ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±ºÅÂë

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Undergraduate FAQs

Here you'll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about admissions and life at ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±ºÅÂë.

If you still have questions or you need more detailed answers, please email us at undergraduate-admissions@jesus.cam.ac.uk.

How should I prepare for my application?

There's no magic formula for success apart from hard work at school and a genuine interest in your subject. You should be engaging in your subject outside of school, but there's no set way you have to do this. Reading books or articles, attending talks or lectures, watching videos, or listening to podcasts are all great ways to prepare. Whatever you do, make sure you're actually interested, and don't be afraid to start a new book or consider a new idea if what you're working on isn't engaging you.

What's the interview process like?

The interview is a structured but relatively informal discussion about your subject. We won't expect you to know about subjects you don't study. We'll discuss questions which ask you to apply what you know to unfamiliar scenarios, to solve problems, and to think critically and flexibly. It doesn't matter what you wear or how you speak, and we're not looking for a 'smooth' performance. Just stay calm, listen to the questions being asked, and be prepared to consider things in new ways; many people find they enjoy their interviews.

Does my background (school, financial, or religious) matter?

No. We welcome anyone who has the potential to thrive on our courses. We take some contextual information into account, such as the average performance at your school, but this is only to make sure we're assessing you fairly. No one who applies is successful or unsuccessful simply due to their background.

What is student life like at ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±ºÅÂë, and in Cambridge?

Always busy, sometimes intense, but never boring. Our students work hard and take their studies seriously, but they also have a huge range of other interests. You'll have the opportunity to do everything you would do at any other university. You can dedicate your spare time to almost anything that interests you, from sport and music to student volunteering or spending time with your friends. There's no such thing as a typical student at ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±ºÅÂë, we're proud of our diversity.

How should I choose which College to apply to?

College choice is a social decision, and the best way to choose a College is to consider whether you'd enjoy living there. Consider whether it offers the facilities you'd like, where it is in the city, and simply whether it 'feels' right when you visit. The important thing is not to worry about it too much. People almost always end up loving whichever College they apply to; it's far more important to get your choice of course right.

Where can I find details of the admissions complaints and appeals process?

The Colleges’ shared approved policy and procedure for the can be found under Admissions complaints and appeals on the University website.

Hear from our students

  • Photo of Medicine student

    Fatima

    Medicine

    I enjoy the strong scientific focus of the Medicine course at Cambridge for the first three pre-clinical years. The way the course is delivered is unique and, while it’s not for everyone, it is something that really pushes me. Despite the initial scientific focus, there is plenty of opportunity to see the clinical side with the ‘Preparing for Patients’ course, and through optional clinical sessions held by the upper year Jesus clinical medics. ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±ºÅÂë itself has such beautiful grounds and is a wonderful place to study. It has so...

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    Devavrata

    Medicine

    Studying Medicine at Jesus for the past two years has been a great privilege. The course has been challenging, but extremely rewarding, especially as I enjoyed biology at school. The course is packed full of science for the first two years, and in third year you can choose to study a similar or entirely unrelated course. After that there are three years of clinical studies. Renowned for its amazing musical, arts, and sporting facilities, ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±ºÅÂë not only gives you a top-class medical education but a true sense of belonging...

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  • Photo of Archaeology student

    Tansy

    Archaeology

    Studying Archaeology at Jesus has been a fantastic experience. For the last three years, I have been able to choose from an enormous range of papers, allowing me to tailor the course to my personal areas of interest. Throughout this, I have benefited from the continued support of (among other brilliant academic staff in College) an archaeologically-specialised Director of Studies and a well stocked archaeology section in the College library, meaning I rarely need to borrow from the department. ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±ºÅÂë also offers a range of travel and study grants...

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    Archaeology
  • Lewis smiling at camera.

    Lewis

    Human, Social, and Political Sciences

    I've thoroughly enjoyed studying Human, Social, and Political Sciences (HSPS) at Jesus. I was nervous before I arrived, but the friendly community of students and staff immediately put me at ease. Not only is the college library a great place to study, it can also get pretty much any book for you on request! Great for a sudden wave of inspiration based on something off the reading list... Outside of academia, the college has been ramping up its connections to industry and career support, which has been invaluable in calming...

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  • Photo of Geography student

    Harvey

    Geography

    What makes Geography so appealing is that it’s such a diverse and varied subject, and the Cambridge course really makes the best of this. In first year, you study both Human and Physical Geography which is a fantastic way to get an overview of the whole discipline. I knew before I arrived that I was probably going to be a Human Geographer, but I really enjoyed studying the Physical side too, and it helped me find new connections between different topics. By far the best thing about Jesus is the...

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