Summary
- The number applying to Cambridge for entry in 1999 shows a small increase compared to 1998 (Table 1) with a 5% increase in the number applying from the maintained sector, and a 2% decrease in those applying from the independent sector. 45% of those admitted in 1999 were women, the same proportion as in 1998.
- The proportion of Home students admitted from the maintained sector has increased from 50% to 53% for 1999 (Table 1.1). The re-coding of schools and colleges that has taken place this year, reflecting the changes in status of many institutions over the years, has resulted in significant changes in the proportions allocated to 'Grammar', 'Non-selective secondary', and 'FE' in Table 1.1. Whereas in 1998 only 24% of those accepted by Cambridge Colleges were designated as coming from non-selective state schools, the figure in 1999 is now 35%, with a further 10% from FE institutions. Thus 45% of the students admitted in 1999 come from non-selective state schools and colleges. Despite an increase in overall numbers, the success rate of those coming from non-selective secondary schools has increased from 25.8% to 27.2%.
- The A-level points scores of candidates has levelled off this year, after a steady increase (Table 3). In 1999 77% of applicants and 98% of those admitted gained at least AAB at A level, excluding General Studies, which are the same percentage as in 1998.
- Home applicants are requested by UCAS to declare their ethnic origin (Table 7). For the first time this year over 10% of the students who applied and over 10% of those admitted declared that their ethnic origin was non-white. A further 6.4% chose not to state their ethnic origin on the UCAS form. Since UCAS started monitoring the ethnic background of students in 1993, the number of students admitted to Cambridge with declared non-white ethnicity has increased by 36%. Although numbers remain small, Table 7 shows a particularly significant increase in Black students admitted (doubled from 17 in 1998 to 35 in 1999). Table 7 also shows a significant evening out of the success rate of students from different ethnic backgrounds.
Background to the collection of the statistics
- The tables show the total numbers of applications and acceptances for October 1999, excluding affiliated students and candidates for the B.Ed Degree and the B.A. in Education Studies. They exclude 364 applicants through UCAS who did not submit a preliminary application form.
- The figures refer to a single cohort of applicants, irrespective of the year of subsequent entry. All candidates are regarded as 1999 entrants although some may have deferred entry until a later date. Those who applied before 15 October 1997 and received a deferred offer for 1999 are also excluded.
- The acceptance figures include only those candidates who received a firm offer of a place. They exclude those applicants who received conditional offers upon performance at A-level (or equivalent examinations) who did not subsequently fulfil those conditions. Table 8 indicates the total number of conditional offers made.
- Percentages have been rounded up to the nearest whole number and totals do not always add up to 100.