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International students

International students

The diversity of King's students makes the College an especially welcoming environment for students from outside the UK. International students should read all of the Study at King's section of this website as well as the information below.

  1. How do we assess international applications?
  2. How many places are there at King's for international students
  3. English Language requirements
  4. How do I apply to King's?
  5. Who should write my reference? What information should be included?
  6. Sending in written work
  7. What if I need a visa to study in the UK?
  8. What are the fees? Can I get a scholarship?
  9. What does King's look like?
  10. Useful Links

How do we assess international applications?

Our admissions principles are exactly the same for international students as for any other applicant: we are looking for academic potential. Applicants in different parts of the world work in all kinds of different exam systems. This is nothing to worry about:

  • We receive a large number of international applications each year and you can see a list of our most common standard offers on the entrance requirements page. We are happy to provide further advice by email if your qualification is not listed and you are unsure of its suitability.
  • We assess each application individually. We ask international applicants to provide full details of any exams taken from the age of 15/16 (whether formal exams or internal school exams). We will need to know your result in each subject as well as any overall grades. If you have a certificate showing your results, you will need to send a copy by post at the time you apply. Otherwise, you may ask your school to write a document stating the exams you took each year and the grades you achieved (in the UK we call this a high school transcript - see detailed information). You will be prompted to send us your transcript when you fill in the Cambridge application forms (COPA / SAQ) and there will be a coversheet to download and send with it. 
  • We interview most candidates and in some subjects we set written tests or ask you to send written work (see the subject pages for further details). Interviews and tests are not designed to test a particular syllabus but more generally to find out how you work and how you would respond to the kind of academic challenges you would meet as an undergraduate at King's. We can find out a lot about your interests, motivation and potential by discussing your subject with you. There is further information about interviews and what we are looking for if you scroll down the how to apply page.

How many places are there at King's for international students?

We make offers to those students who we think show the most academic promise. We can admit as many international candidates as we want to based on the strength of the applications. There is therefore no set number or proportion of places for international students: we are only interested in your academic ability.

The one exception to this rule is for Medicine applications. There are only 22 places available across Cambridge University for overseas (non-EU) Medicine students.

English language requirements

Your English language skills need to be good enough for you to undertake an intensive and challenging academic course that is taught and examined in English. We usually require international students who are not native speakers of English to sit the IELTS examination and to offer an overall score of 7.0 with no individual element under 7.0. Many international applicants take the IELTS before they apply to King's and include the certificate with their high school transcript.

Since we interview most of our applicants we also use the interview (along with any written work or tests that are required for your course) to assess your communication skills in English. Some international students study English as part of their school qualifications - it is not a question of exactly which exams you have taken, but rather how good your English is when we meet you.

If you have not already taken the IELTS examination we may include an English language requirement as a condition of any offer we make in January. You would then have until the following August to sit the IELTS examination and provide us with evidence that you have achieved the required grades. Please note that we always specify the IELTS examination rather than any alternative English language test. Some students will not be set an IELTS condition because we are already happy with their level of English.

Students who will need a visa should note that there are UK entry language requirements as well. See the UK Border Agency website.

How do I apply to King's?

First you must work out whether you should apply as a European Union or Overseas (non-EU) student. This depends on where you go to school. It has nothing to do with fee status (which may be different and is sorted out later).

European Union applications

EU students apply in the same way as UK students except that they must provide a high school transcript. Please read the how to apply page thoroughly.

Overseas applications

Overseas applicants (from outside the European Union) follow the same basic procedure, but have to submit a Cambridge Online Preliminary Application (COPA) in addition to the UCAS form and SAQ. Please read the King's how to apply page thoroughly. It is also important to read the International Students' section of the Cambridge Admissions website.

Many overseas applicants apply to be interviewed at King's College, Cambridge in the normal way. We are happy to provide one night's free accommodation for you at King's when you come for your interview if you need it and there are travel instructions on the Getting to King's page. If you have an overseas address we will provide an official document to enable you to apply for a visa to enter the UK for your interview. Please note that time will be very tight. If the visa application process in your country takes a long time it would be worth considering applying for an overseas interview.

Some overseas students apply to be interviewed overseas. This means that if selected you are seen locally by an overseas team from Cambridge who interview you on behalf of the University and administer any test required. The University has in the recent past conducted admissions interviews in Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, PR China, and India. King's candidates for overseas interviews should:

We realise that mail takes some time to arrive in certain parts of the world. Accordingly we issue interview invitations and decision letters by email as well as post.

Your reference

When you submit your UCAS form you will need somebody to write a reference for you. This must be somebody (usually a teacher or adviser) who is familiar with your current academic work and can comment in detail about your application and academic potential. Please explain to your referee that you will be assessed on academic grounds so the more specific they can be about your academic ability the better.

Your referee must provide grade predictions for any exams you have not yet taken.

Cambridge provides information for referees and you should also consult the reference section on the UCAS website.

How to submit a UCAS reference

It will not be possible to assess your application unless we receive a reference for you. Ideally your reference should be in English. If this is really not possible, please send us an official translation by post. You must not translate the reference yourself.

Sending in written work

Depending on your subject, you may be asked to send us one or more essays after you have applied.

  • We are aware of differences in syllabus and methodology in different countries so you will not be disadvantaged if your essays are not written in the same style as those we receive from UK applicants.
  • We can be very flexible and will work with whatever essays you choose to send us.
  • The essays must be in English. We are happy to accept translations (either official translations or a translation by you) if you want to submit work originally written in another language.

We will provide full information and guidance after you have applied to us. Please don't worry in the meantime.

What if I need a visa to study in the UK?

The UK Border Agency is your primary source of information. Please also see the information provided by Cambridge Points Based Immigration Office. You will find their page for new and prospective students particularly useful.

King's cannot provide advice about visas, but you may wish to contact:

  • the Points Based Immigration Office: studentvisas [at] admin [dot] cam [dot] ac [dot] uk
  • the International Office: international [at] admin [dot] cam [dot] ac [dot] uk

What are the fees? How is my fee status decided? Can I get a scholarship?

In the finance section you will find:

The Cambridge Admissions website provides details of further support for students from Canada, Hong Kong, India and Pakistan. More generally, you may find this external University Scholarship Search website helpful.

The College will ask all overseas undergraduate offer-holders to document their financial circumstances and any potential need soon after academic offers have been made in January.

What does King's look like?

International students cannot always visit King's in person but our virtual tour will enable you to see the grounds (click on 'Navigate the grounds' to see other parts of the College). You should also find the Facilities page useful and there is a virtual tour of the Chapel. 

 

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