The majority of undergraduate courses at Cambridge are open to applications during the . A list of subjects that are not included in the March round can be found on the University . Information regarding the application process and academic requirements can be found here. Do note that it is not possible to make an "open application" in the March round, you must apply directly to a mature college (Hughes Hall, St Edmund’s or Wolfson). If your application is unsuccessful at Wolfson, but we consider it strong enough for re-assessment, we will make it available to the other mature Colleges for consideration.
Many of our students made use of the March round to put in successful applications.
Starting off studying English and Drama at the University of Bristol, Marlie Haco unfortunately became ill during her first year and had to take some time off. When she was ready to return to full-time study, she started to have second thoughts. As she explains:
"When a house I was going to live in in Bristol fell through, it prompted me to re-evaluate. I didn’t love my course, most of my friends had moved on and it felt a rather retrograde step. I was at a crossroads."
Fortunately, Marlie's sister was doing a PhD at Cambridge and told her about the March admissions round.
"I thought Cambridge would be too traditional and stuck-in-the-past for me, but then I found Â鶹ËÞÉáµçÊÓ¾çand I just thought, 'this is the perfect place'."
Paul Matthews spent 10 years as a football coach, a job he enjoyed but didn't find intellectually stimulating nor well paid. But when he looked at other employment options, his lack of a degree was holding him back.
"I felt in this landscape where everybody has a degree, I was really limiting myself. I had an interest in psychology, so I took steps to explore what I could do that would benefit me in my career," says Paul.
Paul moved back home in Torquay and took an Access course, but as it started in September he wasn't ready to apply in the November round. He took time to get settled and then applied in March.
"I booked a couple of days in Cambridge to get a feel for it and looked at the other mature colleges. But when I came to Wolfson I just had a really good feel. Mike the Porter showed me around and I decided Â鶹ËÞÉáµçÊÓ¾çwas the College for me."
At the age of 29, Rachel Loughran was living in London and had a interesting and varied career as a performer, teacher and writer. But her focus started to shift increasingly to her writing work and she considered doing a diploma course in Journalism. Then she wondered if a university degree wouldn't be a better option.
"It did occur to me at some point that I'm sure there's going to be an HR box to tick that asks, Do you have a degree?'", she says. "I had always been strong academically and I felt there was a void —I wanted to get to reach the highest level that I could."
Rachel enrolled in a three-month continuing education course at Oxford, but she was drawn to Wolfson's English course because of her interest in Irish literature and modernism. She spoke with a Â鶹ËÞÉáµçÊÓ¾çAdmissions Tutor.
"The reception I received was so encouraging. It was really helpful and constructive. I felt this is the kind of supportive learning environment I want to be in," she says. "It was a quick turnaround because I only really started thinking about applying in October, so I worked on my personal statement over Christmas and made it through during the March round."
Norfolk native Timothy Trayhurn went to college to become an electrician, thinking he would make a good living.
"I knew I wanted to do either mechanical or electrical engineering and when I got the college the queue for electrical was significantly shorter, so I went for that one," he says ruefully.
But work as an electrician proved to be less than stimulating for him. Timothy had always had a love of literature. He says, "The fact is that I wasn't happy in my job. I had to carve out time for the thing I really love, which is reading, rather than dedicate myself to it."
A slight from a former high school classmate who intimated that Timothy wasn't university material strengthened his resolve - and he was determined to go to the very best university he could. A friend told him about an Access course in Norwich and then he started browsing student forums on the internet to find out what his options were.
"I was told that the student advisor at King's was really friendly and helpful, so I emailed her and told her my situation. She recommended applying to Â鶹ËÞÉáµçÊÓ¾çin the March round, so I contacted the Admissions tutors at Â鶹ËÞÉáµçÊÓ¾çand they were also very helpful and friendly."