IB requirements at the University of Cambridge

By Michael Thompson - Head of Teaching Excellence; 15 years as an IB Coordinator

Data checked 4 October 2026

41+

Points benchmark

Yes

Accepts the IB

UCAS

Apply via

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Location

1209

Founded

~18,977

Students

Public

Institution

Subject and level conditions

Minimum IB offer levels include 776 in Higher Level subjects.
Some Colleges may ask for 777 or a higher points total.
Applicants may also be required to achieve 7 in particular subjects.
IB Standard Level subjects meet Cambridge's AS level subject requirements; Higher Level subjects meet A level subject requirements.
For most courses where Mathematics is a requirement, IB applicants are expected to take Higher Level 'Analysis and Approaches'; if the school does not offer it, applicants should contact the College directly.
For Medicine, Natural Sciences (Biological) and Psychological and Behavioural Sciences, Analysis and Approaches is recommended for the most competitive application, but Applications and Interpretations will also be considered.
IB Career-Related Programme applicants with three Higher Level Diploma subjects should contact their shortlisted College(s) to find out whether their qualifications suit the chosen course.

Language requirements

A good standard of English is required to study at Cambridge.
Applicants from outside a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UK Home Office) should check the English language requirements on the Entry requirements page.

Worth knowing

Minimum IB offer levels are 41-42 points out of 45.
Churchill, Corpus Christi and Selwyn usually make IB offers above the minimum offer level.
Course pages give details of the IB requirements at individual Colleges.
Entry requirements for a course may differ between Cambridge Colleges, and some courses can only be studied at some Colleges.
Applicants combining qualifications (e.g. some IB Higher Level subjects alongside a school diploma) are assessed individually, are expected to reach a very high level of attainment in all of them, and should contact their shortlisted College(s) early.
Some Colleges treat the Gaokao as insufficient alone, but applicants taking the full IB Diploma are considered on the basis of that qualification only.
Depending on the course, an admissions assessment may need to be registered for or taken before applying.
The international entry requirements page applies to 2027 entry (or deferred entry in 2028) and was updated in March 2026.

Aiming for 41+ points?

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Sources

undergraduate.study.cam.ac.ukSupports IB minimum offer levels (41-42 out of 45, 776 at Higher Level), College variations, subject and Mathematics expectations, the Career-Related Programme, and combined-qualification guidance.
undergraduate.study.cam.ac.ukSupports IB being listed as an accepted qualification, English language expectations, admissions assessments, College differences, the Gaokao full-IB-Diploma note, and the 2027/2028 entry validity.
wikidata.orgFounding year, student numbers and institution type (Wikidata, CC0).