Within 48 hours of submitting your UCAS application, you will receive an email with log-in details for the Cambridge-specific additional questionnaire. This is called the SAQ (Supplementary Application Questionnaire) and we have it because we do not write the UCAS form and we need to ask additional questions.
When you receive your log-in details and the website link, you log-in and work on your SAQ. You can save your work and go back if you need to complete a questionnaire in multiple sessions, and there will be guidance to consult if you have a question.
Help with the SAQ
There is guidance on the Cambridge Admissions website to help you complete the SAQ - see Competing the SAQ and FAQs. The Guide to completing the SAQ is particularly useful and there is an SAQ helpdesk to contact with any questions you have whilst completing the form:
| Helpdesk |
Email: saqhelp@admin.cam.ac.uk |
The helpdesk is specialised for the SAQ, and so the advisers there are the best people to help if you have any queries that you have not been able to find the answer to (for SAQ questions please email the helpdesk rather than Christ's).
If you do not receive your log-in email when you expect to
If you do not receive your log-in email when you expect to (you should have it within 48 hours of UCAS application submission, but it is not normally immediate), please first of all check the spam / junk / promotions folders in your email and contact the helpdesk if you can't find it.
Deadline: 22 October (18:00 UK time)
UK applicants must send any additional questionnaire(s) by 18:00 UK time on 22 October. Like the UCAS deadline, this is an absolute deadline - you have not made a valid application if you do not meet it.
We strongly advise you not to leave your SAQ to the last minute - if you have a problem this could have serious consequences so why risk it?
Additional personal statement advice
You'll see that there's a box where you can add a brief additional personal statement if you want to. This is because your UCAS personal statement is read by all universities you are applying to and there may be things you want to say that only Cambridge reads. This is particularly relevant if there are differences in the courses you are applying to at different universities (e.g. if you are applying for Biology elsewhere but Natural Sciences at Cambridge).
If you are happy with the UCAS personal statement, don't feel that you need to complete this box - you won't be marked down if you don't write anything - it is genuinely just an opportunity to say something for students who felt limited by other universities reading the UCAS statement.
Further information
Back to UK application support / Next: UK transcripts (only occasionally needed)