International Students

At Corpus we have a long tradition of accepting undergraduates from across the world, and are proud of our diverse student body. We welcome applicants from different educational systems, and have experience in assessing international students from around the world. Being one of the smaller colleges, international students usually find it easy to settle in and make friends here – a crucial part of helping you adjust to UK life.

Who's eligible?

We welcome qualified applicants from all over the world. If you're unsure of what Cambridge looks for, the University web site for international undergraduate applicants will tell you more about entrance requirements for students taking your qualification. The University has also created a prospectus aimed specifically at international students, which might help you in preparing your application. 

Funding for international students

Funding is limited but Cambridge University does offer some full scholarships for students from particular countries, and some part-scholarships funded by the Cambridge Trust. Students who have been made an offer can apply for these.

If you get a Cambridge Trust award but still have a small shortfall in the funds you need, Corpus may be able to help with an additional scholarship of up to £4000 per year depending on your circumstances.

In addition, Corpus has the scholarships listed below:

  • The Girdlers’ Scholarship: this is awarded every third year to a New Zealand citizen who has completed at least eight years of schooling in New Zealand. The value covers the tuition and maintenance costs for some courses at Cambridge. For further details, please contact the Admissions Office. 
  • The Hong Kong Link Scholarship: this award was set up to support the long tradition of scholars from Hong Kong studying at the College. It is awarded to an academically strong student from Hong Kong who applies to study for an undergraduate degree at Corpus Christi College. The scholarship is intended for students who would not normally have the means to study overseas and covers college and tuition fees, plus living expenses for a three-year degree. If you wish to be considered for this award, you should apply for the Prince Philip Scholarship in the normal way.

If you have any questions about joining Corpus as an international student, please contact The Admissions Office.

Applying to Cambridge as an international student, I wasn’t very familiar with the intimacies of the different colleges.  When it came to choosing a college, I knew that I wanted to be somewhere beautiful and central with a smaller student community; I was very happy to find that Corpus fulfilled these criteria! The central location means that I don’t have to travel too far for most things, whether it’s heading to a lecture or into town. At Corpus, you get to know everybody fairly quickly! The friendly atmosphere of a smaller college really helped me to make friends and settle into a new country, away from home.

Hong Kai Lim

How to Apply

Nerve-wracking though some people find them, the interviews are a great opportunity for you to show us your ability, aptitude and interest for your chosen subject. At Corpus we interview around 75-80% of candidates, mostly in the first half of December. We try to give you as much notice as possible beforehand. You have two interviews, conducted by subject specialists, and there are usually two academics in each interview. Everything is held on the same day. Some overseas applicants may be interviewed in their own or a neighbouring country – read more about International Student applications.  All applicants receive free meals while at Corpus and, depending on your circumstances, you may be offered free overnight accommodation here. Helpful Corpus undergraduates will be on hand to show you around, take you into meals and try to put you at ease. They’ve been through it! Financial support for interview travel costs To enable applicants to come to interview in Cambridge, we are pleased to provide support for travel costs to students who are in local authority care and/or are currently in receipt of free school meals and who attend a UK maintained sector school/college. Public transport travel costs between £20 and £80 will be reimbursed, and we will contact eligible applicants directly with further information when they're invited to interview. What do the interviews involve? The interviews often take the form of mini-supervisions (College-based teaching sessions) where we look to see how you’re likely to respond to this style of teaching. The type of interview varies depending on the subject. For example, in a maths or science interview, you should expect to do some writing such as solving equations or sketching curves. For a humanities subject, you’re likely to be given a text for discussion during the interview. Please remember the process is less about ‘getting the right answer’ (there may not even be one) and much more about showing how you can work towards a solution to an unfamiliar concept or problem. This video from the Cambridge Admissions office gives you a great sense of how we usually conduct admissions interviews. Getting ready for interview (deep breath) Carefully re-read your personal statement and any written work you have submitted. Think in detail about the course at Cambridge. What about it attracts you and matches your aptitudes and interests? Revise what you have already studied and try to read and further develop your interest in the subject. Expect to be asked focused and challenging questions, which reflect the style of teaching and learning at Cambridge. Be prepared to talk about academic work you’ve completed in the last year or two. Wear something warm – it’s cold in December! Beyond that, it’s your choice. We simply want you to feel calm and comfortable so you can focus on what you’re going to say.​ Guidelines and tips for preparing your application to Corpus.