The University of Cambridge, founded in 1209, pairs a collegiate system with the Tripos — its distinctive degree structure — and a supervision system of small-group teaching that rivals Oxford's tutorials. Its fee structure confuses many applicants, because Cambridge charges tuition and a college fee separately. This profile separates the two and gives the verified 2026-27 figures.
Fees — 2026-27 (overseas undergraduates)
| Group | Subjects | Tuition per year |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Economics, Law, English, History | £29,052 |
| Group 4 | Engineering, Computer Science, Natural Sciences | £44,214 |
| Group 5 | Medicine, Veterinary Medicine | £70,554 |
| College fee (all groups) | Mandatory, charged separately | £11,500–£14,950 |
| Living costs (estimate) | Undergraduates | About £1,305 a month |
The effective first-year cost for an overseas undergraduate is therefore tuition plus college fee plus living costs — for Engineering, roughly £44,214 + college fee + living costs. The 2027-28 fee schedule, which applies to October 2027 entrants, was due by 1 October 2026; confirm the updated schedule on Cambridge's fees pages before budgeting.
Colleges and the Tripos
Cambridge's 31 colleges provide accommodation, dining, pastoral care and supervisions — small-group teaching sessions, usually one or two students with an academic, built around weekly work. Degrees are organised as Triposes: a student reads a Tripos (for example, the Engineering Tripos or the Natural Sciences Tripos) and may change direction between Parts. Like Oxford, Cambridge reallocates strong applicants between colleges, so college choice is not the deciding factor.
Admission requirements and deadlines
Apply through UCAS by 15 October in the year before entry; Cambridge admits only for Michaelmas (October) term, with no January alternative. Most courses require an admissions test and, for shortlisted candidates, interviews in December. Typical offers are A*A*A at A-level or 40–42 IB points, varying by course, and English requirements are commonly IELTS 7.5. International qualifications have published conversions per course — check yours before applying.
Programmes
Cambridge offers around 30 undergraduate courses: Engineering, Computer Science, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, Medicine, Law, Economics, History, English, Modern and Medieval Languages, Architecture, and more. The Natural Sciences Tripos is unusually flexible, letting students combine physics, chemistry, biology and earth sciences before specialising — a strong choice if you are undecided between science fields.
Scholarships
Undergraduate funding for overseas students is limited: the Cambridge Trust, college awards and country-specific scholarships (including GREAT and OCSI awards) help some students, but most overseas undergraduates are self-funded. Gates Cambridge funds postgraduate study only. As with Oxford, never budget on an assumed scholarship — only on an offer in writing.
Closing merit guidance
Cambridge does not publish a closing merit; admission combines test scores, interview performance and academic record, with an overall success rate around 19–21%. Treat the typical offer as the minimum and aim above it, particularly for Engineering, Computer Science and Medicine.
FAQs
What do Cambridge fees really total? Tuition (£29,052–£70,554 by group) plus a college fee (£11,500–£14,950) plus living costs — the college fee is the part applicants most often miss.
When must I apply? By 15 October through UCAS, for October entry only.
Can I apply to both Oxford and Cambridge? No, not in the same cycle, except for rare joint courses.
Is Gates Cambridge for undergraduates? No — Gates Cambridge funds postgraduate study only.
Related guides on Pakunii
UCAS Application Guide 2027 · Fully Funded Scholarships 2027 · IELTS Academic Guide
Sources and verification: Cambridge 2026-27 overseas tuition Group 1 £29,052, Group 4 £44,214, Group 5 £70,554, college fee £11,500–£14,950, living estimate about £1,305 a month, and UCAS deadline 15 October per Cambridge's published fee information, re-checked October 2026. The 2027-28 schedule was due by 1 October 2026 — confirm before budgeting.