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It goes without saying you need good grades. Some masters' courses specify a 2:1 minimum and some a first. For those with a 2:1 it seems you generally need a high one (67%+) and for some competitive courses, effectively you need a first anyway even if they state a 2:1 minimum. GPA conversion for US students doesn't seem to be standard even within Cambridge (some departments that ask for a first ask for a 3.7 GPA, others for a 3.85 for example).
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You need good references. It sounds like people with fantastic grades have been let down by references in the past - this is an absolute essential.
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Some departments require a research proposal for masters and some don't. Check!!
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Cambridge is far more discriminatory about your grades than where you did your undergrad. I'm sure there are grey areas, but in general a first is more likely to get you accepted than a 2:1, irrespective of where you did your undergrad.
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