Official 2018 Cambridge Postgraduate Offer Holders

Does anyone know what the colleges actually look for in your application for them to accept you in?

Forgive me if someone has already asked this question,

I know that some colleges fill up quite quickly but is there a way to find out if certain colleges are full already?

Also, if I get rejected by the two colleges I applied to, how does this 'computerised allocation process' actually decide other three colleges?

And finally, am I right in thinking that if one of those three colleges accept me, I will automatically get allocated to that college?

Many thanks

Hey there!
You can likely reach out to the individual colleges graduate coordinators to find out if the colleges are full but, to be honest, the impression I've gotten is that the colleges don't particularly like students contacting them directly about why they've been rejected, etc. Although if this is before you submit your app I could see how you might not want to put a college first that is already full.

From what I've gleaned the computerized system likely pools you (perhaps randomly or I could also see it being by some kind of characteristics of your application) to the remaining open colleges.

Lastly, yes if a college accepts you you are automatically allocated to that college. I learned this the hard way when I submitted two separate applications and was only considered by the college that had originally accepted me. I think it's a rule of the college system that you can only be accepted to one college per application cycle (unless you receive funding or need accommodations based on a special need) and once you are accepted you are allocated to that college automatically.

Hope this is helpful!

I put down Gonville & Caius. We'll see what happens! I think I made a bit of a mistake applying to popular colleges - I sent my application in a bit late, so am wondering whether St John's was already full (the website says they're usually full by the end of March). Ah well!



Ah... that's a shame! Which colleges did you choose?

hey what college did you get into in the end? I got rejected from emmanuel so i got pooled to clare hall. I dont really want to go to a graduate only college but since Im doing a mphil, I can always reapply to another college for my phd. Im actually not too down since clare halls got a nice indoor heated pool haha

No idea! I just got rejected by Caius. So it didn't take long for you get your offer from the pool! I'm still waiting. Clare Hall looks decent but I get what you mean about the graduate college aspect. Nice one with the pool! Tbh I'd rather have a traditional college - I mean if you're going to go to Cambridge then may as well go all out, haha! But I'm happy with an offer in any case, in the end it's the course that matters.

I think it's a rule of the college system that you can only be accepted to one college per application cycle (unless you receive funding or need accommodations based on a special need) and once you are accepted you are allocated to that college automatically.

Yeah I really wanted a traditional college but I applied really late (mid march and offer late march/april) and made the mistake of applying to only popular colleges. I also had 2 separate applications and both got pooled to the same college...so I think what Gradgrrrrl said earlier is probably correct? Unless clare hall is just really empty. I also got rejected by my 2nd choice and accepted to clare hall within the same day. Yep im definitely going to go swimming haha. If you get allocated to clare hall, i guess ill see you there! I think you probably said it already but did you apply for the mphil or phd? I applied for the mphil so I can still change my college when I apply for phd

Yeah, same mistake made here I guess! Though I think Emma is also in that Trinity/St John's bracket in terms of popularity. I applied for the mphil, so if I continue to the PhD I will probably try and apply to a traditional college that isn't crazy popular (or at least put it down as my second choice!). I'll let you know which college I get! Excited to find out.

You can't change colleges unless it's a funding or accessibility related reason. So whatever college you do your mphil in, you'd be expected to do your Phd in too

Really, are you sure? I know you can do it at Oxford, as the DPhil application is treated separately. I know people that have switched anyway. It'd be annoying if Cambridge doesn't do the same thing. Ah well...

Found out I got accepted at Downing this week! I'm so happy as its in a great location and close to my department (Chemistry)

Really, are you sure? I know you can do it at Oxford, as the DPhil application is treated separately. I know people that have switched anyway. It'd be annoying if Cambridge doesn't do the same thing. Ah well...