursary, please send an official letter from your school/college confirming this by this deadline to admissionsdocuments@lucy.cam.ac.uk .
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Application stages and further information
The following assessments will take place on October 18th:
- BMAT- Medicine
- TMUA - Computer Science and Economics
The following assessments will take place on October 19th:
- ENGAA - Engineering
- NSAA - Natural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology
If you are an international applicant, then please ensure you check the Cambridge Assessment website as test centres abroad may have different dates for these assessments.
Full details of all pre-registration assessments, including links to preparation material, can be found here.
For details on how to register please check the deadlines section above.
When will hear if I've been invited to interview?
We aim to give candidates at least 1 week's notice prior to their interview. This year we currently plan for our interviews to take place in the weeks beginning 5th and 12th December, although a very small minority of subjects may be scheduled in the week beginning 28th November.
Our interviews are organised according to an incredibly tight schedule and it is usually extremely difficult to re-arrange an interview. You would therefore be well advised to keep these two weeks as free as you can.
How will interviews work this year?
This year all interviews will take place remotely. Applicants will be interviewed from home, where possible. If applicants prefer, they can ask their school or college to host their interview.
We will be using the platform ZOOM for all our interviews. We will offer support sessions for all shortlisted candidates, so they can familiarise themselves with ZOOM prior to their interview. We will release dates for these support sessions closer to the time. We ask all applicants invited to interview to attend at least one of these support sessions so their interview will run as smoothly as possible.
Although interviews will be conducted remotely, the format and purpose remains essentially unchanged. You can find out more how to prepare for interviews here.
Interview dates November-December 2022
|
Course
|
Interview dates | Invitations issued to candidates? |
|---|---|---|
|
Architecture
|
9th December | Yes |
|
Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
|
5th December | Yes |
|
Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
|
15th and 16th December, further dates TBC | Yes |
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Computer Science
|
12th-13th December | Yes |
|
Classics (3 and 4 years)
|
5th or 6th December (TBC) | Yes |
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Economics
|
13th and 14th December | Yes |
|
Education
|
2nd December | Yes |
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Engineering
|
12th-16th December inclusive | Yes |
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English
|
9th December | Yes |
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Geography
|
7th December | Yes |
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History
|
13th and 14th December | Yes |
|
History and Modern Languages
|
7th December (MML interview) 13th or14th December (History interview) |
Yes |
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History and Politics
|
5th December (first interview) 13th and 14th December (second interview) | Yes |
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History of Art
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9th December | Yes |
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Human, Social and Political Sciences
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5th-7th December inclusive | Yes |
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Land Economy
|
8th-9th December | Yes |
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Law
|
5th, 7th and 9th December | Yes |
|
Linguistics
|
6th December | Yes |
|
Mathematics
|
12th, 13th and 15th December | Yes |
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Medicine
|
6th-9th December inclusive | No |
|
Modern and Medieval Languages
|
7th December | Yes |
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Natural Sciences
|
Physics interviews- 5th-9th December inclusive Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Physics (Materials focus) interviews- 12th-16th December inclusive
|
Yes |
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Philosophy
|
First interview: 8th December Second interview: 15th December |
Yes |
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Psychological and Behavioural Sciences
|
5th-7th December inclusive | Yes |
|
Theology and Philosophy of Religion
|
16th December | Yes |
|
Veterinary Medicine
|
12th, 14th and 15th December | Yes |
How will College registered assessments work this year?
The following courses have College registered assessments this year:
|
Course |
Assessment format |
Date and time |
|---|---|---|
|
Essay/text response element (60 minutes) |
Monday 28 November |
|
|
Writing skills (30 minutes) |
Friday 25 November |
|
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Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (if candidates are planning to study a Modern European Language as part of their degree only) |
If you are planning to continue a Modern European Language that you have studied to A-Level (or equivalent) alongside Arabic, Persian or Hebrew, then you will need to do the Modern and Medieval Languages Assessment: Discursive response in Foreign Language (40 minutes) |
Tuesday 29 November |
|
Classics (3-year) |
Translation exercise (60 minutes) |
Tuesday 29 November |
|
Classics (4-year) |
Language aptitude interview (20 minutes) |
November (TBC) |
|
(Cambridge English Literature Admissions Test) |
Essay/text response element (120 minutes) |
Wednesday 23 November |
|
History |
Essay/text response element (60 minutes) |
Thursday 24 November |
|
History and Modern Languages |
History and Modern Languages candidates are required to sit the following: History Admissions Assessment: Essay/text response element (60 minutes) Modern and Medieval Languages Assessment: Discursive response in Foreign Language (40 minutes) and Discursive response in English (20 minutes) |
Thursday 24 (History) and Tuesday 29 (Modern Languages) November |
|
History and Politics |
Essay/text response element (60 minutes) |
Thursday 24 November |
|
Structured comparison of images (60 minutes) |
Tuesday 29 November |
|
| Linguistics |
A combination of data questions and an essay question (60 minutes) |
Friday 25 November |
|
Discursive response in Foreign Language (40 minutes) |
Tuesday 29 November |
|
|
Multiple choice logic problems (20 minutes) |
Monday 28 November |
|
|
Comprehension questions on a pre-recorded sample lecture |
Monday 28 November |
College registered assessment times will be coordinated centrally, meaning you may not sit your assessment on the same day as your interview. Please do not worry if this is the case; it will not affect our decision making in any way. You will also sit the admissions assessment remotely, either at home or in your school/college. More detailed information on College registered assessments will be released to candidates invited to interview closer to the time.
The Winter Pool
The Winter Pool will take place in the middle of January. The Winter Pool is a process by which Colleges make available to each other candidates who they consider to be worthy of a place at Cambridge, but to whom they cannot make an offer as they are oversubscribed in that subject. You do not need to do anything if you are placed in the Winter Pool, and most applicants do not find out if they have been 'pooled' until all decision letters have been released. Once decision letters have been released, you may be made an offer by another College, but being placed in the Winter Pool does not guarantee you will be offered a place.
You may be offered another interview in January by a College who has reviewed your file in the pool, although this is avoided as far as possible.
Decisions
All undergraduate application decisions will be released on 25th January, the agreed date for all Cambridge Colleges. You can read about the different possible outcomes of an application here.
Feedback
Lucy Cavendish College is committed to ensuring that our admissions processes are as transparent and comprehensible as possible. We therefore have the following policy on providing feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
Candidates who are rejected before interview will not be able to request individual feedback on their application. However, information to contextualise our decision will be provided in the rejection letter.
Candidates who have been interviewed by the College, but have failed to secure an offer, either in the first instance from Lucy Cavendish College or subsequently from a pool College, will also have some initial information provided to contextualise the outcome. This will include admissions assessment scores (where applicable). If candidates would then 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 will be available from 6-28 February 2023.
Individual feedback is provided to the UCAS referee in the first instance because:
1. The referee is well placed to judge the best way to convey the feedback to you so that it is received as a beneficial learning experience;
2. The provision of feedback to your school/college/university informs advisers of future applicants about the standards and requirements for the relevant Cambridge course and is therefore of wider benefit to the admissions process.
If you have any concerns about feedback being provided to the writer of your UCAS reference please contact us at admissions@lucy.cam.ac.uk.