Key facts
How can I be sure that the Cambridge MBA is a recognised qualification by the business community?
In addition to gaining your MBA from the University of Cambridge – one of the world’s leading providers of education – the programme is also accredited by EQUIS, independent auditors who assess the quality of MBA programmes around the world.
Do you offer a part-time MBA or an Executive MBA?
Although the Cambridge MBA is a full-time 12-month programme, we also offer part-time 20-month Executive MBA programmes (EMBA).
Do you have programmes starting in January/April?
No, we have a single intake each year which starts in September.
Do I need a visa to study at Cambridge?
If you are a national from outside the UK or Ireland, you will normally require a student visa in order to study the MBA. You should refer to the information on the University’s international students webpages for detailed guidance on the requirements.
Visa regulations are subject to change and it is the responsibility of prospective candidates to find the latest information and assess their individual circumstances.
Can I work in the UK after completing my MBA?
International students who have successfully completed an undergraduate or masters degree will be able to benefit from 2 years’ work experience in the UK upon graduation, through the new Graduate Route.
There are other options available to international students who want to stay and work in the UK after their studies.
If you’re considering staying in the UK after your studies, you may need to apply for a separate visa to your student visa. You can check whether you need a visa at UK Visas & Immigration.
What specialisations and concentrations do you offer?
Our Master of Business Administration is a general management programme. However, you can tailor the programme to meet your own needs and post-MBA employment aims through electives and projects. In this way you are able to gain all the basic general management skills and specialise in almost any area of management.
What form of supervision and assessment is there during the MBA year?
Given the structure of the degree and the class demographic, there are no formal supervisions through Colleges, or during the course of the MBA. However, there are a great many opportunities to link with academic and professional staff throughout the year, and students are encouraged to use these links.
A variety of assessment methods are used during the programme, often several forms used in combination in one course:
- Active class participation
- Formal University written examinations
- Individual written assignments
- Group written assignments
- Group presentations
- Individual presentations
- In-class tests
Please note, several courses are assessed solely by formal exam, particularly the quantitative courses.
Students are given formal written feedback on most coursework assignments submitted during the programme, which is released alongside the marks. The style and content of this feedback is dependent on the style of assessment. There is no formal individual feedback on examinations and in-class tests.
Do I have to find the host companies for the consulting projects myself?
Our Projects Office will identify project proposals for the class, but if you are particularly keen on a specific sector or company, you are also welcome to source your own Global Consulting Project and are encouraged to do so; it gives you a reason to talk to potential clients and to expand your network in your chosen area of interest.
Once you and your group have decided which company you would like to work with, you will then develop the project brief with that company.
Do you have a staged application process?
Yes. All our application deadlines and related interview day schedule can be found on our Apply page.
What are the minimum requirements for entry onto the programme?
You can view full details of minimum requirements on our Apply page.
What is your application fee?
The application fee for entry is currently £165.
Do you offer any application fee waivers?
We offer an application fee waiver for candidates who are serving in the military and candidates from low-income countries.
If you would like to request an application fee waiver, please contact the Admissions Team before submitting your application.
I have my own company. How do I choose my referee?
You can ask a customer, supplier or professional adviser to act as your referee.
How is my reference submitted?
Please nominate one referee – a supervisor – in the ‘References’ section of our online application form. An automated reference request will be sent to your referee once you have entered their contact details into our online application system.
Would you consider my application if I have do not have a degree?
We will consider applicants without a degree in exceptional circumstances, but we will usually ask you to provide evidence that you have the academic ability to cope with the intellectual demands of the programme.
Such evidence might include a good, well-balanced GMAT score and strong references from tutors on other academic courses that you have taken.
Our programme is intellectually demanding: in 12 months you will have to cover what most US schools teach over two years.
Do part-time jobs count towards the minimum work experience requirements?
In most cases, no. For example: if you are applying for 2023 entry you must expect to have at least 2 years’ full time, post-graduation work experience by 30 September 2023.
However, please tell us if there are extenuating circumstances which mean that you have only been able to work part-time or on temporary contracts – for example you have had to bring up a family or care for an elderly relative.
I do not want to tell my current line manager that I am applying for an MBA. Can I submit an educational reference instead of the professional one?
We understand that sometimes it is not possible to ask your current line manager for a reference. We are happy to accept a reference from a former line manager or supervisor.
Failing this, we will accept a reference from a customer, supplier or adviser with whom you work on a professional basis.
We do not require an academic reference, as the undergraduate transcript we ask you to submit will provide us with all of the necessary information and contact details we need.
Do you have an upper age limit?
No.
Is GMAT compulsory?
We are also able to accept a valid GRE score.
Do I have to take the GMAT or GRE before applying?
All applicants are required to submit a GMAT or GRE score. We are pleased to accept both the GRE and GMAT home testing solutions.
We ask you to self-report your score on your application form and upload a copy of your score report. Please also instruct the test provider to make your official score report available to us online.
Please note that we cannot accept paper copies of score reports submitted by post. Please ensure that you make your official score report available to us online to verify.
Please note we do not offer any waivers and we will not review your application until you provide us with a copy of your score report.
For GMAT the institution code for Cambridge Judge Business School is WF1-T3-68.
For GRE the institution code for Cambridge Judge Business School is 0832.
Do you require a minimum GMAT score?
No, we do not specify a minimum GMAT score – it is just one of the many criteria we consider in the selection process.
However, the majority of our students have a score above 640, and the average for this year’s class is 690. We look for good balanced scores on the verbal, quantitative and analytical writing sections of the test, which demonstrate to us that you have the variety of skills required to succeed on the Cambridge MBA.
When do I need to submit degree transcripts and other certificates?
Please upload a copy of your degree transcript in the ‘Academic information’ section of our online application form.
If you are successful at interview and made an offer, we will require you to verify your academics through Qualification Check, the ECCTIS approved education verification service. Details of how to verify will be sent to you with your offer and you may be required to pay a small fee directly to Qualification Check. Alternatively, if your university can provide electronic verification via email directly to us, this is also acceptable. However, Qualification Check is our preferred method of verification.
Please note, we are a paperless office and will not accept original transcripts sent by post/mail.
Do I have to take an English language proficiency test?
Fluency in English is a pre-requisite for the Cambridge MBA. If English is not your first language, you must have taken a recognised English proficiency test in the 2 years prior to 30 September on the year for which you’re applying for entry.
Which tests of English proficiency are accepted, and what is the minimum score required?
We accept both TOEFL iBT and IELTS (Academic) test scores. TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL iBT Paper Edition and IELTS Online are also accepted. View point 3 of our English Language policy for the minimum scores required.
Please note that we cannot accept paper copies of score reports submitted by post. Please ensure that you make your official score report available to us online to verify. Our TOEFL institution code is 0908.
How do I know that you have received my application and supporting documents such as transcripts and reference?
Please check the ‘Current application status’ section of our online application form to verify that your application is complete.
Please note that your application cannot be reviewed until we have received your application fee.
Useful website resources
When will I hear if my application has been successful?
Approximately three weeks after each application deadline, we will send you an email notification as to the status of your application.
Can I appeal if I am unsuccessful?
The Admissions Office cannot give reasons for not offering admission, nor advise you how to improve your application. However, an admissions appeal can be made if you believe:
- there has been an administrative error
- you have been treated unfairly because of bias or prejudice
- circumstances unknown to us might have affected the decision.
Do I have to come to Cambridge for an interview?
Due to the current travel and physical distancing restrictions related to COVID-19, all interviews are being undertaken online until further notice.
If you are invited to interview, you will be given full instructions on how to participate remotely.
What happens after the interview?
We usually notify applicants if they have been successful within 3 weeks of the interview.
Which College am I likely to join?
There are 31 Cambridge Colleges, but not every College takes MBA students every year. If you are made a conditional offer of a place on the MBA programme, we will put you forward for membership of a College which has places for MBA students.
However, it is very difficult to say which College this is likely to be until nearer the time. Applying early may give us more of a chance to secure membership of a College of your preference, but this can never be guaranteed.
What is the cost of the MBA programme?
The fees for the MBA class of 2023/24 at Cambridge Judge Business School are £64,000.
There is an application fee payable of £165.
Are the fees different for overseas students?
No, fees for British and overseas students are the same.
How much extra money will I need for living expenses?
We estimate that you should budget a minimum of £15,250 to cover:
- College fees
- textbooks
- accommodation
- meals
- extracurricular activities
- travel.
This is based on one person living in Cambridge alone. Visit the Fees and funding page for a more information.
What scholarships and loans do you offer?
Visit the Fees and funding page for details of scholarships, bursaries and loans.
Can I work during the MBA programme?
There are working restrictions that apply to all postgraduate students of the University. It is not possible to work through a full-time degree at the University, except as a Research Assistant whose research employment activity matches that of the research degree.
It is a requirement of the University that all full-time postgraduate students have their funding fully in place before they start their programme. Under no circumstances will the need to earn money be accepted as a valid reason for failing to complete a course or an assignment on time.
Students on one-year programmes are not normally allowed to undertake any type of paid work during their period of study, although on a few programme, permission may be given for students to give undergraduate supervisions. These regulations do not apply to part-time students.
The University does not allow students to undertake paid work outside the University or a College while they are studying full-time, and you should not expect to accrue additional income in this way.
How do I pay my fees?
If you are offered a place on the Cambridge MBA, you will be given a specific date by which you must confirm your acceptance and submit your financial undertaking, which is proof that you have the funds to pay for your tuition.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be asked to pay a non-refundable reservation fee of £7,950. This payment goes towards your tuition fees.
Approximately 2 to 3 weeks after accepting your offer, you will be allocated a College.
You are required to pay a second commitment fee of £5,300 within 3 weeks of your College place being confirmed. This payment goes towards your tuition fees.
The rest of your tuition payment is due approximately 4 weeks before the start of the programme.
Can I visit the Business School?
We are delighted to be able to welcome visitors to the Business School again, with a pre-arranged appointment.
We do ask that you try to give us as much notice as possible, and please be aware that we may not always be able to accommodate you, depending on staff availability.
You can also attend one of our virtual events to find out more about the Cambridge MBA and meet the team.
How do I get to Cambridge, and where can I find Cambridge Judge Business School?
The Business School’s Contact us page contains information about how to reach CJBS by road, train or plane, and includes a map of our location within the city of Cambridge.
Do you hold events outside of Cambridge?
We are happy to start attending overseas events again, as well as hosting in-person events at the Business School. We look forward to meeting you in-person at an upcoming event!
How can I contact Cambridge MBA alumni?
We understand that speaking to our alumni is useful for prospective MBA students, and introductions with our alumni will be made as part of the admissions enrolment process.
We regret that, due to the busy schedules of our alumni, we can only connect you with them once you have applied and are progressing through our selection process.
How can I contact the MBA Office?
You can email us with enquiries about the MBA.
