The application process

Applications for postgraduate study at Cambridge University are managed by the Postgraduate Admissions Office (PAO), with an application submitted using the central Applicant Portal for most courses.

In some cases, for example, for applications to Clinical Medicine, the MBA, MFin, and PGCE courses, there is a separate process explained on each of the departmental pages.

Before you apply, you should check the course details through the University’s course directory and note the deadlines, fees and entry requirements. If you are a current undergraduate at Churchill College, it is normally a good idea to talk to your Director of Studies or your Tutor before applying.

Please also consider financial and visa requirements at an early stage.

There is detailed guidance about requirements and processes for applications for postgraduate study at Cambridge on the Before Applying and How Do I Apply? pages. When you have applied, you can use the Applicant Portal to track your application through to confirmation of admission. There is more information on the process in the What Happens After Applying? section of the University website, including a useful flowchart.

There are 31 colleges in the University of Cambridge, and everyone studying for a degree in the University needs to be a member of a College. While all the Colleges offer similar core provision, each College has a distinct community, culture and history. There is guidance on choosing a College and a list of Colleges on the University website.

If you are made an offer of study by the University, your application will be sent to one or more Colleges to be considered for College membership. You can indicate up to two College preferences, and your application will be considered for those Colleges first, before being circulated to other Colleges if they are unable to offer you College membership. You can also leave the application “open”, in which case the University’s Postgraduate Admissions Office will allocate your application to be considered for College membership.

We believe Churchill College offers a friendly, collaborative and multidisciplinary community for postgraduates, with excellent facilities and student support. We are looking for students who can contribute to a distinctive mixed community of creative and thoughtful scholars with the capacity for positive impact.

In order to be considered by Churchill College you should list us as your first preference college. If we are able to offer you a place we will write to you with more information and ask you to fill out and return our membership form. The offer of a place at the College and the University depends on meeting the conditions set by the University. The University publishes a guide to Your Offer and Its Conditions each year to help explain this part of the process.

We hold regular online Q&As for Churchill College offer-holders, and the College’s Postgraduate Office is available to help guide you through the process.

We know it can be a complex process, but we are here to help. Please contact the College’s Postgraduate Office if you have any queries: postgrad.admissions@chu.cam.ac.uk.

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