Which Cambridge Colleges Are More Reapplication-Friendly? (While at Another Uni)

Transferring to Cambridge from another UK university
We normally do not consider applications from students enrolled on a degree course at another UK university.

We’ll only consider this if:

you have exceptional circumstances
you want to change the subject you're studying
You will:

need strong support from your course director
need a written reference or letter of support to the Cambridge College you apply to
be assessed in the same way as any other applicant

Hi everyone,
I’m planning to reapply to Cambridge for entry in 2026, and I would really appreciate any advice on my situation.
I’m starting my first year studying Physics with Astrophysics at the University of Manchester this autumn, but I still have a strong desire to study at Cambridge, and I’m considering reapplying.
Last year (2024 entry), I applied to Natural Science (Physical) at Corpus Christi College and got interviewed but unfortunately didn’t receive an offer. Looking back, I wasn’t as prepared as I could’ve been so that I messed up the interview, and I also had health issues that affected my ESAT performance.
Here are a few things I’d love to hear your input on:
1. Which colleges are generally more open to reapplicants, especially those currently studying at another UK university?(I don’t want to take a gap year since I think I could learn more in the university rather than at home.)
2. Has anyone here successfully reapplied to Cambridge while at another university, or do you know someone who has?
3. What kind of supporting materials would be helpful in this situation (e.g., first-year university transcripts, additional references from university tutors)?
4. Any advice on how to explain my reasons for reapplying in a way that’s sincere but also shows growth?
5. Any preparation I should do this summer to prepare for school work at University of Manchester?
Thank you in advance for your thoughts—I’d really value any advice or experiences!

No colleges are more friendly in the situation you are planning. Cambridge doesn’t consider applicants from other universities unless there are extenuating circumstances
If you want to reapply then you MUST take a gap year
https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/before/entry-requirements

As PQ says, none. In your position, doing Physics with Astrophysics at Manchester- you're on one of their flagship courses and a top university. Cambridge will not poach a student from that course.
Take a gap year and reapply or do your undergrad at Manchester are your only realistic options.

Thank you very much for answering my question. But I still have a question. If I transfer from Astrophysics to Natural Sciences, is it “ change the subject I’m studying”? I can write something about physical chemistry, earth science and other fields in physics (instead of astrophysics) in my personal statement. And I do have strong interest in those fields. Thank you very much

How do you propose to have support and a reference from Manchester by the deadline for applying to Cambridge?
The majority of exceptions that Cambridge consider from people wanting to change subject are from people who have completed a year of another degree and then apply while taking a break from their studies instead of continuing on to second year. The early deadline makes it pretty much impossible to apply just after starting year 1 elsewhere.

Thank you very much for answering my question. But could you please further explain why Cambridge won’t accept students who are on a flagship course of a top university? I thought it’s a strength for reapplying. Besides, between taking a gap year or doing undergrad at Manchester, which option would you choose? Thank you very much

Because Cambridge don't want to get the reputation for taking top students from other universities, nor creating a 'back door' way into Cambridge. They know that lots of other courses in the UK are at least as good, if not better than Cam courses. There's no upside and lots of reputational downsides for setting up a 'second chance' system like this. So they simply don't do it unless there is a major subject change or similar.

Hi everyone,
I’m planning to reapply to Cambridge for entry in 2026, and I would really appreciate any advice on my situation.
I’m starting my first year studying Physics with Astrophysics at the University of Manchester this autumn, but I still have a strong desire to study at Cambridge, and I’m considering reapplying.
Last year (2024 entry), I applied to Natural Science (Physical) at Corpus Christi College and got interviewed but unfortunately didn’t receive an offer. Looking back, I wasn’t as prepared as I could’ve been so that I messed up the interview, and I also had health issues that affected my ESAT performance.
Here are a few things I’d love to hear your input on:
1. Which colleges are generally more open to reapplicants, especially those currently studying at another UK university?(I don’t want to take a gap year since I think I could learn more in the university rather than at home.)
2. Has anyone here successfully reapplied to Cambridge while at another university, or do you know someone who has?
3. What kind of supporting materials would be helpful in this situation (e.g., first-year university transcripts, additional references from university tutors)?
4. Any advice on how to explain my reasons for reapplying in a way that’s sincere but also shows growth?
5. Any preparation I should do this summer to prepare for school work at University of Manchester?
Thank you in advance for your thoughts—I’d really value any advice or experiences!

As others said, they dont like reapplicants from other unis. Some people probably have done it, but by somewhat hiding that they are at another uni because cambridge doesn't want to take students from other unis purely out of respect. I would only reapply with three or four a stars. It isn't that deep what u mention on your PS. It can be mostly physics, maybe some exoplanets linkage to earth science or some other linkage to chem somewhere but that wont get you rejected. You only have to be sure youre fine with getting rejected again. How do you do that, make sure your gap year plans are such that you have a wonderful time. Get a job for the first few months, travel in the rest. If you have money to travel either way, prep purely for cambridge interviews and tests in september to december.

One note, mention somewhere on your PS that youre planning on doing internships, and actually apply, it doesnt matter if that doesnt go anywhere. Like within a natsci subject. Also say youll be doing tutoring to keep up your mathematical rigour and will be expanding on this with further reading. I mentioned those and also Mathematical methods for physics and engineering by Riley, Hobson etc I think. Thats a good book.

In terms of colleges. Go not too competetive. But basically every college is okay with reapplicants, theyll naturally just expect a bit more. Last year acceptance rate for nasci reapplicants was a bit over 40% so its definitely more likely but thats also because you have already got the grades needed to reapply which sifts out maybe 30% of the original. Anyways Im rambling, I reapplied to Corpus /:, wouldnt recommend that in your place because they didnt offer you a spot this year. I would recommend just generally, Clare, Peterhouse, Trinity Hall, Queens. Very central, which actually does matter when if u get here (I was close to applying to girton because everything I cared about was the offer but this would not have been good). Also all of those are very nice and not insanely competitive. Gonville and Caius have offsite first year accom so i wouldnt apply there.

They definitely would take you but youd have to take a gap year. I rejected imperial for my cambridge reapplication, which was even more dodgy because I couldnt have been sure I would get another offer. Anyways pop me some messages if you have any questions.

Hello, not sure how much help I could be but there is a creator (@yanran on YouTube I think) and she got into Cambridge NatSci when she was enrolled in Warwick so it does happen.
Maybe see if you can get in contact with her as she might have more information : )

that was maths -> Nat sci tho

She was admitted to nat sci in Cambridge tho I'm pretty sure

yeah she was but maths -> nat sci is different to physics -> nat sci

Well i didn't know that made a difference but maybe it does 🤷🏽*♀️

Well, maths is very different to nat sci, and physics is not different to physical nat sci 😭. Like the latter is so obvious that you just want to go to cambridge