Supporting Documentation
The Graduate Admission and Scholarship Application Form (GRADSAF) by itself does not constitute a complete application - there are a number of other documents that must accompany your GRADSAF in order for it to be considered. References and transcripts are required for all applicants. In addition, depending on the course and department in question, applicants may be required to submit a research proposal, CV, GRE or GMAT scores, or other documentation. Please check the information for your course in the Qualifications Directory and on the departmental website carefully, in order to ensure that you submit the correct documentation. Do not submit materials unless you are specifically asked to do so; the department will not use them when assessing your application unless they are required.
A brief summary of the items of documentation that may be requested is provided below.
- On this page
- References
- Transcripts
- Research Proposal
- English Language Scores
- Curriculum Vitae
- Written Work
- Funding Letter
- Letter From Employer
References
You will need to provide the details of two referees who can provide academic references written in English. Candidates wishing to be considered for an award from the Gates Cambridge Trust must also provide the details of an additional referee, who can provide a personal reference (character reference). Your personal referee should be someone who knows you personally and who has the requisite experience and standing to assess your personal achievements and capacities, as well as your academic qualities. In many cases this would be an appropriate academic at your current or previous university. In the absence of an academic, a current or previous employer may also be appropriate. Your personal referee must not be a friend or family relation. You should notify your referees immediately you decide to apply to Cambridge so that they can start to prepare your references.
You will be asked to provide email addresses for your referees so that they can submit a reference for you via the online Electronic Referencing System, so it is important for you to ensure that your referee is happy and able to provide a reference for you before you submit your application form.
Applications for part-time study: please note that referees will be asked to comment on your ability to manage different responsibilities simultaneously.
The following table indicates who you should nominate as your academic referees:
| Who to nominate as an academic referee | ||
|---|---|---|
| You are | Your First Referee | Your Second Referee |
| A current undergraduate student | A tutor from your course | A second tutor from your course |
| A recent graduate with a first degree | As above | As above |
| A current graduate student at another university applying for admission | A tutor or supervisor from your graduate course | A tutor from your undergraduate course or present graduate tutor |
| A current, or recent, graduate at Cambridge University | Your current or most recent graduate supervisor | A tutor from your undergraduate course or present graduate tutor (if requested) |
| Working and have not recently studied | A member of academic staff from the most recent higher education course you took | Your employer or another person who can testify to your academic ability in a formal context |
If you do not have email addresses for your referees, or your referees are unable to use the electronic reference system you must use the forms below, completing Part I of each form as required and give it to your respective referees. They must give the references back to you in a sealed envelope, and they should have signed their name across the seal. If the envelope seal is broken, or the signature missing, we will not accept the references. Each envelope should contain one copy of the Academic Reference Instruction Form and one copy of the reference. Please note that we may contact your referees during the course of your application. References should be on headed paper and signed by hand - we cannot accept electronic or scanned signatures. Please note that academic references should not be written on the Personal Reference Form.
You will then need to send the references as detailed above with a coversheet downloaded from your self-service account. Please send the references to:
| Sent by standard post: | Sent by courier: |
|---|---|
| University of Cambridge Board of Graduate Studies PO Box 338 Cambridge CB2 1YP |
University of Cambridge Board of Graduate Studies 4 Mill Lane Cambridge CB2 1RZ |
Applications for part-time study: please note that referees will be asked to comment on your ability to manage different responsibilities simultaneously.
Transcripts
A transcript is a list of all the courses you have taken during a programme of study, with the result you obtained, and sometimes the credit value of each course. If you are currently studying, the Academic Registry at your university will be able to produce a transcript of courses you have taken so far. If you have completed your study, the transcript may also show your final award (usually as a class or CGPA).
If you do not have transcripts for your courses, please obtain them from the Academic Registry at your university (or write to the Registrar if you are no longer there) where you took the course. You may be charged for this. You should request and receive your transcripts before you begin your application so that you have them ready to upload.
The transcript will need to be uploaded as with the other supporting documentation via your self-service. Please do not write on any of your documents before you upload them. If you do, we will not accept them.
Please note that we may also ask you to send the originals via post if we make you an academic offer of admission and supplying these may be a condition of your offer.
If your documents are not in English, you must also upload a full translation of each document, prepared by a registered translator. There will be a charge for this service. Do not translate the documents yourself.
Additional information for paper applications only:
We are happy to accept copies of degree transcripts and certificates when you first apply to us, but we will ask to see originals if we make you an academic offer of admission and supplying these may be a condition of your offer. We can also accept certified copies at this stage. Your university will certify copies of documents by stamping them with the university stamp. If your university cannot do this, you must get the copies endorsed by a public notary or a lawyer who has seen the original documents. There might be a charge for these services.
Research Proposal
Please check your course entry in the Qualifications Directory and departmental website to see if this is required.
English Language Scores
Please check your course details in the Qualifications Directory for information on the language levels required for your course:
You must take an IELTS or TOEFL test that meets the language levels required if:
- your first language is not English
- your current test results are more than two years old on the date your proposed course starts
- your current test results do not meet the minimum requirement
- All elements must be passed at the required level in one sitting.
We would generally not expect you to take an IELTS or TOEFL test if:
- within the last 2 years you have completed University level study of 3 years or more in duration in an English speaking country
All non-UK nationals will be asked to upload a language certificate as a supporting document at the point of application. If at the point of application you are unable to upload a language certificate, or believe you meet the above exemption, then please follow the alternative instructions provided in your self-service account.
We recommend that those who require a test certificate make arrangements to take the test as soon as possible. There can sometimes by long waiting times for a test place, and if you delay making arrangements, it may be difficult to find a centre at which you can take a test. You should also allow sufficient time to take a further test, in case you do not meet the requirements immediately.
Applicants should aim to provide their language test results by 31st July for admission the following October.
Please note that although the University offers courses with Pre-Sessional and In-Sessional Support under the 'English for Academic Purposes' (EAP) programme they are only available on recommendation by the Board of Graduate Offices if you are made an offer of admission. These courses are not available on request. Invitations are only issued to those who have already completed an IELTS/TOEFl test but who have narrowly missed the required level, and the courses do not replace the requirement to complete an IELTS/TOEFL test.
Test scores
Please check your course entry in the Qualifications Directory and departmental website to see if GRE, GMAT or other test scores are required.
Curriculum Vitae
Some faculties or departments may ask you to provide a CV (Curriculum Vitae, or resumé). This is in addition to the application form, and must not be sent instead of it. Please check the information for your course in the Qualifications Directory and on the departmental website carefully, to see if this is required. Do not send a CV unless your course specifically asks for it; the department will not use it when assessing your application unless it is required.
Written Work
Some faculties and departments may ask you to provide written work so that they can make an assessment of your knowledge and of the level at which you are working. Please check the information for your course in the Qualifications Directory and on the departmental website carefully, to see if this is required. Do not send written work unless your course specifically asks for it; the department will not use it for assessing your application unless it is required.
Funding Letter
If you have already applied for a scholarship and the awarding body has written to you, please send us an original version of the letters offering you funding.
Letter From Employer
You will need to provide a letter from your employer (if any) confirming that you may have time off, if necessary and as required, to attend the University for the whole duration of your course. This will be required for part-time study only. It is generally not permitted to remain in employment whilst studying full time at Cambridge.