As part of the application process, you are asked to submit written work (usually if you’ve applied to study an arts or a social sciences subject), or artwork and portfolio (Architecture and Design).
Who needs to submit written work?
Only applicants who have applied for the following subjects need to submit written work:
Anglo-Saxon Norse and Celtic; Archaeology; Asian and Middle Eastern Studies(If combined with a European Language); Classics; Education; English; History; History and Modern Languages; History and Politics; Human, Social and Political Sciences; Land Economy; Modern and Medieval Languages; Music; Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion
Who needs to submit artwork?
Only applicants who have applied for the following subjects need to submit artwork:
Architecture; Design
If you’re selected for interview, you will need to show a portfolio of your recent work.
What are the guidelines for written work or artwork?
For written work:
- Written work should normally be in the form of essays, pieces of project or coursework, written as part of your routine studies at school and marked by a teacher. It must not be specifically written for your application. For this reason, we do not give suggested word limits, but please avoid sending extended pieces of work. As a guide, written work should not exceed more than 2500 words (unless otherwise stated in the subject-specific requirements). If you are submitting work as part of an essay, then we ask you to please pick an extract that does not exceed the limit.
- You will either be asked to submit one or two pieces of written work.
- For applicants taking a gap year, we do not want you to write new essays. Please submit written work from your final year at school or college.
- Written work should be submitted as scanned copies of the original essays and not re-typed or re-written.
- The content of your work may be discussed at the interview, so you should choose topics that interest you and which you are prepared to talk about. Try to make sure that it is representative of your best work and keep a copy of anything you send us so that you can read it again before coming to the interview. You will not be 'tested' on its content, but you should be reasonably familiar with what you have written.
- If you do not have written work that relates to the course you are applying for, work that shows your analytical writing will normally be fine. Again, we don't want you to write anything specifically for Cambridge.
- If English isn't your first language, please note that any examples of written work requested must be submitted in English – either translated into English (and then verified by your school or a suitable third party), or piece(s) originally written in English.
For artwork:
- The images you choose should, at least in some way, reflect material you might bring to interview as part of your portfolio. Your submitted artwork needs to be in PDF format, up to 6 A4 pages, and less than 15MB in size.
How and when should the written work or artwork be submitted?
Shortly after the UCAS deadline, applicants are provided with further details of how to send the written work or artwork to the College. You will be asked to attach a signed cover sheet to each piece of work that you submit. The deadline is 5 November.
What do I need to submit for my subject?
For further information on the written work or artwork and portfolio requirements for the relevant subjects, please have a look below under the heading: Subject Information for Written Work or Artwork. If your subject is not listed below, you are not required to submit any written work or artwork.
Subject Information for Written Work or Artwork
Submit two, preferably marked, essays on any historical, literary or linguistic topics.
Submit one piece of written work. This should be in essay format (not science coursework or a timed exam) with a word limit of up to 1500 words. The work can be taken from an EPQ.
Submit your own artwork prior to interview. The images you choose should, at least in some way, reflect material you might bring to interview as part of your portfolio. Your submitted artwork needs to be in PDF format, up to 6 A4 pages, and less than 15MB in size.
Portfolio for interview (if selected for interview)
If you’re selected for interview, you will need to bring and show a portfolio of your recent work, as explained below:
This work isn’t expected to consist of architectural drawings (e.g. plans, sections etc). We want to see something that illustrates an applicant’s interests, experience and ability in the visual and material arts. This may include drawings, paintings, sculpture and/or photography. It's usually sufficient for three-dimensional work to be exhibited in photographs. A sketchbook with ongoing drawings is extremely helpful and applicants are encouraged to have this to hand so that they can hold this up to the camera in the interview. The sketchbook can be in any media (pencil, charcoal, crayon etc) and should include a variety of subject matter. The work can be material prepared for school-leaving examinations but creative work executed outside formal courses is also welcome.
Further information about the portfolio requirements is available here (under the entry requirements tab). You can also see examples of portfolios on ArcSoc | Department of Architecture website.
Only if you are combining with a European Language, submit one piece of written work. This should be a recent example of writing (an essay, for example) completed for school, which should be in the language you intend to study at university. The piece must be dated school-work, and ideally should have been marked by a teacher.
Submit two recently marked essays, from Latin and/or Greek if you are taking either subject at A Level, or from one of the following subjects if not: Classical Civilisation, History or Literature (English Literature or literature pertaining to a modern language A level, e.g. French or German).
Submit your own artwork prior to interview. The images you choose should, at least in some way, reflect material you might bring to interview as part of your portfolio. Your submitted artwork needs to be in PDF format, up to 6 A4 pages, and less than 15MB in size.
Portfolio for interview (if selected for interview)
If you’re selected for interview, you will need to bring and show a portfolio of your recent work, as explained below:
This work isn’t expected to consist of architectural drawings (e.g. plans, sections etc). We want to see something that illustrates an applicant’s interests, experience and ability in the visual and material arts. This may include drawings, paintings, sculpture and/or photography. It's usually sufficient for three-dimensional work to be exhibited in photographs. A sketchbook with ongoing drawings is extremely helpful and applicants are encouraged to have this to hand so that they can hold this up to the camera in the interview. The sketchbook can be in any media (pencil, charcoal, crayon etc) and should include a variety of subject matter. The work can be material prepared for school-leaving examinations but creative work executed outside formal courses is also welcome.
Further information about the portfolio requirements is available here (under the entry requirements tab). You can also see examples of portfolios on the ArcSoc | Department of Architecture website.
Submit two pieces of written work. This should be in essay format (not science coursework or a timed exam) and can be taken from an EPQ.
Submit two, preferably marked, essays that you would be happy to discuss further in the interviews, if asked. They should be as recent as possible, to showcase your abilities more readily, but should not be specially written for this purpose.
Submit two recent, preferably marked, essays (we prefer not to receive source-based answers but if you are sending this type of work be sure also to send the sources on which the answers are based).
Submit two recent, preferably marked, essays.
For History: we prefer not to receive source-based answers but if you are sending this type of work be sure also to send the sources on which the answers are based.
For Modern Language: If applying for an ab initio language (one started from scratch), please send an essay in English for that language, preferably written on English Literary texts, or on a historical subject. If you are applying for a post A level language, one piece of written work should be in the language you intend to study.
Submit two recent, preferably marked essays. These will usually be pieces of work that you have done at school or college as part of your current studies.
Submit two pieces of written work. These will usually be pieces of work that you have done at school or college as part of your current studies, marked by your teachers. Suitable essays would be on topics in the social sciences, or in subjects like History or English that involved critical, argumentative essays.
Submit one recent, preferably marked essay in any arts or social sciences subject. This will usually be a piece of work that you have done at school or college as part of your current studies.
Submit two recent examples of writing (an essay, for example) completed for school, one of which should be in one of the languages you intend to study at university. The pieces must be dated school-work, and ideally should have been marked by a teacher.
Submit representative written work and musical material prior to interview. This will normally include one or two essays on the history or analysis of music; and one or two technical exercises (if studied) and/or your own compositions.
Submit two examples of your written work from a relevant A Level/IB (or equivalent) course. A discussion of this work may then form part of your interview.
Frequently asked questions
Q. According to the information on the webpage, I am required to send one or two examples of my work. Will there be any disadvantage during my application process if I send one piece of work instead of two?
It won’t disadvantage your application if you only send one example of your work, but if you send two it will give a good overview of your abilities.
Q. Is it advisable to submit one unseen literary comparison and one more focused essay? Or would you prefer two essays on texts that have been formally studied?
We would prefer to receive two essays on texts that have been formally studied. But, should you decide to submit one unseen literary comparison, you should include the texts that are being commented on.
Q. I am considering sending a Spanish essay as part of my written work to study Education. Would a translation into English by myself and signed as correct by my teacher alongside the original be alright?
Yes, this will be acceptable to submit.
Q. If I am applying while on a gap year, what written work should I submit?
If you are applying during a gap year, please submit written work from your last year in education.
