Cambridge University promises to make it easier to apply

Feb 18 2008

One of the UK’s leading universities today announced plans to make it easier for sixth-formers to apply.

Cambridge today said it would no longer ask would-be students to fill out a separate application form.

Officials said applicants would in future be able to list Cambridge alongside other universities on a standard form.

A spokesman said the university hoped that the move would encourage more youngsters from “non-traditional” backgrounds to apply.

“The university and colleges have decided to discontinue the Cambridge Application Form (CAF) and the associated £10 fee, thus bringing the application process in line with that at other universities,” said the spokesman.

“Subject to final confirmation in the summer when the necessary technical developments have been concluded, UK and EU students applying to Cambridge this autumn for undergraduate courses beginning in 2009 onwards will simply list Cambridge on their Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) application with their other university choices.”

The university said the Cambridge Application Form - on which applicants supplied more detailed information - had been a feature for decades.

“Its purpose was to supply Cambridge with detailed information about applicants and to give admissions tutors access to this information in advance of its circulation to universities by UCAS,” added the spokesman.

“The changes reflect Cambridge’s determination that its application procedure should be as straightforward as possible for applicants, especially those from ’non-traditional’ backgrounds.”

Geoff Parks, Director of Admissions for the Cambridge Colleges, added: “The change will benefit everyone concerned: applicants, their schools and colleges and our admissions tutors and officers.”