Why?
Cambridge has long had strong associations with world class philosophers; Simon Blackburn, Francis Bacon, Bertrand Russell, G. E. M. Anscombe and Ludwig Wittgenstein are but a few. Cambridge continues to be a world-leading institution for philosophy, due to its academic rigour and famous systems of supervisions; these allow a forum for free-flowing debate and thought.
Course
Whilst Cambridge emphasises the analytic school of philosophy, it offers you a broad set of modules which can be taken in many combinations. Students learn through a combination of supervisions, seminars and lectures. Progress is made through essay writing, which any prospective applicant should be prepared for.
Applying
Philosophy requires A*AA at A-level, but, most applicants will have higher grades. Prior study of philosophy is not required, but essay based and mathematical backgrounds can be useful. All applicants must take an assessment at interview; in addition, some colleges require you to submit written work in advance. Cambridge uses contextual data as part of their decision-making process; this means that achievements in relation to school and postcode are considered when deciding to offer interviews, yet students are still expected to achieve the minimum grade requirements. The course has six applicants per place.
A strong Philosophy applicant will have read relevant literature; many useful suggestions are listed by Cambridge. You should also have a passion for breaking apartment complex concepts and questioning what lies beneath most thoughts. In addition to this, you should be willing to engage in heated conversations and question conventional beliefs.
Statistics
2017 - Applications: 270, Offers: 56, Acceptance Rate: 17%.
HOW WE CAN HELP
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KEY PHILOSOPHY RESOURCES
Cambridge
In addition to more general personal statement tips, there are certain dos and don’ts for PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics). Let’s start with where students commonly go wrong…