We recruit one intake per year, starting in September. To recruit each cohort, we run a staged admissions cycle, including five deadlines during the recruiting year. There is no quota for each round - simply the best candidates will be invited to interview. There are benefits in applying early though.

Work experience

You must have a minimum of three years' work experience by the start of the intake you are applying for. The current class average is six years' of work experience.

A GMAT/GRE score

You have to take either the GMAT or GRE to apply to Cambridge. We do not request a specific score range, but our average GMAT score in each cohort is c.690.

A reference

You'll need one reference from a supervisor. We cannot accept an academic reference, or a reference from a relative. Decide who you would like them to be and ask them now. Applications are often held up because of references failing to be submitted. An automated reference request will be sent to your referee once you have entered their contact details into our online application system.

The ability to finance your MBA

You need to think carefully now about how you plan to fund your MBA - do not wait until later. See our funding pages for more information.

A visa

If you are a non-EU national, you will have to apply for a student visa in order to study in the UK. You should refer to the UK Visas & Immigration website for the latest information regarding student visas to ascertain if you require a visa and the criteria that you will have to fulfil. For more information, visit the Admissions Process section of our FAQs page.

Essay questions on the form

The following are the main essay questions on the Cambridge MBA application:

1. Please provide a personal statement. It should not exceed 500 words and must address the following questions:
   • What are your short and long term career objectives and what skills/characteristics do you already have that will help you achieve them?
   • What actions will you take before and during the MBA to contribute to your career outcome?
   • If you are unsure of your post-MBA career path, how will the MBA equip you for the future?
2. What did you learn from your most spectacular failure? (200 words)
3. Describe a situation where you had to work jointly with others to achieve a common goal. What did you learn from the experience? (up to 200 words)

English language skills

You are required to show English language proficiency to apply for the Cambridge MBA. To demonstrate this, English must be your native language, or you must have a TOEFL score of at least 110, or an IELTS score of at least 7.5. Further details can be found in our English Language Policy.

Application fee

An online payment of £150 will be charged for the submission of your completed application.

Your application will be reviewed and you may be shortlisted for interview

Your submitted application will be reviewed by the Cambridge MBA Admissions Committee and a decision made regarding whether to shortlist you for interview.

Your application must be complete (including the receipt of all necessary supporting information) before it can be considered.

Because of the volume of applications we receive, we’re sorry but we cannot provide feedback on individual applications that are unsuccessful.

We will tell you within three weeks of the relevant deadline if you are invited for interview

Short-listed candidates are invited to an interview day at Cambridge Judge Business School.

In exceptional circumstances (for example if it is difficult for you to get a visa at short notice to visit the UK) we are sometimes able to offer interviews in your own country or occasionally by Skype.

We do, however, strongly prefer candidates to visit us in Cambridge for interview.

After interview, we may give you a ‘conditional offer’

We aim to inform applicants within three days of their interview date, however, it can take up to a week for the Admissions Committee to make a decision.

Source: www.jbs.cam.ac.uk