Cambridge qualifications are recognised and valued by universities all around the world, including in the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany and beyond. 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.
Over 850 universities in the US formally accept Cambridge International AS & A Levels, including all Ivy League and Ivy Plus universities. These universities include Brown, Harvard, MIT, Stanford and Yale. Many more US universities accept Cambridge qualifications on application. In the UK, all universities accept Cambridge qualifications.
We work closely with universities to make sure Cambridge qualifications develop the skills and knowledge students need to succeed at university. In a 2018 survey of higher education admissions tutors at the world’s leading universities, 100 per cent of respondents said Cambridge programmes give students excellent preparation for university.
To find out more about recognition of specific Cambridge qualifications, see the Guidance for universities page.
Recognition database
Many universities and colleges have sent us official statements confirming their entry policies for Cambridge students. For full details of all official statements check our recognition database.
Many more organisations than just those listed on the database are also happy to accept Cambridge qualifications as proof of a student’s academic ability. However, before a student applies to any institution, it is essential that they check the exact entry requirements on the institution’s website for the course they want to study. If a student still has queries they should contact the institution’s admissions office.
Resources
We publish a variety of resources to support Cambridge students who are applying to universities, including brochures and videos.
Our university recognition brochure provides a general overview of admissions requirements in a wide range of countries:
University Recognition Worldwide (PDF, 524KB)
University Recognition Worldwide - Spanish (PDF, 3MB)
University Recognition Worldwide - Portuguese (PDF, 774KB)
University Recognition Worldwide - Arabic (PDF, 1MB)
If you want advice on applying to universities in popular destination countries, go to the Recognition in specific countries section.
You can also download free resources about the recognition of Cambridge qualifications, including posters, factsheets and PowerPoint presentations, in the Communications toolkit. These resources are ideal for school open days.
If students need to prove to a university that their English level is at an overall CEFR level B2 or above, please use the letter below which explains minimum scores and grades that are required for Cambridge IGCSE First Language English and Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language.
Cambridge IGCSE – English Language letter (PDF, 311KB)
University applications timescale
The University application timescale factsheet (PDF, 1MB) shows when students need to apply to university during their Cambridge International AS & A Level studies.
University applications checklist
The University application checklist factsheet (PDF, 128KB) enables schools to evaluate the processes they have in place for supporting students in their applications to universities and colleges.
School profile template
A school profile is a summary of a school, including demographics and details of the school community, the curriculum, extra-curricular activities, exam results and university outcomes.
Many universities find a school profile valuable in their admissions process as it provides the context for each student’s application. It gives universities the chance to look at the whole student, rather than just a series of grades and numbers.
We encourage schools to complete a school profile and make it available to their students. You can complete our template if it suits your school - otherwise you can design your own.
Example of a completed template (PDF, 388KB)
Cambridge International alumni
Every year thousands of students worldwide use their Cambridge qualifications to gain places at universities, either internationally or in their home country. Read some of our alumni stories to find out more about their experiences.