Cambridge Psychology (PBS) entry requirements

Hey everyone,

I am a mature studying who has just started an Access to HE in Social Science. I was interested in Cambridge for Psychological and Behavioural Sciences and really wanted to apply - however today I checked the entry requirements again on the website and can see it says they will not be accepting Access courses for PBS in 2025:

*For 2025 entry, an Access to HE Diploma will not normally be accepted for Psychological and Behavioural Sciences.*

This has come as a bit of a shock to me as when I checked their website previously ( a few months ago) correct me if wrong but I am pretty sure it said they did accept these but considered on an individual basis. Does this mean I would no longer be eligible to apply for Cambridge PBS?

Reply 1

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by poetic

I assume the page you're referring to is https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/before/accepted-qualifications.

With my added emphasis, what that page says is:

"For 2025 entry, an Access to HE Diploma will not normally be accepted for Psychological and Behavioural Sciences. For further advice please contact a College admissions office. For 2026 entry onwards, an Access to HE Diploma alone will not be accepted for Psychological and Behavioural Sciences. Please check this page and contact a College admissions office before making an application."

So, for 2025 entry it might be accepted (check with individual colleges) but for 2026 entry it definitely won't be accepted.

In March, which is when you presumably originally looked at the page, it said "An Access to HE Diploma alone is not enough for entry into sciences courses (excluding Psychological and Behavioural Sciences) or Economics at Cambridge."

Then, shortly afterwards, they changed it to, "Whether or not Access to HE Diploma will be accepted for Psychological and Behavioural Sciences is currently to be confirmed for 2025 entry. Please check this page and contact a College admissions office before making an application."

Like all universities, Cambridge constantly review - and sometimes amend - their entry requirements. The fact that tend to amend them so late (i.e. after their open days and after people have made the decision to apply) is a bad form though.