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Cambridge University:- additional academic profiles

Am planning or will be applying to Cambridge University for HSPS as a mature student
As well as getting straight As
What other additional circulars should I undertake to improve my application

Already doing a few online courses
Undertaking ielts and TOEFL and SAT test to improve academic readiness

Do hobbies take inyo account

Any suggestions are welcome
Original post
by Academica101
Am planning or will be applying to Cambridge University for HSPS as a mature student
As well as getting straight As
What other additional circulars should I undertake to improve my application

Already doing a few online courses
Undertaking ielts and TOEFL and SAT test to improve academic readiness

Do hobbies take inyo account

Any suggestions are welcome


Only extra-curriculars that are directly related to your course (often called "supercurriculars") will make any difference to an application. So hobbies and sports will seldom make any difference.

Reply 2

Original post
by Academica101
Am planning or will be applying to Cambridge University for HSPS as a mature student
As well as getting straight As
What other additional circulars should I undertake to improve my application
Already doing a few online courses
Undertaking ielts and TOEFL and SAT test to improve academic readiness
Do hobbies take inyo account
Any suggestions are welcome
Focus on the topics and aspects of your course that you are most interested in and excited to explore. Talk about what you learn, offer a critique of the material highlighting anything you disagree with (and why) and what you did (or plan to do) next as a result of your learning. Don’t make the common error of wasting space describing content they already know inside out. They want to see you articulating your own opinions and views.
There are plenty of resources for super curriculars on this link: https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/files/publications/super-curricular_suggestions.pdf#page23

Reply 3

Original post
by Dolce Vita
Focus on the topics and aspects of your course that you are most interested in and excited to explore. Talk about what you learn, offer a critique of the material highlighting anything you disagree with (and why) and what you did (or plan to do) next as a result of your learning. Don’t make the common error of wasting space describing content they already know inside out. They want to see you articulating your own opinions and views.
There are plenty of resources for super curriculars on this link: https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/files/publications/super-curricular_suggestions.pdf#page23


Thanks appreciate
Original post
by Academica101
Am planning or will be applying to Cambridge University for HSPS as a mature student
As well as getting straight As
What other additional circulars should I undertake to improve my application

Already doing a few online courses
Undertaking ielts and TOEFL and SAT test to improve academic readiness

Do hobbies take inyo account

Any suggestions are welcome


As above, focus on relevant stuff to your course. Wider reading in your proposed subject area (preferably of academic books - e.g. monographs, edited volumes etc, although some more pop-science/related type books may also be suitable).

Taking the SAT will not improve your academic skills and unless you need to take it for admissions purposes (i.e. you are a US student applying from a US high school) there is no benefit in doing so. IELTS and TOEFL are only necessary if you are an international student and are required to prove your English language skills. They will not develop your academic abilities. I would strongly recommend you not waste any time with any of those things unless it is a necessary requirement.

Unrelated hobbies including e.g. sporting achievements or similar are of little interest for Cambridge as noted. They want to see relevant academic activities and engagement beyond the curriculum. As a mature student unless you are working in some area that may have some bearing on the course you're applying to, this is probably going to be principally wider reading as indicated.

Just read widely in the topics of interest in your field(s) of study within HSPS and think about them and the different arguments presented :smile:

Reply 5

Original post
by artful_lounger
As above, focus on relevant stuff to your course. Wider reading in your proposed subject area (preferably of academic books - e.g. monographs, edited volumes etc, although some more pop-science/related type books may also be suitable).
Taking the SAT will not improve your academic skills and unless you need to take it for admissions purposes (i.e. you are a US student applying from a US high school) there is no benefit in doing so. IELTS and TOEFL are only necessary if you are an international student and are required to prove your English language skills. They will not develop your academic abilities. I would strongly recommend you not waste any time with any of those things unless it is a necessary requirement.
Unrelated hobbies including e.g. sporting achievements or similar are of little interest for Cambridge as noted. They want to see relevant academic activities and engagement beyond the curriculum. As a mature student unless you are working in some area that may have some bearing on the course you're applying to, this is probably going to be principally wider reading as indicated.
Just read widely in the topics of interest in your field(s) of study within HSPS and think about them and the different arguments presented :smile:


Thanks you

Regarding super circular as per noted for hsps ehat best recccomendation to pursue

Plus regarding regarding grades am from Scotland so highers abd advance highers are necessary
Along with qualifications whar subjects should focus ss planning on English Sociology Psychology
Whar other subjects
Would modern studies abs history too

Plus my extra circular are wide table from
Legi,anime ,aviation and trains

Plus professional certificates in forklift, manual handling and IT certificate too

I currently doing various online courses via cousera and edx online as well as Cambridge’s pace

How should I enhance my academic profile with super circular
Original post
by Academica101
Thanks you

Regarding super circular as per noted for hsps ehat best recccomendation to pursue

Plus regarding regarding grades am from Scotland so highers abd advance highers are necessary
Along with qualifications whar subjects should focus ss planning on English Sociology Psychology
Whar other subjects
Would modern studies abs history too

Plus my extra circular are wide table from
Legi,anime ,aviation and trains

Plus professional certificates in forklift, manual handling and IT certificate too

I currently doing various online courses via cousera and edx online as well as Cambridge’s pace

How should I enhance my academic profile with super circular

HSPS has no specific subject requirements. Any mix of humanities and social sciences subjects would obviously be relevant in terms of transferable skills but I'm sure the sciences are also fine.

The general extracurricular stuff and professional certificates aren't relevant so not worth discussing your personal statement. The online courses would be a relevant thing to discuss if related to HSPS subject areas, so spend some time reflecting on those :smile:

For the online courses remember it's not so much about having done them (and so you don't need to pay to get certificates and stuff), they just want to see what you took away from them and how you can analytically and critically discuss them (as you would do in e.g. an academic essay when you were there as a student).

Reply 7

Original post
by artful_lounger
HSPS has no specific subject requirements. Any mix of humanities and social sciences subjects would obviously be relevant in terms of transferable skills but I'm sure the sciences are also fine.
The general extracurricular stuff and professional certificates aren't relevant so not worth discussing your personal statement. The online courses would be a relevant thing to discuss if related to HSPS subject areas, so spend some time reflecting on those :smile:
For the online courses remember it's not so much about having done them (and so you don't need to pay to get certificates and stuff), they just want to see what you took away from them and how you can analytically and critically discuss them (as you would do in e.g. an academic essay when you were there as a student).


Thanks tgus been insightful

Regards my academic profile
My past was a 3rd class degree in management technology and enterprise due to personal issues like dealing with drunks and altercation and alcholics disruptive my studies

Sibce then build myself back through jobs in various financial institutions and volunteering in global sports events and community groups

Plus taking Chinese lessons basic level 1 to 3
Got few open university short courses certificate

So regarding extra or super circular how do I build that or enhance my academic profile

What specific as a mature student do I need to to do apsry from doing highers in English Sociology Psychology then Advanced Higher English
What other subjects should I do abd what specific super circular should I do
Original post
by Academica101
Thanks tgus been insightful

Regards my academic profile
My past was a 3rd class degree in management technology and enterprise due to personal issues like dealing with drunks and altercation and alcholics disruptive my studies

Sibce then build myself back through jobs in various financial institutions and volunteering in global sports events and community groups

Plus taking Chinese lessons basic level 1 to 3
Got few open university short courses certificate

So regarding extra or super circular how do I build that or enhance my academic profile

What specific as a mature student do I need to to do apsry from doing highers in English Sociology Psychology then Advanced Higher English
What other subjects should I do abd what specific super circular should I do

It's really as stated before - basically engage with the same kinds of academic material as you would on the course, then think about them deeply and write about them analytically :smile:

That said I would just point out - if you already have a degree, for second degree students a) normally you can't get funding from SAAS/SFE for a second full time degree (with some exceptions and b) for Cambridge specifically, for second degree students they also charge a college fee usually (on top of the tuition fees and any accommodation costs) which is quite substantial. Notably Oxford do not levy a college fee for second degree students, so maybe something to consider!
(edited 2 months ago)

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