The Student Room Group

Advice on making a cost-efficient trip to Cambridge (International Student)

Hi Everyone!

I am an international student from Singapore and have opted to have my interview in Cambridge. I was wondering if anybody can help me in planning my trip there to make it cost-efficient?

I expect that I would have to stay for at least the night before the interview so it will probably be a 2D1N trip. The bulk of the cost would likely be the flight there and the night of accommodation.

How much do you guys think the journey there will cost in total?

Thanks!

(p.s. If you're wondering why I didn't opt for an interview in my home country, my statement was not ready in time for the local deadline. Also, I heard that attending the interview in Cambridge would increase my chances.)
You'd probably be flying into Heathrow, so maybe stay in a cheap hotel near there (Ibis??)
Use the tube when getting around London-maybe buy an PAYG Oyster Card.
I think National Express Coaches are cheaper than taking the train to Cambridge and I believe they leave from Liverpool Street.
And if you are really tight on money eat in a fast food place and avoid very touristy areas.
Good luck!
Reply 2
Original post by bmatfreak
Hi Everyone!

I am an international student from Singapore and have opted to have my interview in Cambridge. I was wondering if anybody can help me in planning my trip there to make it cost-efficient?

I expect that I would have to stay for at least the night before the interview so it will probably be a 2D1N trip. The bulk of the cost would likely be the flight there and the night of accommodation.

How much do you guys think the journey there will cost in total?

Thanks!

(p.s. If you're wondering why I didn't opt for an interview in my home country, my statement was not ready in time for the local deadline. Also, I heard that attending the interview in Cambridge would increase my chances.)


Most (all?) colleges will provide 1 night's accommodation for overseas candidates, usually for the night before the interview.

You can also eat (cheaply) at the college.

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Reply 3
Original post by jneill
Most (all?) colleges will provide 1 night's accommodation for overseas candidates, usually for the night before the interview.

You can also eat (cheaply) at the college.

Posted from TSR Mobile


Hi! Where did you read this? I heard that Oxford does this but was unaware that Cambridge had the same policy? I am applying to Caius.
Original post by bmatfreak
Hi Everyone!

I am an international student from Singapore and have opted to have my interview in Cambridge. I was wondering if anybody can help me in planning my trip there to make it cost-efficient?

I expect that I would have to stay for at least the night before the interview so it will probably be a 2D1N trip. The bulk of the cost would likely be the flight there and the night of accommodation.

How much do you guys think the journey there will cost in total?

Thanks!

(p.s. If you're wondering why I didn't opt for an interview in my home country, my statement was not ready in time for the local deadline. Also, I heard that attending the interview in Cambridge would increase my chances.)


What @homeland.lsw suggested are not entirely correct, I'm afraid.
There's s direct service of National Express coach from Heathrow airport to Cambridge city centre, and probably it's the easiest way to go, but not necessarily the cheapest as the fares and train fares varies depending upon the time you travel and how much in advance you book and it takes longer (anything between 2 3/4hr and 3 1/2hr) than taking tube (London undergraound) into London and change to a train (either at King's Cross or Liverpool Street station) to Cambridge. (Around 2hrs, depends on train timetable) From Cambridge station, you can either take a bus or a taxi into the town centre.

Colleges do provide a free accommodation for anyone who have to travel afar for the interview, most typically the night before the day of interview. (Or ocasionally one interview in afternoon and the other interview on next day, free accommodation in between. ( Very occasionally some offer two nights accommodation if it's really necessary for a candidate to stay two nights because of interview schedule, but that's very rare)

So if you need to stay extra night, wait until you know your interview times to decide where to stay. There're some reasonably priced business hotels in Cambridge (Primier Inn, Traveldge, Holiday Inn, etc) that's cheaper than hotels near Heathrow airport.
(edited 9 years ago)
Reply 5
Guys!!! I need some advice. I'm wondering if I should skip my interview at Cambridge?

Thing is that I'm not sure if I really want to go overseas for university anymore, mostly because of financial reasons. Furthermore, the interview is kind of jeopardising my family holiday because I only have a small number of days for leave (in national service). Don't think my family will go on holiday without me so I'd be ruining it for them :frown: Is the interview experience really so great that it'd be worth it, even if I eventually get rejected or choose not to attend? Didn't realise the airfare during the interview period would be so expensive!!!

Also, I realised that Cambridge costs like an extra 15-18k pounds due to the college fees? If I were to go overseas and wanted to be financially prudent, would LSE be a better bet (even though it's in London)? I realised that Kings even has the Dickson Poon scholarship which makes it much more affordable than its counterparts?

Please advise. Thanks!
Reply 6
Original post by bmatfreak
Guys!!! I need some advice. I'm wondering if I should skip my interview at Cambridge?

If I were to go overseas and wanted to be financially prudent, would LSE be a better bet (even though it's in London)?

Please advise. Thanks!


LSE doesn't offer Medicine.
The cheapest from Heathrow to Cambridge is the cheapest from from Heathrow to Victoria, then Megabus. Can be less than £10 in total.

Cheapest way to spend a night there is to use Couchsurfing or to have a one-night-stand.

Cheapest way to eat is to buy food from Tesco.

Cheapest way to get a British degree is to do a distance-learning one.

Cheapest way to fly is to try getting a flight to somewhere in Europe first, and likely one with multiple journeys, then get on a budget airline to London. You may even choose an airport with cheaper transportation.
Reply 8
Original post by jneill
LSE doesn't offer Medicine.


Oh my username is phony, I applied for law
Reply 9
Original post by Little Toy Gun
The cheapest from Heathrow to Cambridge is the cheapest from from Heathrow to Victoria, then Megabus. Can be less than £10 in total.

Cheapest way to spend a night there is to use Couchsurfing or to have a one-night-stand.

Cheapest way to eat is to buy food from Tesco.

Cheapest way to get a British degree is to do a distance-learning one.

Cheapest way to fly is to try getting a flight to somewhere in Europe first, and likely one with multiple journeys, then get on a budget airline to London. You may even choose an airport with cheaper transportation.


Thanks for the advice. Regarding the last point, which airline would be best?
Original post by bmatfreak
Guys!!! I need some advice. I'm wondering if I should skip my interview at Cambridge?

Thing is that I'm not sure if I really want to go overseas for university anymore, mostly because of financial reasons. Furthermore, the interview is kind of jeopardising my family holiday because I only have a small number of days for leave (in national service). Don't think my family will go on holiday without me so I'd be ruining it for them :frown: Is the interview experience really so great that it'd be worth it, even if I eventually get rejected or choose not to attend? Didn't realise the airfare during the interview period would be so expensive!!!

Also, I realised that Cambridge costs like an extra 15-18k pounds due to the college fees? If I were to go overseas and wanted to be financially prudent, would LSE be a better bet (even though it's in London)? I realised that Kings even has the Dickson Poon scholarship which makes it much more affordable than its counterparts?

Please advise. Thanks!

Can I ask you something?
How long have you thinking of applying to uk uni? For someone who seriously wants to study abroad, all these questions sound like you haven't done much research into it at all......
Reply 11
Original post by bmatfreak
Oh my username is phony, I applied for law


And yet you ask about BMAT in your other threads.

Also, a Cambridge interview is rather more important than a holiday, but if a holiday is your priority then so be it.

I'm leaving you to it now...

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Original post by bmatfreak
Thanks for the advice. Regarding the last point, which airline would be best?


Probably should check them all.
Original post by bmatfreak
Hi! Where did you read this? I heard that Oxford does this but was unaware that Cambridge had the same policy? I am applying to Caius.


I stayed two nights at Caius (free) when I went down for interviews. I arrived the night before my interviews, and stayed another night as my interviews and tests were spread over two days. They also provided free breakfast and dinner so don't worry about spending money on these.

Hotels in Cambridge do get expensive and fully booked around interview period so just as well you can stay at Caius.
Original post by bmatfreak
Hi Everyone!

I am an international student from Singapore and have opted to have my interview in Cambridge. I was wondering if anybody can help me in planning my trip there to make it cost-efficient?

I expect that I would have to stay for at least the night before the interview so it will probably be a 2D1N trip. The bulk of the cost would likely be the flight there and the night of accommodation.

How much do you guys think the journey there will cost in total?

Thanks!

(p.s. If you're wondering why I didn't opt for an interview in my home country, my statement was not ready in time for the local deadline. Also, I heard that attending the interview in Cambridge would increase my chances.)


www.skyscanner.net

Incredible website
Original post by bmatfreak
Guys!!! I need some advice. I'm wondering if I should skip my interview at Cambridge?

Thing is that I'm not sure if I really want to go overseas for university anymore, mostly because of financial reasons. Furthermore, the interview is kind of jeopardising my family holiday because I only have a small number of days for leave (in national service). Don't think my family will go on holiday without me so I'd be ruining it for them :frown: Is the interview experience really so great that it'd be worth it, even if I eventually get rejected or choose not to attend? Didn't realise the airfare during the interview period would be so expensive!!!

Also, I realised that Cambridge costs like an extra 15-18k pounds due to the college fees? If I were to go overseas and wanted to be financially prudent, would LSE be a better bet (even though it's in London)? I realised that Kings even has the Dickson Poon scholarship which makes it much more affordable than its counterparts?

Please advise. Thanks!


You really need to sit down with a calculator in hand, and work out whether studying overseas is an affordable option for you, taking into account all living expenses, tuition, airfare etc. Also, bear in mind that accommodation at Cambridge is likely to be cheaper since rental costs in London can be quite pricey. And there is no guarantee that you'll win the Dickson Poon scholarship either. Also note that Cambridge offers the part-cost Cambridge Trust scholarships, but you need to demonstrate financial need and it's competitive: https://www.cambridgetrust.org/scholarships/key-points-for-undergraduate-applicants/

I also think the cost-benefit analysis of a possible chance of winning a place at Cambridge (assuming you have worked out the financials and your family is willing to fork out the money if you get a place) vs taking a holiday (which presumably you can do in between finishing NS and starting university next year) should be in favour of Cambridge, but this is your call. Alternatively, my suggestion for your entire family to come to Europe for a vacation over winter, and schedule it such that your interviews are immediately before or after. This is pretty helpful in scheduling flights: https://matrix.itasoftware.com/ Or your family could just take a holiday without you.

Finally, as a fellow Singaporean lawyer (who went to "the other place"), I should warn you that the Singapore legal market right now isn't exactly great. With the glut of law students, law firms can afford to be really picky. As I understand it, Cambridge and Oxford are still regarded as better law schools as compared to the London unis (fairly or not), and my experience suggests that this is quite a big advantage when it comes to trainee recruitment in Singapore (although obviously whether it will stay this way is another question).
Original post by mishieru07
You really need to sit down with a calculator in hand, and work out whether studying overseas is an affordable option for you, taking into account all living expenses, tuition, airfare etc. Also, bear in mind that accommodation at Cambridge is likely to be cheaper since rental costs in London can be quite pricey. And there is no guarantee that you'll win the Dickson Poon scholarship either. Also note that Cambridge offers the part-cost Cambridge Trust scholarships, but you need to demonstrate financial need and it's competitive: https://www.cambridgetrust.org/scholarships/key-points-for-undergraduate-applicants/

I also think the cost-benefit analysis of a possible chance of winning a place at Cambridge (assuming you have worked out the financials and your family is willing to fork out the money if you get a place) vs taking a holiday (which presumably you can do in between finishing NS and starting university next year) should be in favour of Cambridge, but this is your call. Alternatively, my suggestion for your entire family to come to Europe for a vacation over winter, and schedule it such that your interviews are immediately before or after. This is pretty helpful in scheduling flights: https://matrix.itasoftware.com/ Or your family could just take a holiday without you.

Finally, as a fellow Singaporean lawyer (who went to "the other place":wink:, I should warn you that the Singapore legal market right now isn't exactly great. With the glut of law students, law firms can afford to be really picky. As I understand it, Cambridge and Oxford are still regarded as better law schools as compared to the London unis (fairly or not), and my experience suggests that this is quite a big advantage when it comes to trainee recruitment in Singapore (although obviously whether it will stay this way is another question).


chanced upon this thread; am also a singaporean. do you think that local llb grads (i.e. nus/smu) lose out to uk grads?

i always had the impression that that would only be the case with oxbridge because the london unis aren't really all that hard to gain admission to? like aside oxbridge, the only differentiating factor between nus/smu grads and lse/ucl/kings grads is their willingness to pay for the overseas education?

my dad himself is a pretty 'ups' lawyer so i base my views on what he said. as a fresh oxford grad returning to singapore, do you think this viewpoint is valid or have you experiences suggested otherwise?
(edited 9 years ago)
Think I’m right in saying college fees are transferred out of the university fees. So it’s not more.