The Student Room Group

Postgraduate Cambridge Colleges

Hi guys, I am a Cambridge applicant unfamiliar with how the colleges work. If the department wants me but my choices of colleges are being rejected, what will happen? will I get allocated to a random college or be completely dismissed?
For postgrads, once the faculty & PAO have admitted you, you will be allocated a college. If you nominated two choices, those two colleges are sent your application, and they can either accept or reject you. If neither of your top two choices accept you, then your application is sent to 5 other colleges that have spaces available. One of them will accept you.
Reply 2
Original post by anonymous431
For postgrads, once the faculty & PAO have admitted you, you will be allocated a college. If you nominated two choices, those two colleges are sent your application, and they can either accept or reject you. If neither of your top two choices accept you, then your application is sent to 5 other colleges that have spaces available. One of them will accept you.

Thanks for the explanation, I got an offer but was not sure how the college works!
Each college is a self governing academic community where students may live, eat, socialise, and be taught. Each has its own endowment, character and traditions Colleges play sports against one another and engage in friendly academic and social rivalry.

Each student has an association with the university and with a college.
Reply 4
Original post by Stiffy Byng
Each college is a self governing academic community where students may live, eat, socialise, and be taught. Each has its own endowment, character and traditions Colleges play sports against one another and engage in friendly academic and social rivalry.
Each student has an association with the university and with a college.

Thanks for the help, I checked yesterday that I got allocated to my second choice: Magdalene college
Original post by ayneugene
Thanks for the help, I checked yesterday that I got allocated to my second choice: Magdalene college

Great! You may by now have noticed that while there is Magdalene at Cambridge and Magdalen at Oxford, each named after Jesus' girlfriend, each is pronounced in the same very English way.
Reply 6
Original post by Stiffy Byng
Great! You may by now have noticed that while there is Magdalene at Cambridge and Magdalen at Oxford, each named after Jesus' girlfriend, each is pronounced in the same very English way.

Yes, I applied to Oxford as well but the decision only came in March.

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