Cambridge interview formats for 2027 entry, college by college

The dates you have to keep free

These are the University's published dates for 2027 entry.

• November 2026. Most interview invitations are sent. Some arrive in early December.
• 7 to 18 December 2026. The main interview period. Keep all of it free.
• Mid to late January 2027. Winter pool interviews, which is how roughly a fifth of Cambridge offers are made.
• Mid-March to early April 2027. Mature applicants who applied in the January round.

Cambridge cannot reschedule an interview except in exceptional circumstances, and an applicant who does not attend is not considered for a place. This is the reason the December window matters more than most families expect when they are choosing a College in September.

How to read this before you choose a College

Two practical things follow from the table. If travel or a visa is difficult, the Colleges that interview everyone online remove that problem entirely. If you are applying for Medicine, Music, Mathematics or one of the Jesus subject exceptions, check the detail column rather than the format column, because several Colleges run those courses differently from everything else they offer.

The format does not change what the interview is. Cambridge describes interviews as academic conversations about the subject you want to study, used to assess your potential for the course.

How Oxbridge interview preparation works, and every admissions deadline for 2027 entry.

Common questions

Can I ask for an online interview instead of travelling to Cambridge?

Usually no. Cambridge says you will not normally be able to request a particular format. A College may offer an alternative in exceptional circumstances, for example a disability or a refused visa application, and that decision belongs to the College assessing your application.

Does an online interview mean the College takes me less seriously?

No. The format is set by the College and the course, and it applies to everyone that College interviews. Cambridge also says the timing of your interview does not reflect how strong a candidate you are.

What happens if I cannot attend on the day I am given?

Cambridge cannot reschedule interviews except in exceptional circumstances such as illness, a hospital appointment, religious observance or an exam. If you do not attend, you will not be considered for a place. Keep 7 to 18 December 2026 free before you apply.

When will I know my interview date?

Most invitations go out in November 2026 and some in early December. The invitation tells you when and where the interview is, what to bring, whether there is pre-interview reading, and how to attend.

Do all Cambridge offer holders get interviewed?

Yes. Cambridge states that everyone who is made an offer will have been interviewed. Being interviewed does not mean an offer follows.

Where we come in

We place tutors with families for GCSE, A-level and Oxbridge preparation. Every tutor is interviewed, subject-verified and enhanced-DBS checked, including the children's barred list, before their profile goes live on our directory.

Start with the readiness check. It takes about two minutes, it asks for the subject, the year group and the target, and it comes back with what we would charge and how long the work usually takes. Nobody calls you unless you ask.

Take the readiness check