University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge – Overview
The University of Cambridge, situated about 60 miles north of London, was founded in 1209. Around 19,000 students study here, with over 35% enrolled in graduate programs. The university has six schools: Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Technology. These schools are made up of numerous academic departments and other divisions. The academic year at Cambridge is split into three terms—Michaelmas (fall), Lent (winter), and Easter (spring). All teaching is conducted in English.
Cambridge has 31 residential colleges that handle admissions for both undergrad and grad students. Three of these—Lucy Cavendish College, Murray Edwards College, and Newnham College—are for women only. Undergraduates receive some small-group teaching within their colleges. Most undergrads are guaranteed college housing for at least three years, and many new grad students can also access college accommodation. About 20% of students come from outside the EU, and non-EU tuition fees are higher, varying by field of study.
The university boasts over 100 libraries, including college and department collections. It also has around 140 research centers and institutes, such as the Centre of African Studies, the Cambridge Centre for Economic and Public Policy, and the Institute of Theoretical Geophysics. In a recent year, Cambridge secured roughly $415 million in research grants and contracts.
University of Cambridge – Key Data
- Total number of students: 20,870
- Number of international students: 7,865
- Total academic staff: 1,790
- International staff: 660
- Undergraduate degrees awarded: 3,380
- Master’s degrees awarded: 3,200
- Doctoral degrees awarded: 1,060
- Research-only staff: 3,945
- New undergrad students: 3,820
- New master’s students: 2,635
- New doctoral students: 1,110
University of Cambridge – Rankings
The University of Cambridge ranks #6 in Best Global Universities. These rankings are based on widely accepted indicators of excellence.
Global Rankings
- #6 – Best Global Universities
- #2 – Best Global Universities in Europe
- #2 – Best Global Universities in the UK
Subject Rankings
- #278 – Agricultural Sciences (tie)
- #82 – Artificial Intelligence
- #4 – Arts and Humanities
- #6 – Biology and Biochemistry
- #5 – Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology
- #56 – Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems
- #7 – Cell Biology (tie)
- #93 – Chemical Engineering (tie)
- #19 – Chemistry
- #129 – Civil Engineering
- #32 – Clinical Medicine (tie)
- #52 – Computer Science
- #33 – Condensed Matter Physics
- #11 – Ecology
- #15 – Economics and Business (tie)
- #23 – Education and Educational Research
- #209 – Electrical and Electronic Engineering (tie)
- #7 – Endocrinology and Metabolism
- #44 – Energy and Fuels
- #73 – Engineering (tie)
- #161 – Environmental Engineering (tie)
- #11 – Environment/Ecology
- #23 – Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- #34 – Geosciences (tie)
- #38 – Green and Sustainable Science and Technology
- #42 – Immunology
- #10 – Infectious Diseases
- #21 – Materials Science
- #6 – Mathematics
- #132 – Mechanical Engineering
- #58 – Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences
- #11 – Microbiology (tie)
- #4 – Molecular Biology and Genetics (tie)
- #48 – Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (tie)
- #16 – Neuroscience and Behavior
- #82 – Oncology
- #36 – Optics (tie)
- #32 – Pharmacology and Toxicology
- #46 – Physical Chemistry
- #12 – Physics
- #20 – Plant and Animal Science
- #191 – Polymer Science
- #6 – Psychiatry/Psychology
- #17 – Public, Environmental and Occupational Health
- #31 – Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging (tie)
- #10 – Social Sciences and Public Health
- #7 – Space Science
- #31 – Surgery
2024-2025 Indicator Rankings
Thirteen indicators determine Cambridge’s #6 position in the Best Global Universities ranking. Below is how it performs in each category.
Global Universities – Breakdown
- Global Score: 86.9
- Global Research Reputation: #4
- Regional Research Reputation: #13
- Publications: #20
- Books: #2
- Conferences: #79
- Normalized Citation Impact: #55
- Total Citations: #11
- Top 10% Most Cited Publications: #13
- Percentage of Top 10% Cited Publications: #45
- International Collaboration (Relative to Country): #554
- International Collaboration: #254
- Top 1% Most Cited Papers: #13
- Percentage of Top 1% Cited Papers: #70
