How To Apply
If you are really interested in music, if you have intellectual curiosity and the capacity to dedicate yourself to studying, you should definitely consider applying. You are likely to be a serious candidate. We welcome and warmly encourage applications from talented students from every educational and social background.
Applications
In Cambridge, admissions are handled by individual Colleges, so you should consult the webpage of the College to which you would like to apply (or to which you are assigned, if you make an Open Application) for further details.
For general guidelines, advice, and deadlines, please visit the University's Undergraduate Admissions pages.
Interviews
Before coming to interview you will be asked to submit representative written work and musical material. This will normally include:
- One or two essays, ideally on a topic related to music; and
- One or two technical exercises (if studied) and/or your own compositions.
We recognise that candidates may not always have examples of the written work that has been requested of them; in such cases, they are encouraged to contact the admissions office of the College to which they are applying for further advice.
At interview, you will normally be asked to comment on a piece of writing about music and a score. You should also be prepared to discuss your musical experience and interests. We do not expect you to excel in all areas; rather we use the interview to form an impression of your skills and capabilities as well as your potential to develop further as a student within the context of the music course at Cambridge.
In addition to these standard requirements, a number of colleges set further tests, which might include aural, keyboard, harmony, and essay-writing exercises, as well as the option to perform. For further details of interview arrangements at individual colleges, see the links below: