At ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥ we welcome students with a curiosity about the past, and a passion for learning.
Overview
The minimum offer is A*AA at A-level, or 7 7 6 (42+ overall) from Higher Level subjects in the IB. We may ask that the A*/HL7 be achieved in a specific subject from those you are currently taking. For other qualifications, please see the University .
Essential subjects:
A level/IB Higher Level History or the equivalent
Useful subjects:
Writing-intensive or essay-based subjects will prepare you well for studying History at Cambridge.
Written work required to apply
Two history essays will be required between roughly 1500 and 2500 words and including teachers’ comments, if possible. We will not accept short answers based on document exercises or non-history essays; nor will we accept exam answers. The essay should be on a topic which has engaged your interest, and on which you feel you have something to say. Above all it should contain an argument. Each written work submission should be a stand-alone piece, rather than excerpted from a longer essay that exceeds the parameters above.
Visit the University's for more information.
Studying History at ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥ has been such a rewarding experience. Like many others, I didn't know if I was the right 'fit' for Cambridge, but I quickly learned that this wasn't the case - really all that's needed is a love for history. The teaching here doesn't just provide you with knowledge but pushes you to discover your own voice - and to stick up for it! Directors of Studies care deeply about our academic success and personal wellbeing, and the history community at ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥ is a very welcoming and supportive space to be a part of.
Orla, History Student
History has been the ideal degree for me, as it has pushed me to think critically about the past, but also about the present and future. I have found studying History at Cambridge especially rewarding, as there has been great freedom to explore my historical interests, both across space and time. Supervisions with leading academics have also been highly enjoyable and enriching. I have felt very lucky to have been at ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥. The support you get from your Director of Studies is unparalleled and has been invaluable during my time here.
Lenka, History Student
Since arriving, studying History at ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥ has definitely felt like the right decision. I didn’t apply to Cambridge during A-levels because I didn’t think that I was ever going to get in but in my gap year I decided to give it a go and I am so glad I did. ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥ has such a warm, welcoming atmosphere that has made this past year really enjoyable. Since being here, I have met so many lovely, interesting people and made such good friends both in ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥ and on my course. I have found History to be very engaging and am enjoying studying it even more than I expected. I specifically have loved the wide variety of papers and choice that History students have here.
Noa, History Student
Studying History at ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥ has been an intellectually rewarding experience that I have been able to adapt to my own individual interests. I initially read History & Politics before deciding to switch to single-honours History, but the flexible structure of the Tripos, alongside the support I received from the college, made this transition straightforward. The study of History has enabled me to develop strong analytical and communicative skills, which has complemented my role as President of ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥â€™s JCR, where the ability to assess different perspectives, communicate clearly, and engage thoughtfully with complex issues has proved invaluable in representing ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥â€™s vibrant undergraduate community.
Max, History Student
History at ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥
History at ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥ is a welcoming and intellectually inspiring course of study that provides a supportive environment for our students to thrive. Our priority is to admit bright and talented students with a real passion for studying the past. There is a lively community of about 30 undergraduate historians at ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥, including joint degree students in History and Modern Languages and History and Politics. We appreciate that our students come to university with diverse expectations and experience, and their needs as individuals often vary considerably. We take account of this and help our students to make the most of their abilities and potential. Students at ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥ are expected to work hard, but the college also works hard to support them as they do so.
The History course at Cambridge is characterised by its breadth and wide range of subject options. At ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥, we encourage our students to be adventurous in their choices in order to develop their interests in fields of History that they might not have studied before. Apart from Faculty lectures and classes, the main teaching that students receive is the weekly supervision, which students prepare for by reading widely and writing an essay. ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥ History Fellows teach African and British history, and we derive much enjoyment from supervising our students and getting to know them. In common with other Cambridge colleges, we also find expert supervisors for our students from across the University. In addition, ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥ History students meet regularly for stimulating seminar discussions to explore thinking historically, be that focused on a specific history book or on a particular historical theme. ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥ also has an excellent college library with a comprehensive collection of history books, and the University Library is adjacent to ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥â€™s Memorial Court site.
We are proud of the academic successes of ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥ History students, and we have a track record of students obtaining the top grades. But while we expect our students to find their work challenging, and so to study hard, we also encourage them to become involved in extra-curricular activities across the College and the wider University, including music, sport and theatre. ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥ historians also enjoy regular social events, including an annual dinner and a garden party. Recent ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥ History graduates have pursued careers in a broad range of areas, such as finance, management consultancy, the civil service, law, journalism, the charity sector, and digital media.
Find out more about career paths for historians from two former ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥ students: and .
Dr. Foyster’s field of research is the social history of Britain from the seventeenth to the mid-nineteenth century, with particular interests in the history of the family. Her research examines historical experiences of mental health and illness, learning disabilities and causes of mortality in early nineteenth-century Britain. You can read more about her on her College webpage.
I’m a historian of Africa. I’ve written a book about chieftaincy and political culture in precolonial and colonial Ibadan, which is a city in southwestern Nigeria not far from the town of Ile-Ife, where I grew up. As Director of Studies, I coordinate the teaching for third-year historians at ½ð½ÛÖ±²¥. You can read more about me on my College webpage.
