How to Apply to Psychology at Cambridge: Psychological and Behavioural Sciences Requirements for Gaokao, A-Level/IB/AP, Canadian High School and Transfer Students, and Timeline

At the University of Cambridge, psychology is studied as Psychological and Behavioural Sciences (PBS), a BA (Hons) taught full-time over three years, UCAS code C800. The course is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS); graduating with at least second-class honours gives the graduate recognition needed to pursue a career in psychology. Here is what you need to know for 2027 entry, based on Cambridge’s undergraduate admissions website, for students at high schools in China (including A-Level, IB and AP students at international schools), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and students already at university.

1. The course

• Content: cognitive, social, developmental and biological psychology within the wider behavioural sciences, overlapping with anthropology, neuroscience, philosophy and sociology. Topics include statistics and data science, cognitive psychology, psychopathology, language, brain mechanisms, family relationships, personality and group social behaviour.
• Year 1: four papers, three compulsory (Introduction to Experimental Psychology; Social Psychology and Individual Differences; From Subjective Questions to Objective Science) and one from around nine options such as biological and social anthropology, evolution and behaviour, politics, philosophy or sociology.
• Year 2: four papers, with Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience and Developmental Psychology compulsory plus two options, while building research skills for the third-year project.
• Year 3: a 7,000-word research dissertation plus three further papers.
• Teaching: lectures, classes and small-group supervisions, typically two lectures a week per paper and one or two supervisions a week; assessment includes lab reports, written and oral exams, and resits are not usually possible. No placement year is mentioned.
• Changing course: rare, requiring College and department agreement and possibly an interview, a test or restarting in first year.

2. Entry requirements (2027 entry)

• A-Level: minimum A*A*A.
• IB: 41–42 points with 776 at Higher Level.
• Required subjects: at least one of Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science or Physics at A-Level or IB HL; some Colleges specify which science.
• College differences: Colleges make admissions decisions. Most set offers at the minimum level; Churchill, Corpus Christi, Jesus, Lucy Cavendish, Queens’, Selwyn and St John’s have extra subject requirements or conditions.
• Assessments and written work: some Colleges set an admission assessment at interview, with no advance registration; Robinson asks for one piece of written work, and Magdalene, Murray Edwards, Pembroke and St Edmund’s ask for two.
• Past entrants: around a third of PBS students with A-Levels (2018, 2019 and 2023 entry) achieved at least A*A*A*, 81% of them having taken Psychology; most IB students achieved at least 43 points and/or 776 at HL.

3. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: most Colleges consider it suitable, but requirements fall into three groups:
  • Top 0.1% in your province, usually with additional academic achievement such as Olympiads or APs: Churchill, Clare, Downing, Emmanuel, Girton, Homerton, Hughes Hall, Lucy Cavendish, Magdalene, Peterhouse, Queens’, Trinity and Wolfson.
  • 90% in each of three relevant core subjects, or the top 1–3% in your province, with Gaokao-only applicants recommended to take up to three relevant ASTs: Fitzwilliam, Murray Edwards, Newnham, Pembroke, Robinson, St Catharine’s, St John’s and Trinity Hall.
  • Gaokao only in combination with other qualifications such as A-Levels, the IB or five APs at score 5: Christ’s, Corpus Christi, Gonville & Caius, Jesus, King’s, Selwyn, Sidney Sussex and St Edmund’s.
• International school students: A-Levels and the IB as above. AP students need at least five AP Tests at score 5 (usually within two years) plus SAT or ACT: for PBS, a SAT of at least 1500 with 750 in Mathematics, or an ACT composite of 33 with a Science score of 33.
• Transcripts: international applicants usually submit a transcript by October 22, 2026.

4. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC)

• The diploma alone is not enough: Cambridge says applicants with only a Canadian High School Diploma will not be competitive and are unlikely to be successful, and strongly recommends further study.
• Suitable options: A-Levels; the IB; five or more AP Tests at score 5 with an overall 90% in the diploma; or possibly the first year of a degree at a university outside the UK. Applicants using APs with the diploma, or first-year university study, should contact their chosen College for advice.
• AP route: also requires SAT 1500 (Mathematics 750) or ACT 33 (Science 33).

5. Transfer students

• No advanced standing: students transferring from another university must start from first year; Cambridge does not accept credit transfer (except for affiliated students who already hold a degree).
• Current UK university students are not normally considered unless they are in their final year, completing a standalone Foundation Year, have exceptional circumstances, or are changing to a different discipline.
• Students at universities outside the UK: Cambridge recognises good reasons for an initial period of local study and advises checking your chosen College’s guidance rather than making an open application.
• Prior undergraduate study must be declared on UCAS, or the application may be cancelled as fraudulent.

6. English requirements

• For interview: an English level of at least IELTS 6.5 with no element below 6.0 is recommended at application; you do not need to submit a test score when applying.
• Minimum for admission: IELTS Academic 7.5 overall, usually with 7.0 in each element; Cambridge C2 Proficiency 200 (no element below 185); C1 Advanced 193 (no element below 185) alongside other evidence.
• The College making the offer sets the English condition.

7. Timeline for 2027 entry

• May 12, 2026: start your UCAS application; submit from September 1.
• October 15, 2026 (6pm UK time): UCAS deadline.
• October 22, 2026 (6pm UK time): My Cambridge Application deadline and transcript deadline for international applicants.
• November 2026: interview invitations; most interviews take place in the first three weeks of December.
• January 2027: some applications are pooled to other Colleges; decisions for December interviewees on January 27.
• May–June 2027: A-Level, IB and other exams; results in August, when Cambridge confirms final decisions.

8. Fees and funding

• International tuition (2027 entry): £46,872 a year for PBS, fixed for the duration of the course.
• College fees: international students also pay an annual College fee; for 2027–28 undergraduate Colleges range from £12,885 (Queens’) to £15,950 (Murray Edwards), and Trinity charges £21,063 with a 30% bursary, for a net £14,745.
• Home fee: £10,050 a year for 2027 entrants.
• Funding for international students: Cambridge says support is limited, with few full scholarships; most awards are partial and means-tested. Sources include the Cambridge Trust (the College sends details after an offer) and College awards; Hong Kong permanent residents can apply for the Prince Philip Scholarship.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Choose Colleges based on the three Gaokao groups, or prepare A-Levels at A*A*A / IB 41–42 (776 HL) including math or a science
• AP route: five APs at 5 plus SAT 1500 (Math 750) or ACT 33
• Submit UCAS by October 15, 2026, and My Cambridge Application and transcripts by October 22
• Prepare for December interviews; reach IELTS 7.5 (7.0 in each element) before entry

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Don’t rely on the diploma alone: add A-Levels, the IB, or five APs at 5 with a 90% diploma average and SAT/ACT
• Check your College’s subject and qualification requirements and contact it if needed

Transfer students:

• You will start in first year with no credit transfer; check your College’s guidance on prior study outside the UK

Sources: University of Cambridge undergraduate admissions, Psychological and Behavioural Sciences; Application dates and deadlines; Accepted qualifications; International entry requirements; Entry and English language requirements; Transferring from another university; International fees and costs; International financial support. Information is for 2027 entry (or deferred entry in 2028). Check Cambridge for the latest details.