If you are taking three or more International A levels, please read the information about A levels on the Cambridge Admissions website here. The details also apply to international A levels, which are recognised as equivalent to UK Board GCE AS and A Levels as long as they are from one of the three exam boards listed below.
Exam boards
Students applying with International A levels normally use one of the following exam boards:
Do visit the relevant website / look at the British Council website for information about how you can take these qualifications and contact the exam board directly with any queries.
If you are planning to take / apply with International A levels that are not set by one of the exam boards listed above, please email us for guidance.
How many International A-level subjects?
We require three International A-level subjects, which we expect that you will take in the same exam sitting as we also want to see that you are able to manage the workload associated with preparing for all three at the same time.
There is no advantage in the application process to taking additional A level subjects, however it is common for strong applicants taking A level Mathematics and Further Mathematics to choose to do four A level subjects.
The importance of your A level subject choices
Before choosing which subjects you will take at A level it's essential to read
- The Christ's subject page
(these have a section on applying with details of any subject requirements/guidance) - The Cambridge admissions course information
When you click on the relevant subject, go to the entry requirements tab and ensure that you read the whole page (the box at the bottom with stats on the profile of recent successful applicants should be very useful in addition to the requirements).
We have a regular webinar for students who are choosing their A level subjects. This is aimed at students aged 14-16 but you are welcome join us even if you are older than that.
The timing of your International A levels
You can apply in September and take your International A levels in November or the following June. In this case you would need predicted grades for your International A levels, which your UCAS referee would need to provide.
Alternatively, you can take your International A levels first and apply the following September when you know your grades. This is called a post-qualification application.
Please see when to apply and the timing of exams for more detail.
Exams / Tests you may need to take in addition to A levels
When reading this page, note that in addition to International A levels, in most cases we would normally expect to see:
- STEP papers II and III if you are applying for Mathematics
See the STEP information on the Maths page. STEP is not needed if you are applying for a subject other than maths. - an Admissions Test, if this is required for your course at Cambridge (please check the applying information on the relevant subject page and be careful as some written assessments require registration by a deadline in mid-September).
- if English is not your first language, you may need to take an English language qualification.
In all cases it is essential to read the relevant Christ's subject page for details.
Conditional offers
Our offers are normally based on three International A level subjects. We define the terms of each offer individually, but the minimum conditional offer for your course is below
| A*AA | Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic, Archaeology, Architecture, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Classics, Design, Education, English, Geography, History, History and Modern Languages, History and Politics, History of Art, Human, Social and Political Sciences, Land Economy, Law, Linguistics, Modern and Medieval Languages, Music, Philosophy, Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion |
| A*A*A | Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Medicine, Natural Sciences, Psychological and Behavioural Sciences |
| A*A*A and 1,1 in STEP Mathematics II and III | Mathematics |
| AAA | If you’re studying in a country where an A* grade is not available |
Please ensure that you also read the information on offers in your subject set out on the Christ's subject page (see the offers sub-heading in the applying section on the relevant page for your course).
Students
See, for example, profiles by Emily, Arqum, Neophytos and Anissa, all of whom applied with International A levels.
International entrance requirements / Subjects at Christ's / When to apply / Application support for non-UK students
