Step 3 - How to Apply
Welcome to the Prospective Graduate Students homepage. Here you will find an introduction to the University of Cambridge, the courses we offer, how to apply for postgraduate study, how your application will be processed, and immigration and other important information.
Submitting your application is the third step in the application process. You should thoroughly research your prospective course, its requirements, deadlines and course costs in 'Step 2 - Studying at Cambridge' before you proceed to 'Step 3 - How to Apply'.
If you have completed Step 2 you are now ready to apply. This step is broken down into 3 stages:
- On this page
- Stage 1: Preparation
- Stage 2: Submitting the online application form (GRADSAF)
- Stage 3: Uploading the required supporting documentation
If you are currently, or have previously been, a graduate student at Cambridge, please also see 'Continuation and Readmission'.
Stage 1: Preparation
Having used the Qualifications Directory to fully research the course you are interested in, make sure you now have the relevant information you need to apply:
- Course codes.
- Application deadline dates, and funding deadline dates. You will need to have submitted both the application and the required supporting documentation by the advertised dates.
- The relevant required supporting documents (e.g. transcripts, CV, etc.) in pdf format to upload. See each individual course entry in the Qualifications Directory for this information.
- Email addresses for your academic referees (please see 'Supporting Documentation: References' for details on what to do if you do not have this information).
Stage 2: Submitting the online application form (GRADSAF)
Please note that some courses may have different application processes (ie MSt's, MBA, MFin, PGCE, MEd and higher awards) see the Glossary of Awards for further information.
Please note that there is an application charge of (GBP Sterling) £50 and you will be required to pay this fee before your online form can be submitted (if you are applying to start your course in Easter Term 2012 the application charge is £35). This charge is not refundable. You can make the payment by providing your credit card details to our secure server. The University of Cambridge accepts the credit cards below as payment.
If you wish to make a paper application please see 'Applying on Paper'.
Stage 3: Uploading the required supporting documentation
Within 30 hours of submitting your online application form and payment, you will be sent an email giving you access to your Self-Service account. Your Self-Service account will remind you of all the supporting documentation you need to provide, and you will be able to upload electronic copies via your account. Please also see 'Supporting Documentation' for further details on supporting documentation.
If you apply for more than one course you will need to upload your documents separately for each course. Please note that you may not apply more than once for the same course (for example you cannot apply twice to the same PhD course with two different research proposals).
If you have provided an email address for your referees in your online application form they will also receive an email within 30 hours giving them access to an online Electronic Referencing System, where they can upload their references. Please see the Application Guide for further information on what to do if you were unable to provide email addresses for your referees.
Please note that your application is not considered as complete without the supporting documentation required (including the references), and that all documentation should be provided by any relevant course or funding closing dates.
"The application process is not as daunting as you might expect, and you can follow your progress online every step of the way. I directed initial enquiries to my department as this is where I knew the application forms would be seen first. After hearing that my place to study there was confirmed it was just a few days before an acceptance letter also arrived from my first choice College."
Jennifer