Cambridge Admissions Office
T 01223 333308
E [email protected]
The University of Cambridge UCAS and SAQ submission deadline has now passed for 2016 entry (or deferred entry in 2017).
Typical questions that arise when completing the Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ)
Why does Cambridge have a SAQ?
The Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ) was developed to ensure that we have complete and consistent information about all applicants. It also enables us to collect information that is not part of the UCAS application but is helpful when assessing applications. The SAQ asks for details such as UMS marks obtained in AS/A Level units, information about topics already covered as part of your AS/A Level (or equivalent) courses (which helps our interviewers decide which questions to ask), and registration numbers for admissions tests (if applicable).
I have completed a COPA; do I also have to fill in the SAQ?
Yes. All applicants should complete the Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ). Your application will not be valid unless you also submit a SAQ. However, once you have confirmed your identity, and entered your COPA Reference Number and UCAS Personal ID in the boxes provided in Section 1, you should answer Section 8 only. This enables us to link the answers you provided in the COPA to your SAQ.
I have submitted my UCAS application but want to change College. Can I do this?
No. Once you have submitted your UCAS application, it is not possible to change your College under any circumstances so make sure you research your College choice and are sure about your decision. If you have submitted a COPA and have listed a different College choice to that stated on your UCAS application then the College choice on your UCAS application will take precedence. Please note that this also applies if you have made an open application.
What is the deadline for submitting my SAQ?
The initial email you receive from the University about completing the SAQ will include a deadline by which you must submit your SAQ. In the majority of cases this will be 12pm (noon, BST) on 22 October 2015.
I’ve applied to the University of Cambridge but I’ve not received an email, what should I do?
Emails containing SAQ log in details are usually sent within 48 hours after submission of a UCAS application so you will not immediately receive an email from us. If you submit an application to the University of Cambridge through UCAS but do not receive an email about the SAQ by Tuesday 20 October 2015, you should contact the Cambridge Admissions Office (email: [email protected]).
Receiving emails from the University of Cambridge
During the early stages of your application, the University will send important information and reminders to the email address that you have provided. It is essential that your email account is configured correctly so that emails sent from the University are not rejected or filtered into your 'junk'/'spam' folder by your email provider.
Your application to the University of Cambridge may be disadvantaged if you do not take the steps described below.
The University of Cambridge will contact you from time to time using the following email addresses:
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
Please ensure that all five of the above email addresses are:
- ADDED to your email client's Contact List
- ADDED to your email client's Safe Sender List (if available)
- REMOVED from your email client's Block Sender List
Help for some of the more commonly used email clients can be found at the following links:
What should I do if I lose my SAQ login details?
If you lose the initial email from the University which contains the web address of the online Supplementary Application Questionnaire and your temporary SAQ Password details please contact the Cambridge Admissions Office (E [email protected] / T 01223 333308) requesting that your initial login details be resent.
What if I forget my SAQ Password?
Don't worry if you forget your password. If this happens enter your UCAS Personal ID on the login page and click on the 'I have forgotten my password' link. We will send you a new temporary SAQ Password by email. You will be asked to change this temporary password to a password of your choice when you next log in.
What is my UCAS Personal ID?
Your UCAS Personal ID is the unique number which UCAS allocates to your application. If you have forgotten your UCAS Personal ID, please contact UCAS Customer Services (T 0371 468 0 468) or refer to UCAS Track.
Your UCAS Personal ID remains the same regardless of how many times you apply through UCAS. If you are a re-applicant (in other words, if you have made an application/applications via UCAS to any Higher Education institution in a previous year or years), UCAS will give you a new temporary Personal ID for your new application until all of their necessary checks are completed. The Personal ID supplied to us with your new application will revert to your original (and permanent) one, and should be used in the SAQ and in any correspondence you subsequently have with us.
What if my email address changes?
We will use the contact details you provided as part of your UCAS application to communicate with you. If your email address (or any other contact details) change after you have submitted your UCAS application you will need to advise UCAS Customer Services (T 0371 468 0 468) or change the information on UCAS Track.
I don’t have a digital photograph of myself, what should I do?
We strongly encourage you to upload a digital photograph. However, if you are unable to provide a digital photograph please follow the link given in Section 2 of the SAQ. This will take you to the Undergraduate Applicant Photograph Submission Form. The completed form should be returned to the Admissions Office of the College you applied to, or, in the case of open applicants, the Cambridge Admissions Office by 22 October 2015.
How much detail do I need to give about topics that I have studied?
We are looking for a list of the main topics that you have covered in your studies in order to help interviewers to compose appropriate questions to ask you, so you only need to include topics covered up to December 2015. The two examples below give an indication of the level of detail that we are looking for in this question. List as many topics as you can but do not worry if you cannot list them all. Abbreviations are acceptable. If you are unsure which topics you will be covering up to December 2015 we recommend that you ask your teachers for guidance.
If any of your qualifications are self-taught or you are home-schooled, please enter '1' under 'Class size' and provide further details in question 7.6 ('Is there anything else you would like us to know?').
If your school year starts in January and ends in December, please select “2014-15” under “Academic Year” for any subjects studied from January 2014 to December 2014 and select “2015-16” under “Academic Year” for any subjects studied from January 2015 to (and including) December 2015. We also recommend that you provide further details at question 7.6 (“Is there anything else you would like us to know?”).
AS/A Level example
| Subject | Level | Class Size | Academic Year | Topics |
| Biology | AS Level | 15 | 2014-15 | Molecules and Cells, Exchange Transport, Genetics |
| Biology | A Level | 10 | 2015-16 | Human Health, Respiration |
| Chemistry | AS Level | 8 | 2014-15 | Atomic Structure, Bonding, Kinetics, Energetics |
| Chemistry | A Level | 7 | 2015-16 | Functional Groups, Periodicity |
| English Literature | AS Level | 10 | 2014-15 | Keats, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, A Streetcar Named Desire |
| Mathematics | AS Level | 15 | 2014-15 | Algebra and Functions, Calculus, Trigonometry |
| Mathematics | A Level | 12 | 2015-16 | Probability, Complex Numbers |
International Baccalaureate example
| Subject | Level | Class Size | Academic Year | Topics |
| English | IB Higher Level | 15 | 2015-16 | Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Outsider, Anthony and Cleopatra, Yeats, Heaney |
| Spanish | IB Higher Level | 12 | 2015-16 | Study of Grammar, History of Spain and South America, Spanish Literature, Politics and Culture |
| History | IB Higher Level | 15 | 2015-16 | Russia 1850-1953, Causes of the Cold War, Rise and Rule of Single Party States |
| Biology | IB Standard Level | 15 | 2015-16 | Cells, Digestion, Respiration, Health and Nutrition, Blood and Circulation |
| Latin | IB Standard Level | 10 | 2015-16 | Catullus: Love Poetry, Horace, The Aeneid Book II, Translation of Ovid, Grammar |
| Maths Studies | IB Standard Level | 20 | 2015-16 | Calculus, Trigonometry, Financial Mathematics, Algebra, Graphs |
What do you mean by a 'High School Transcript'?
By ‘High School Transcript’ we mean a record of your academic achievement to date in your secondary school/college examinations, for example non-modular A Levels and IGCSEs/O Levels, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and the Middle Years Programme (MYP), or other equivalent qualifications. If you are currently studying at a university, you are also required to provide a University Transcript. For most students, the transcript will be an official document or certificate from your school/college/university which lists the subjects you have studied and the grades/qualifications that you have obtained. Please provide as much information on your examination performance as possible including details of any internal assessments that you may have undertaken. Please do NOT include references, detailed project work, or any non-academic achievements.
Please do NOT submit a transcript if you have taken modular AS/A Levels or CIE A Levels, where you are provided with Percentage Uniform Marks (PUMs).
If you are unsure as to whether or not you are required to submit a transcript (High School and/or University), you can find guidance under FAQ - Am I required to submit a High School Transcript? below.
If the original transcript is not in English, you will need to have it translated and authorised (ie signed or stamped) by an official translation service or by your school/college/university.
For an example of a High School Transcript and further guidance relating to transcripts, please see the transcript page.
Transcripts must be uploaded at QA5.1 of the COPA.
Transcript submission deadlines
You must ensure that your transcript is uploaded by the relevant deadline.
| COPA applicants | Non-COPA applicants |
|
Overseas applications
Organ Scholarship applications |
Transcripts must be received by 22 October 2015 |
Am I required to submit a High School Transcript?
Please refer to the Transcripts requirements webpage.
It is your responsibility to check whether you are required to submit a transcript. Please note that your application will not be considered unless the appropriate transcript is received.
My SAQ is not displaying correctly, what should I do?
We strongly recommend that you download and use the Firefox web browser to complete the SAQ, as it may not display correctly in other browsers. If you are having difficulty displaying pages of the SAQ correctly (when they have previously displayed without any problems) please try logging out and logging back in again. This should correct any problems you are experiencing.
I’m unable to submit my SAQ, what should I do?
You will be unable to submit your SAQ if you have not answered any compulsory questions or you have provided an invalid answer. Go to the 'Review My Answers' page by clicking on 'Review My Answers' to check for any errors. Once you have corrected any errors try to submit your SAQ again. You will need to agree to the declaration statement again.
I have difficulties logging into my SAQ, what do I do?
We strongly recommend that you download and use the Firefox web browser to complete the SAQ, as this is the preferred browser and some applicants have experienced problems logging in using other browsers. If you are experiencing difficulties logging into your SAQ, we recommend that you clear your 'cookies' and browsing history, and allow 'pop-ups'. Alternatively, try using a different machine.
What if I need to change information but have already submitted my SAQ?
Once you have submitted your SAQ, it is not possible to amend the answers online. If you notice an error in the information you provided or have any other queries please contact the Admissions Office of the College you applied to or, in the case of open applicants, the Cambridge Admissions Office (E [email protected] / T 01223 333 308).
Can schools/colleges still submit an additional Cambridge-specific reference?
As we receive a copy of the UCAS reference, there is no need for teachers/referees to provide an additional reference for Cambridge. However, if teachers/referees have any particular comments to make that relate to Cambridge specifically and were not included in the UCAS reference, they are welcome to do so and should send this direct to the relevant College.
In order to ensure that any additional reference arrives at the right place it should be addressed to the Admissions Office at the College concerned and should include the applicant's full name, date of birth, course applied for and, if possible, UCAS Personal ID. In the case of an open application, this information and additional reference should be sent to the Cambridge Admissions Office.