In 2026, most interviews will take place between Monday 7th December and Friday 18th December. Some early interviews, for subjects without pre-registered admissions assessments, may take place in the week beginning Monday 30th November.

Interview invitations

Decisions about which candidates to interview are based on all the academic information contained in your application file, including past examination results, personal statements, references and any admissions assessments.

Our applicants are among the best in their school with excellent academic records, top predictions for exam results and strong support from their school. Interviews help us assess your academic potential and whether you'll thrive at Selwyn and Cambridge, building on what you've already told us in your application.

We do not interview those applicants whose academic profile (e.g., assessment results or prior exam marks) makes it unlikely they would be successful in gaining an offer, even if the interviews went well.

Interview format

From 2026, all applicants invited to interview at Selwyn College should expect to be interviewed in-person at Selwyn College. This includes both UK and overseas applicants, and applicants who are assigned to us having made an Open application.

We may consider arranging online interviews in exceptional circumstances which make it impossible for a candidate to be interviewed in-person. Any candidates who believe they are in such circumstances should contact the admissions office as soon as possible after making their application.

Candidates typically have two or three interviews at Selwyn. These can each be either a "subject interview" with the specialists in the subject applied for, or a "general interview" with another academic member of the College. The exact arrangements vary from subject to subject: please see the appropriate course page to see what the typical interview format is in your chosen subject.

Interviews at Selwyn

We look forward to welcoming you to Selwyn. When you arrive at the porters' lodge on Grange Road you will be directed to our team of student ambassadors who will confirm with you the times and places of your interviews. They will show you where you need to go. For some courses, there is material to look at and consider before the interview begins and you will be shown the relevant place where you can review it. The student ambassadors will also guide you to the right interview room.

If you are unable to make a round day-trip to Cambridge, we are pleased to offer you free overnight accommodation and meals in college. We are only able to offer accommodation to applicants, not to any accompanying parents, guardians or friends. When you are invited to interview, if you need overnight accommodation, please let us know. Students travelling from overseas may request up to two nights of accommodation.

We are happy to support eligible students with travel costs for public transport. You are eligible for reimbursement if you are a UK school pupil and are eligible for free school meals funded by your local authority. If you are invited for interview, you will be asked to send us the details (digital receipt or photo of a paper receipt) and we will reimburse you as soon as possible. Alternatively, let us know if this is a problem and we can buy the tickets for you. We do not reimburse international travel.

Travelling to Cambridge may become difficult or impossible, for example if you are unwell on the day your interview is scheduled. If this happens to you, please let us know without delay. If rescheduling is not possible, we may consider switching to an online interview.

Protecting the integrity of interviews

We take vigorous steps to protect the integrity of all interviews and all aspects of the admissions process. These include: verifying candidates’ identities; requiring interviewees to formally confirm that the content of interviews will not be shared in any way (including with friends and schools) and will not be recorded; invigilation of reading or writing sessions; and prohibiting the use of any external source of information during any reading, assessment or interview. If we suspect that the integrity of the process has been undermined, we will take further measures, including but not limited to rescinding an offer.

Further interview information

The University YouTube channel has plenty of material about interviews, including "The Interview" which focuses on in-person interviews - parts of which were filmed in Selwyn College. A central source for information about interviews whether online or in-person is the interviews section of the University website. We strongly recommend that you review this material before you come for interview.