Best universities for a master’s in Cambridge

Cambridge is a centre of academia, history and stunning architecture in the East of England, known around the world for its famous university and quaint riverside living. For students and graduates alike, it’s a thriving tech hub and is just a short train ride from the centre of London—and all its opportunities. 

The city has a rich heritage of scholarly achievement, with world-famous figures like Charles Darwin and Stephen Hawking building their careers in its universities. Postgraduate students are particularly drawn to Cambridge due to the density of science and technology companies in its vicinity, earning it the nickname ‘Silicon Fen’. 

Cambridge is a popular choice for postgraduates whether they’re looking to train in English literature or engineering, build world-class expertise or develop their research career. 

CONTENTS 

• Which universities are in Cambridge?
• University of Cambridge
• Anglia Ruskin University
• Entry Requirements
• What to do in Cambridge

Which universities are in Cambridge? 

University of Cambridge 

One of the most famous institutions in the world, the University of Cambridge was established all the way back in 1209—making it the second oldest university in the English-speaking world and fourth oldest on the planet. It’s one of the highest rated higher education institutions globally and took 2nd place in the 2023 Complete University Guide league table. It has a superb reputation for teaching quality and research impact, with 98 Nobel Laureates linked to the university. It is a collegiate university and has buildings spread across the city, with many of the older ones found right in Cambridge’s heart. 

The University of Cambridge offers postgraduate students a choice of over 300 programmes, including taught and research options, across part-time and full-time study patterns. Cambridge has a distinctive ‘supervision’ oriented approach to taught postgraduate courses, shared only by the University of Oxford, which allows students to explore topics in depth and in small numbers with leading academics. The university offers a broad range of disciplines to study in, from arts and humanities to science, engineering and social sciences. 

Cambridge has exceptional academic facilities. There are more than 100 libraries for students to use, along with nine unique museums, a botanic garden and an observatory. Students will be able to conduct ground-breaking research across a huge number of laboratories, supported by 12 interdisciplinary research centres. The collegiate system means that each postgraduate student will have access to unique amenities, services and lifestyle facilities depending on their choice. 

Go to: Search courses at University of Cambridge

Anglia Ruskin University 

Anglia Ruskin University is a higher education institution whose reputation for quality, research impact, and graduate prospects goes from strength to strength. With its origins in the Cambridge School of Art in 1858, Anglia Ruskin is today one of the largest universities in the region and offers a broad portfolio of quality taught and research courses, across a wide range of subjects. The university has campuses in the cities of Cambridge, Chelmsford, Peterborough and London. 

Anglia Ruskin’s four faculties together offer more than 100 postgraduate courses for you to choose from. Whether it’s a single-semester postgraduate certificate, one year master’s degree, or three year PhD pathway, students are supported from the first day of their studies to well beyond the last. Part-time study options, in addition to fully online postgraduate qualifications—such as the MSc in Medical and Healthcare Education—make it a great choice for students looking for flexibility without compromising on quality. 

Anglia Ruskin University places a strong focus on providing postgraduate students with access to world-class facilities, and the support required to get the most out of them. Medical science students can explore a £3m, multi-functional SuperLab complex, while postgraduates across a number of other disciplines can make use of modern labs. Other industry-standard facilities include TV studios and financial trading rooms, as well as mock law courts and computer gaming studios. Online and physical library resources are vast, offering students everything they need to achieve their academic objectives whether learning in-person or remotely. 

Go to: Search courses at Anglia Ruskin University

Entry Requirements 

Entry requirements for postgraduate level study at universities in Cambridge will vary depending on the institution, subject and level of study being applied for. Students can typically expect to need a good grade at undergraduate level, in a relevant discipline. However, professional qualifications or experience, as well as acceptable international degrees, may be accepted in lieu of this. Completion of an interview is often required, and some courses may ask for the submission of a portfolio. 

You can use our dedicated course finder to find specific entry requirements for your chosen course. 

What to do in Cambridge 

Cambridge is a vibrant university town that offers postgraduate students a truly unique environment and lifestyle during their studies. With beautiful collegiate architecture, museums, galleries and libraries at every turn, along with manicured college gardens—known as ‘backs’—students will feel transported in time as they explore this historic city. 

It’s no surprise that Cambridge is a hub for arts, culture and history, with hundreds of years of scholarly activity drawing thinkers and funding towards a range of impressive galleries, museums and libraries. The grand Fitzwilliam museum has a broad collection from across the globe, while there are two archaeological museums, a science museum, the Museum of Cambridge and more. 

The city is rich with heritage pubs, quaint cafes and gourmet restaurants, many of which are just a stone’s throw from university hotspots. Into the darker hours, Cambridge offers a vibrant but laid back nightlife; modern bars and old taverns, several nightclubs and various venues for comedy, theatre or music make up the diverse night time landscape. 

Along with the city’s many riverside parks, tree-lined commons and other green spaces, Cambridge is a popular rowing town. You can get involved with club or competitive rowing, or simply take a relaxing punt down the river. Just out of the city, nature reserves and woodlands beckon, providing easy access to quintessential English landscapes. 

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