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Is it possible to get into Cambridge?

Hi everyone!

I'm Swedish and I've never traveled outside Sweden before, so I don't really know how it is to study in other countries like the UK. My dream is to study the biology of cells at the university of Cambridge in 2016, so I would like to know if it's possible for me to do. :smile:

I've got an A in all subjects, maths, biology, chemistry, physics etc. When it comes to finances, the Swedish government gives each student about 9000 £ every year plus the tuition fee.

So what do you think? Is it possible for me to get into Cambridge to study the biology of cells?

Please be honest with me, and I would love to have some advice about studying at Cambridge. Thank you for your answers and excuse my bad English.

Reply 1

cambio wechsel

Original post by ameermosa

few of us will know the Swedish school system but if you and your school can think that you're plausibly a candidate for Lund, KI &c. then you are as well plausible candidate for Cambridge. But 'plausible' carries a person only to interview.

To study cell biology at Cambridge you would have to apply for the natural sciences course that narrows specialisation by year: (1st year, 4 subjects; 2nd Year, 3; 3rd Year 1) : http://www.natsci.tripos.cam.ac.uk/

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 2

Arieisit

Just email the Cambridge admissions (at a specific college) and ask. It's that easy.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 3

ameermosa

Thank you very much. I've send an email to Cambridge about this. Is it harder for an EU student to get into Cambridge than for an UK student you think?

Reply 4

dragonkeeper999

Are you currently taking a levels? Or an international equivalent qualification?

With straight As at AS it is probably worth applying - remember that Cambridge will look at your ums marks for every exam to see where you rank against other candidates, and there is also an interview which is very important - you may have to travel to the uk to attend this.

Biology of Cells is just one module in the first year of the Natural Sciences degree - in first year you have to take four modules (one of which must be maths) so if you are interested in biology you would probably take Biology of Cells, Physiology, Evolution and Behaviour, and Maths for Biologists. In second year, you take three modules - however there is a lot more choice, if you really enjoy cells then Cell and Developmental Biology is a good module to pick. In third year you specialise in just one subject, again I can't remember all the different options but there is probably a Cell Biology one as well as related options like Biochemistry. For most biology subjects there is no Fourth year, with the exception of Biochemistry.

Reply 5

Saelie

Original post by ameermosa

I'm from Sweden and at Cambridge actually. There's about 50 students from Sweden at Cambridge in total across all levels of study (undergraduate, graduate, PhDs etc.), so not exactly a huge amount.

To be blunt, the Swedish school system isn't exactly very well-regarded internationally due to its lack of official exams, so you're facing an uphill battle. I did the IB, and most of the Swedish students I know at Cambridge also did the IB or A-Levels. I know a couple of people at Cambridge who did the normal 'gymnasium,' but also have friends with perfect grades from Swedish gymnasium (320 points, the old maximum) that got rejected - though most were after interview. Unfortunately I do think they discriminate against people doing the Swedish school system because quite frankly they don't think it is as good as the alternatives (whether it is or not is irrelevant for the purposes of this), but that doesn't mean it's impossible for you to get in.

Basically, it's possible, and it does happen sometimes, but it won't be easy. If you can write a strong personal statement and have perfect grades they may consider you for interview, and from that point on it's on you to impress them.

What gymnasium are you at? A couple of the 'famous' ones in Sweden (Sigtuna/Grenna/Lundsberg, Kungsholmen etc. - not an extensive list) are ones they are likely to have heard of and thus may get some preferential treatment, though don't let that deter you if you're not at one of those.

In terms of tuition fees CSN is great, nothing to worry about, the Swedish grant and loan is larger than the UK's equivalent.

(skicka mig ett PM om du har några frågor/vill ha mer info!)

Is it possible to get into Cambridge?

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