FAQs

FAQs for postgraduate applicants

Got a question not answered here? Please contact the Tutorial Office.

Applying

How do I apply for postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge?

Applications are made online to a Department or Faculty via the Applicant Portal administered by the Postgraduate Admissions Office. Once a candidate receives a conditional offer, their application will be sent to a College to be considered for College membership. If you would like Wolfson to consider your application, you should make us your first choice College. You will be able to track your application via your CamSIS self-service page.

Does Wolfson have open days?

We welcome visits from potential applicants for College tours all year round – if you are interested tours can be booked here. Prospective applicants are also encouraged to attend the online Cambridge Postgraduate Open Day in early November.

Why do I need to become a member of a College?

All students at the University of Cambridge are required to become a member of a College. It is our responsibility to ensure you matriculate (the formal registration process) at the beginning of your course and graduate at its completion. Once you have matriculated, and throughout your course, all the facilities and resources of the College are at your disposal, and you will remain a member of Wolfson College for life.

Please be aware, if you decline the offer of a College place there is no guarantee that you will receive an alternative offer.

Can my spouse/partner/family participate in College life?

We make a point of welcoming the spouses/partners of our members and they are encouraged to participate fully in College life. Partners and children are welcome to accompany members to meals in College.

Our five family flats can accommodate a couple or single parent and up to two young children. There is usually a high demand for these flats. Help with childcare costs, on a needs basis, is available. Please enquire with the Student Finance Officer.

I have a disability. How will Wolfson College accommodate me?

Wolfson has accommodation suitable for students with special needs, for example ground floor rooms, rooms with en-suite bathroom or equipped with a private kitchen in case of food allergies. The College counsellor is available one day a week during FULL TERM and our College Nurse also offers consultation. Further information can be found here.

The University Disability Resource Centre has a wealth of information on other support for students with disabilities.

Please contact the DRC for advice about how to be assessed for a specific learning difficulty, by emailing disability@admin.cam.ac.uk with the subject heading 'Diagnostic Assessment'.

Funding

Does Wolfson offer scholarships?

Wolfson College offers a number of scholarships and smaller awards and bursaries for postgraduate students; you can apply simply using one online form. The form will be available from December 2021 for submissions for the academic year 2022-23. The deadline to apply for the awards will be 5 pm on 31 March 2022 (to be confirmed). You are welcome to contact our Student Finance Officer to find out more about these and other funding opportunities.

Do I have to apply separately for University funding?

By ticking ‘I want to be considered for funding’ when applying through the Applicant Portal, you will automatically be considered for:

• Most Cambridge Trust funds, including the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards
• ESRC (where eligible)
• EPSRC (where eligible)
• STFC (where eligible)
• Some department funds

Other funds (for example the Gates Cambridge Trust) are still applied for through the Applicant Portal but require either additional fields within the form to be completed or an additional application form to be uploaded. Full information, including deadlines for submitting applications and a link to the University's Student Funding Search can be found on the PAO's Funding webpages.

You will be required to sign a financial undertaking stating that you have the funds available to complete your course and should not come to Cambridge without sufficient funding.

Accommodation

I have a conditional offer; when can I book accommodation?

When you have met all the conditions of your offer, the Postgraduate Admissions Office will confirm your place. We will write to confirm our offer of membership and add you to our list of admitted students. The Accommodation Manager contacts students in batches starting around July, although we do not have set dates.  There is no need to contact us, we will contact you, ensure you are also checking your junk folder and reply swiftly.

We are fortunate to have a large number of rooms and many of our students live on site. Postgraduates pursuing a PhD are eligible to live in College accommodation for up to 2 years of their course but there is no guarantee of it being available in their first year.

We are able to offer accommodation to many MPhil students, but this is not always possible, particularly for those whose admission is confirmed very late in the year.

A few rooms usually become available in Lent and Easter, but we cannot promise housing for students who will begin their courses during these terms.

The College has a very limited supply of housing for couples and families with young children. These are in high demand and may not be available every year, as continuing students will have priority in booking these and demand often exceeds supply. If you are applying with a family, you are advised to contact the Tutorial Office for information about available accommodation.

If you prefer to live outside College, you are still fully entitled and warmly encouraged to participate fully in College life and will enjoy the same privileges as students living in. If you are interested in securing accommodation in the private sector the University Accommodation Service can assist. Please note, full-time postgraduate students are required to live 10 miles or less from the centre of Cambridge.

What is the accommodation like?

Take a look at our Virtual Tour and our Accommodation pages.

What are the dining arrangements in College?

You can choose to take your meals in the College dining hall or use the shared kitchens. All students have access to a kitchen where they can prepare their own snacks and meals. There is always wide choice at mealtimes and students receive a substantial discount. Unlike many other Colleges, Wolfson does not make a kitchen charge, so you only pay for what you eat.

Will I have internet access in my room?

All accommodation at Wolfson is wired for high-speed Internet access. Students may bring their own computer and connect to the College network. We also have fast WiFi across the site. Students may also use the College Library’s computer laboratory, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.