Interviews

Interviews form a key part of the Admissions process at the University of Cambridge and are often the part applicants feel the most nervous about. This page is designed to give you more information about how interviews work at Emmanuel College, and what to expect if you attend one.

Interviews in 2025

The interview period at Emmanuel College will take place between Monday 8 and Wednesday 17 December (inclusive).

All applicants should expect to be interviewed in person at Emmanuel College. This will be the case regardless of whether you are based in the UK or overseas, or whether you applied to us directly or via the open allocation system. Online interviews will be arranged in exceptional circumstances. Previous examples of where an online interview has been arranged include:

• Applicant on military service
• Visa relating to the delay or non–issuing of a visa 
• Grave cause (e.g. bereavement)

Once you have applied to Emmanuel College you will receive an acknowledgement pack via email, which will contain a survey to fill in to request an online interview. Please note that filling in this form does not guarantee that you will receive an online interview.

Regardless of the format of your interviews, the structure and aim of the interview will remain the same. Applicants will not be disadvantaged by the format of their interview.

What happens in an interview?

Interviews at Emmanuel College are held in person. If invited to interview, you should expect your interviews to take place within Emmanuel College in either a meeting room or in a Fellow's study.

The exact content of an interview varies between subjects, but typically all applicants will have two interviews with four different members of academic staff. Each interview lasts for around 20 minutes, although some subjects have longer interviews.

One of your interviewers will likely be the Director of Studies for your subject, who will oversee your studies if you are accepted into the College. Interviewers will not expect you to know everything about your subject, and will take into account topics you have told us you have covered at school, in your coursework, and those provided in pre–interview questionnaires. Don't worry if you have to pause before answering a question; this is much better than rushing an answer without considering what you are saying. The interviews are designed to be an opportunity for intelligent discussion, and you will be expected to think about responding to interviewer questions with your own ideas. You should not just provide answers that you think the interviewers want to hear, say what you really think—and if they disagree, do not be afraid to debate the point.

How to prepare

You cannot be coached for a Cambridge interview, but it often helps to reduce nerves if you think about what may happen in advance. Some helpful things you could do to prepare include:

• Think about answers to common questions, such as why did you apply to Cambridge or why did you pick your subject
• Reread your personal statement and think about how you would discuss topics mentioned in it—pay particular attention to comments that you made about the subject, or relevant work experience
• Do some extra reading around your subject—it can be useful to keep up with any news articles relating to your subject. This can be particularly useful if you are applying for more vocational subjects (Law, Medicine, Economics etc.)
• Get used to discussing your subject in a clear and intelligent way. You can do this by talking with your teacher or a friend, or by explaining a challenging concept to another student

What do I need to bring?

• Photo ID: this needs to be an ID such as your passport, driving license or school ID card, that has both a photo and your name on it
• Portfolio (Architecture and Design students only): please see the University guidance on what you should include in your portfolio, as well as how to bring it to your interview
• Something to read/do between your interviews: there is often a long break between your two interviews, and you may want to bring something to occupy this time with
• Wear what you feel comfortable and confident in: there is no formal dress code for interviews at Emmanuel