ECONOMICS AT CAMBRIDGE
Guide for Prospective Applicants, Summer 2025
This guide has been prepared by the Faculty of Economics to provide useful information for prospective
applicants who wish to pursue the three-year BA Honours course in Economics at the University of
Cambridge. In this guide you will find answers to many of the questions which applicants frequently ask
during the initial phase of the application process. It aims to help you understand what A-level or other
qualifications you should have in order to stand a good chance of success when you apply, and how the
applications procedure works. It also gives a broad outline of the undergraduate Economics course at
Cambridge. Additional information is available at [Link]/apply/ba-economics.
Some questions below focus on applicants studying at UK schools. If you are studying elsewhere, you
can find further information via this Link:.
What A-level courses are required?
The Faculty of Economics requires A-level Mathematics or equivalent (e.g. IB Higher Level Mathematics).
If you do not satisfy this entry requirement, you should apply elsewhere or consider an alternative
subject in Cambridge (such as Land Economy or Human, Social, and Political Sciences). Further
Mathematics is not a prerequisite for the course, but it is very useful to take it at AS or A level to better
prepare for the Economics course at Cambridge, and most successful A-level applicants have done so.
The Faculty does not have requirements for subjects other than Mathematics. In particular, A-level
Economics is not a prerequisite, although it is useful. In addition to Mathematics, any two ‘academic’
A-level subjects could be acceptable and many successful A-level applicants study four subjects in total.
Note that the Faculty does not recommend A-level Business Studies as a preparation for the Cambridge
Economics course, although you may consider taking it if A-level Economics is not available. If your
school does not offer Economics, you could consider taking A-level Geography or History instead. The
Faculty recognises that it may not always be possible for students to take their preferred subjects,
usually because their school does not offer the subject concerned. If you are unable to take your
preferred subjects, you should state the reason for this in your application.
What will I be expected to know before starting the course?
The course does not presume prior knowledge of Economics. However, familiarity with its terminology
and basic principles (as covered in A-level Economics) is an advantage; otherwise, you will need to learn
this material very quickly to reach a standard well above A-level by the end of the first year.
The Economics course in Cambridge assumes that you are very proficient in Mathematics. You are
presumed to have fully mastered the material in the A-level Mathematics syllabus before starting the
course. The compulsory first-year course in Quantitative Methods (which covers Mathematics and
Statistics) builds on this material, including the Statistics component of the A-level syllabus.
If you are taking the Further Mathematics course at AS level or A level, you will benefit from focusing on
Statistics and Further Pure Mathematics (rather than Mechanics or Decision Mathematics).
What sort of GCSE grades should I have before applying?
Recently there have been around 8 to 10 applicants for every entering student, so the competition for
admission in Economics at Cambridge is very strong. The typical successful UK applicant has at least 6
grades 8 or 9 at GCSE, and often a lot more. Successful applicants have often shown academic
excellence in a wide range of GCSE subjects, including a grade of 9 for Mathematics.
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What are the typical offer conditions for Economics at Cambridge?
If you are offered a place at Cambridge, this will usually be conditional on your achieving grades of at
least A*A*A in your A-levels (or 40-42 points with 776 at Higher Level for IB), although offers may differ
depending on the College you apply to. Your College may require an A* (or 7 for IB) in some particular
subject(s), such as Mathematics. For further information, see the typical Economics entry
requirements by College and check out this Link.
What will I study at Cambridge?
The Cambridge undergraduate course (also called ‘Tripos’) in Economics consists of three separate
parts, each corresponding to one year of study. The first year provides a general introduction to
Economics and some closely related subjects; the second and third year are more advanced, and offer
students an opportunity to specialise.
In the first year of the Economics Tripos (Part I) all students study five subjects, also called ‘Papers’:
Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Quantitative Methods (Mathematics and Statistics), Political and
Social Aspects of Economics, and British Economic History.
In the second year of the Tripos (Part IIA) all students have three compulsory Papers: Microeconomics,
Macroeconomics and Econometrics (the application of statistical methods to economic data). In
addition, students can usually choose one optional Paper from among the following: International
Trade & Economic Development, Mathematics & Statistics for Economists, Labour, History &
Philosophy of Economics, International Relations, Politics or Sociology.
In the third and final year of the Tripos (Part IIB) all students take two compulsory subjects,
Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, and choose two optional Papers from a wide range of specialist
subjects which are offered each year. In addition, third-year students also have to write a dissertation
of up to 7,500 words on an economic topic of their own choice.
For further information, please see the course structure, which includes outlines of the content of the
Papers in each year of the Economics Tripos. Note that these Papers and outlines relate to the current
academic year and may change over time.
What sort of teaching will I get?
Nearly all the teaching takes place in two 8-week terms.
• The Faculty of Economics provides around 30 to 40 hours of lectures for each Paper, so students
have 8 to 12 hours of lectures in a typical week.
• In addition, your College organises around 10 hours of small-group teaching, called ‘supervisions’,
for each Paper, so you tend to have 2 to 3 hours of supervisions in a typical week. During these
typically highly interactive supervisions, your supervisor covers the supervision assignment
(consisting of problems and/or essays), provides feedback on the supervision work you turned in,
and answers any questions you may have about the material.
What difference does my choice of College make?
The lectures and Tripos examinations are the same for all students, regardless of their College.
Furthermore, the Faculty provides supervision assignments so that all students in principle have the
same educational opportunities. Although each College is different and has its own ambience, all
Economics students experience a highly stimulating and enriching environment in Cambridge.
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What exams will I have to do to graduate?
The examinations are organised by the University and take place during the final term, usually in late
May or early June. For the vast majority of Papers, assessment is via a single, three-hour examination,
though a small number instead feature an assessed project component and slightly shorter (two-
hour) exam. In addition, for IIB (third-year) students, the dissertation mark contributes a fifth of the
final grade.
Note that there are no intermediate examinations at the end of individual lecture courses. In addition,
your performance in College supervisions and supervision assignments does not count towards your
marks in the Tripos examinations. Last but not least, there are no re-sits in the Economics Tripos.
How is the Class determined?
Students are classed for each Part of the Tripos based on the average mark for the Papers taken for
that Part. Typically, First Class requires an average mark of at least 70, and Upper Second Class an
average in the range [60,70), presuming no Fail (a mark below 40) for any Paper(s).
In addition, a cumulative degree classification is awarded similarly based on the weighted average mark
in Part IIA (30%) and Part IIB (70%).
What happens if I would like to switch from Economics to another subject?
It is possible to switch to another subject after one or two years, for instance to Human, Social, and
Political Sciences, History or Law. There is also a possibility to switch to Management Studies after the
second or third year, although entry to this is competitive due to a limited number of places. In all cases,
you will need your College’s agreement to switch to another subject.
What are the career opportunities for Cambridge Economics graduates?
Cambridge Economics graduates tend to be in high demand and the skills they have acquired in the
intensive and analytically demanding Economics Tripos are very useful for a wide range of careers.
Many students find work in the financial sector (e.g. asset management or investment banking) or in
economic or management consultancy. There are also interesting opportunities in the public sector
(e.g. Bank of England or Government Economic Service).
Some careers require further study for a professional qualification (e.g. in actuarial science or
accountancy). Many economic careers require a Master’s degree, for which the Economics Tripos at
Cambridge provides an excellent preparation.
How do I apply?
You apply online by 15 October 2025 using the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
The institution code for the University of Cambridge is CAM C05. You also have to submit an additional
application form for Cambridge, which you will receive shortly after submitting your UCAS application.
You specify your preferred College in your application or submit an ‘open’ application that is randomly
allocated to one of the Colleges. Your College (not the Faculty of Economics) assesses your application,
conducts admissions interviews and makes the offer decisions.
You can specify your preferred College in your application or submit an ‘open’ application that is
randomly allocated to one of the Colleges. Your College (not the Faculty of Economics) assesses your
application, conducts admissions interviews and makes the offer decisions.
All Economics applicants are required to take the Test of Mathematics for University Admission
(TMUA), at an authorised assessment centre. You must register in advance for this test.
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You should make sure to book your test by 29 September 2025. If you have access
arrangements, you must book your test by 8 September 2025.
Test of Mathematics for University Admission (TMUA), you can register for the TMUA from 31 July
2025. The registration deadline is 29 September 2025.
TMUA Costs.
There is an entry fee for the TMUA.
UK candidates in financial need can apply for a bursary voucher to book the TMUA free of charge. Learn
about eligibility criteria on the TMUA website.
You can apply for a bursary voucher from 24 June 2025.
Further information about the applications process for Cambridge is available at Applying to Cambridge,
and for international applicants, also at International Applications. Note that most international
applicants are required to pay an application fee of £60.
What is the format of the TMUA assessment and how should I prepare for it?
The TMUA lasts 2 hours 30 minutes in total. It is divided into two parts: Applications of Mathematical
Knowledge and Mathematical Reasoning.
You will not be able to use a calculator or dictionary.
There is no pass or fail for TUMA. You should aim to do the best you can.
The focus of the TMUA is on mathematical thinking. It uses mathematics you will have already learned
in your school studies, so there is no need to take a preparation course or to do much preparation
beyond familiarising yourself with the test format and style of questions. We recommend that you read
the test specification and notes on Logic and Proof, to identify any topics that you might need to revise.
Free practice materials are available on the TMUA website.
We don’t expect you to get every question right – you can learn more about how your performance fits
into the rest of your application on the admissions assessment page.
Note if you are already studying at another University: The University of Cambridge will not allow
credit transfer for undergraduate study elsewhere in the UK or abroad (except through the established
arrangements for Affiliated students who have completed a full undergraduate degree). Colleges do
not normally accept students for the three-year undergraduate course if they have already taken up a
place to study at another UK university; in particular, students who are already studying Economics
elsewhere are unlikely to be considered.