Admission requirements

MPhil in African Studies Overview

Academic Requirements

Applications are welcome from suitably qualified UK/EU and international students. We especially encourage applications from students resident in African countries or with their undergraduate education from African universities. Minimum entry standard is a UK 2:1 honours degree and an excellent command of English. All candidates for admission to the MPhil are expected to be of PhD potential and to have degree results in at least the top quarter of the graduating cohort at their previous university.

Information about the minimum academic requirements for international students seeking entry to the University of Cambridge is available from Graduate Admissions

The Centre of African Studies does not follow mechanical rules to judge applicants; instead, for each individual, it considers, among other criteria, the level of academic achievement, relevant work experience, the research proposal, the suitability of the MPhil in African Studies course to the applicant’s academic and professional needs, and the applicant’s academic references and writing sample. The research proposal is especially important for assessing applicants’ preparedness for the academic demands of the MPhil in African Studies, and consideration is also given to the ‘research fit’ between applicant and potential supervisor.

English Language Requirement

The University of Cambridge requires all applicants to demonstrate competence in the English language at a very high level before they begin their proposed course of study. For those whose first language is not English and who have not previously studied for a degree in an English language university, evidence of proficiency in English through an IELTS score of 7.5 (with a minimum of 7.0 in each individual component) or a TOEFL score of 110 (with 25 in each element) is required.

You can use this website to find out if you will have a Language Requirement. 

Financial Requirement

Course costs comprise the University Composition Fee and a College Fee; students are also expected to have 'maintenance' funds to support their living costs while studying. When an offer of admission is made, students are asked to complete a Financial Undertaking Form, in order to meet the financial condition of admission. More information about course costs is available on our Course Fees and Funding Opportunities webpage.