Entry requirements
- A* A A at A-level or 40-42 points with 776 at Higher Level for IB
It is not necessary to have studied Religious Studies or Philosophy at AS or A level.
Subjects such as Religious Studies, Ethics, History, English and languages can be helpful, but so can any other subjects that encourage clear, logical thinking and careful analysis of evidence.
More information is available on the University's Undergraduate Study pages.
If you aren't studying religion or philosophy at the moment, you may wish to supplement your knowledge of the area by browsing the introductory reading lists for new students.
How do I apply?
Your application will be made via the UCAS form, and includes details of your current subjects and grades, teachers' references, and a personal statement. It is worth remembering that the closing date for applications to Cambridge is earlier than for other universities. Don't leave it too late!
All applications for undergraduate degrees are handled by the individual colleges that make up the University of Cambridge. The University has an excellent admissions website which will guide you through the process.
We welcome students from all over the world. If you are an international applicant, please refer to the relevant pages on the Cambridge Admissions website.
Many applicants worry a great deal over whether they have chosen the 'right' College for their application. The admissions process for Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion is designed to ensure that it really does not matter which College you apply to: strong candidates will have a good chance of gaining a place at one of the Colleges in the University.
When making decisions about admissions, all of the information on your UCAS form, your interview, any essays which you submit in advance, and your performance in the at-interview assessment will be taken in to account. More detail about all of these elements can be found here.
Personal statement
As you prepare to apply to Cambridge, you may worry about what to include in your Personal Statement. You would be in good company!
In a personal statement we are looking for applicants who
- Explain their reasons for wanting to study the subject
- Demonstrate their enthusiasm for and commitment to their chosen course
- Express particular interests within the field
- Outline how they have pursued their interest in the subject in their own time.
We find that strong candidates tend to have explored their chosen subject through wider reading and thinking outside the classroom, as well as having done very well in their GCSEs and A levels, or equivalent.
Exploring Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion through wider reading and research will help you to develop your super-curricular interests, that is, those that build on and enhance what you have been studying at school. Enjoy the flexibility and freedom offered by super-curricular study to follow your own lines of enquiry in the areas that interest you most. Take the time to explore things you find genuinely interesting. and remember: with any resources, think critically about the arguments, assumptions and evidence presented by the author. We have some suggestions for developing your super-curricular interests here.
There is no minimum amount of super-curricular activity expected of our students. We find that outstanding applicants tend to explore their subject for the sake of interest.
Admissions and Interviews