Skip to main content

Go to our other sites

Change language / country

Cambridge Assessment International Education

Main navigation

  • About us

    About us

    • What we do
    • Our management team
    • Our regional teams
    • Our standards
    • Careers
    • Examiners
    • Our history
  • Why choose us

    Why choose us

    • Benefits of a Cambridge education
    • Where do Cambridge qualifications take you?
    • Support for schools
    • Information for parents and students
    • Find a Cambridge school
    • Online education
    • Join Cambridge
    • Cambridge Associates
    • The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award
    spacer
    Material from Join Cambridge Welcome pack

    Join Cambridge

    Find out how to become a Cambridge school

  • Programmes &
    qualifications

    Programmes & qualifications

    • Cambridge Primary

      • Curriculum
      • Classroom support
      • Assessment
      • Resource list
    • Cambridge Lower Secondary

      • Curriculum
      • Classroom support
      • Assessment
      • Resource list
    • Cambridge Upper Secondary

      • Cambridge IGCSE
      • Cambridge O Level
    • Cambridge Advanced

      • Cambridge International AS & A Level
      • Cambridge Pre-U
      • Cambridge AICE Diploma
      • Cambridge IPQ
    • Other

      • Recognition and acceptance
      • Cambridge Global Perspectives
      • Bilingual education
  • Exam
    administration

    Exam administration

    • Cambridge Exams Officers' Guide

      • Phase 1 - Preparation
      • Phase 2 - Entries
      • Phase 3 - Coursework and Moderation
      • Phase 4 - Before the exam
      • Phase 5 - Exam day
      • Phase 6 - Results and certificates

    Other

      • What to expect on exam day
      • Results
      • Private candidates
  • Support & training
    for schools

    Support & training for schools

    Support and resources

    • Teaching and learning during Covid-19
    • Support for teachers
    • Support for new schools
    • Teaching Cambridge at your school
    • Endorsed resources
    • Communications toolkit

    Professional development and conferences

    • Professional development courses
    • Professional development calendar
    • Cambridge Professional Development Qualifications
    • Cambridge Schools Conference

    Other support

    • Resource Plus
    • Test Maker
    • Cambridge Personal Styles Questionnaire
    • Great teaching toolkit
  • News & blog

    News & blog

    • Latest news
    • Blog
    • Newsletters
    • Sign up to our eNewsletters
    • Media contacts
    • What's new
    spacer
    Cambridge Outlook magazine front cover

    Cambridge Outlook magazine

    Keep up to date with news from Cambridge and its schools around the world.

  • Help

Programmes & Qualifications

  • Guidance for universities
    • Statement of support for Global Perspectives & Research A Level
    • Statement of support for Cambridge IPQ
    • Results service for universities
  • Guidance for universities
    • Statement of support for Global Perspectives & Research A Level
    • Statement of support for Cambridge IPQ
    • Results service for universities
  • Home
  • Programmes and qualifications
  • Recognition and acceptance
  • Guidance for universities

Guidance for universities

Watch the video below to learn more about how Cambridge programmes prepare students for university.

VIDEO: Find out how Cambridge programmes prepare students for university. 前往优酷观看 View on YouKu

Students use Cambridge International AS & A Levels to gain places at leading universities worldwide including in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, South Africa and Germany.

We have published guidance below about our qualifications to help universities develop admissions policies for Cambridge students. Many universities require a combination of Cambridge International A Level and Cambridge IGCSE qualifications to meet their entry requirements.

Please register your institution’s admission policy with us so that we can include in it in our recognition database. The database is an online directory of organisations around the world that have specifically provided us with formal written acceptance of Cambridge qualifications.

Cambridge qualifications

Admissions staff can find key information below about our qualifications to help make decisions about the application process.

Cambridge Pathway Upper Secondary and Advanced qualifications

*Age ranges are for guidance only

Cambridge IGCSE

Cambridge IGCSE is the world's most popular international curriculum for students aged 14 to 16 years. It provides ideal preparation for any advanced education or study placement. Further information can be found in the guides below.

Cambridge IGCSE Guide for Universities - English (PDF, 1MB)

Cambridge IGCSE Guide for Universities - French (PDF, 2MB)

Cambridge IGCSE Guide for Universities - Italian (PDF, 2MB)

Cambridge IGCSE Guide for Universities - Turkish (PDF, 2MB)

Cambridge IGCSE Guide for Universities - Spanish (PDF, 2MB)

Cambridge IGCSE Guide for Universities - Portuguese (PDF, 2MB)

Many universities accept Cambridge IGCSE English Language qualifications as evidence of English language proficiency. The documents below give the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) levels by grade and skill for each of our Cambridge IGCSE English language qualifications.

CEFR levels for Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language (0510/0511) (PDF, 98KB)

CEFR levels for Cambridge IGCSE First Language English (0500/0522) (PDF, 86KB)

Students can apply to Cambridge International for a Certifying Statement for CEFR which gives a breakdown of their Cambridge IGCSE English Language results into component grades and corresponding levels according to the CEFR. It provides evidence of their proficiency in all four language skills.

Cambridge O Level

Cambridge O Level is an internationally recognised qualification equivalent to Cambridge IGCSE and the UK GCSE. Many universities worldwide require a combination of Cambridge International A Levels and Cambridge O Levels to meet their entry requirements.

Cambridge International AS & A Level and Cambridge AICE Diploma

Cambridge International AS & A Level is an advanced level qualification for students typically aged 16 to 19 years. All UK universities accept Cambridge International AS & A Levels. In places such as the United States and Canada, good grades in carefully chosen Cambridge International A Level subjects can result in up to one year of university course credit. 

The Cambridge AICE Diploma demands mastery of a variety of subjects from three different groups at Cambridge International AS & A Level: Mathematics and Sciences, Languages, Arts & Humanities, plus a compulsory core subject, Cambridge International AS Level Global Perspectives & Research.

Cambridge International AS & A Levels are recognised as a passport to success in education, university and employment. They are taken by students in over 130 countries.

Cambridge International AS and A Level Guide - English (PDF, 1MB)

Cambridge International AS & A Level Guide - Arabic (PDF, 1MB)

Cambridge International AS & A Level Guide - Bahasa Indonesia (PDF, 1MB)

Cambridge International AS & A Level Guide - Chinese (PDF, 274KB)

Cambridge International AS & A Level Guide - French (PDF, 1MB)

Cambridge International AS & A Level Guide - Italian (PDF, 1MB)

Cambridge International AS & A Level Guide - Japanese (PDF, 1MB)

Cambridge International AS & A Level Guide - Portuguese (PDF, 1MB)

Cambridge International AS & A Level Guide - Spanish (PDF, 1MB)

Cambridge International AS & A Level Guide- Thai (PDF, 1MB)

Cambridge International AS & A Level Guide - Turkish (PDF, 1MB)

Cambridge Pre-U

Cambridge Pre-U is primarily taught in UK schools as an alternative to A Level. Please note that Cambridge Pre-U is being withdrawn. The last examinations for all subjects will be June 2023, with a resit available in June 2024.

Cambridge Pre-U Guide for Admissions Staff - English (PDF, 221KB)

Cambridge IPQ

The Cambridge International Project Qualification (Cambridge IPQ) is a project-based qualification, typically aimed at students aged 16 – 19 years old. Students research a topic of their choice, and present their findings in a 5000 word report. The Cambridge IPQ encourages students’ to develop skills which are valued by universities worldwide.

Read statements of support for Cambridge IPQ from universities and colleges, and complete the form to add your institution’s support.

Cambridge Global Perspectives

Cambridge Global Perspectives is a skills-based subject that places academic study in a practical, real-world context. It is available at every stage of the Cambridge Pathway including at Cambridge IGCSE, O Level and International AS & A Level.

We developed the programme in response to concerns from universities over the ‘college-readiness’ of students. As such, Cambridge Global Perspectives equips students with a firm grasp of core research, collaboration, presentation and higher-order thinking skills.

Read statements of support for Cambridge Global Perspectives & Research from universities and colleges, and complete the form to add your institution’s support.

Benchmarking studies: UK NARIC

UK NARIC, the national agency in the UK for the recognition and comparison of international qualifications and skills, has carried out independent benchmarking studies of Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International AS & A Level. The study found these qualifications to be comparable to the standard of UK GCSE and UK AS & A Level.

Due to the United Kingdom leaving the European Union, the UK NARIC national recognition agency function was re-titled as UK ENIC on 1 March 2021, operated and managed by Ecctis Limited. From 1 March 2021, international benchmarking findings are published under the Ecctis name.

For more information about the findings read the UK NARIC benchmarking studies

eNewsletter

Cambridge Spotlight is our twice-yearly eNewsletter for higher education professionals. Join the mailing list to keep up to date with Cambridge International qualifications.

Subscribe to our newsletter

You can view previous newsletters below:

  • November 2022 eNewsletter
  • June 2022 eNewsletter

About us

  • What we do
  • Help
  • Our social media channels

Useful links

  • Join Cambridge
  • Book a training course
  • Communications toolkit
  • Log in to secure sites
  • Careers
Cambridge University Press & Assessment logo

View Related Sites

  • School Support Hub
  • Cambridge Primary support site
  • Cambridge Lower Secondary support site
  • Cambridge International Direct
  • Submit for Assessment
  • Online Learning – professional development
  • Assessment Specialist support site
  • Online Learning – student support

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023

  • Sitemap
  • ISO 9001 Certificate
  • Privacy and legal
  • Accessibility and standards
  • Statement on Modern Slavery
  • Contact us
Back to top
We use cookies. By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies Accept