Thank you for your application to Newnham College. Below, you will find helpful reminders to guide you through the next steps of the application process.
Helpful Resources
First, we would recommend you read the Applicant Checklist to see what you need to do now that you have submitted your application. It may also be worthwhile to keep a copy of the dates and deadlines information to keep track of any important dates.
Please add admissions@newn.cam.ac.uk and ellen.robley@newn.cam.ac.uk to your email contacts to ensure no communication we are sending to you ends up in your spam folder. We will be in touch with you with helpful reminders as well as further information throughout this process.
Subject by Subject Requirements
College-Registered Admissions Assessment Dates
If invited to interview, there are some subjects that have an College Registered Admissions Assessment. This year, College-Registered Admissions Assessments will take place in the in late November, rather than the day of the interview. If you are invited to take these assessments, you will be sent further details closer to the time – you do not need to register for these assessments. Please note that this list does not include all detail for students, and they should check their email regularly for updates.
| Subject | Assessment Date |
| Archaeology | 28 November 2022 |
| Architecture | 25 November 2022 |
| Classics (3 year) | 29 November 2022 |
| English | 23 November 2022 |
| History | 24 November 2022 |
| History and Modern Languages | 24 November 2022 (History) 29 November 2022 (ML) |
| History and Politics | 24 November 2022 |
| History of Art | 29 November 2022 |
| HSPS | 28 November 2022 |
| Linguistics | 25 November 2022 |
| MML | 29 November 2022 |
| Music | 28 November 2022 |
| PBS | 28 November 2022 |
| Philosophy | 28 November 2022 |
| Theology | 28 November 2022 |
Interviews
Along with all the other information you provide, interviews help us to assess your application and the majority of our applicants are invited to interview. All interviews this year will take place virtually, with most taking place between 5 December and 16 December. We aim to send invitations to interview from the middle of November until early December, though the exact date will vary subject to subject. If you have not received an update on your application by 1st December, please get in touch with the Admissions Office.
It is the applicant’s duty to inform their school as to whether they were given an interview and to ensure appropriate arrangements are put into place either at home or at school.
A note on interview timings
All timings are given in UK time (GMT), and it is your responsibility to work out what the local interview time will be for you if you are in a different time zone. We have tried to ensure that all applicants are given interview times that will be in their own day time, so if you think you have been given an interview time that is outside 7.30am-10:00pm in your local time zone then please get in touch immediately so that we can change the time to a more appropriate time for you.
Virtual Interview Logistics
Tech Tests
You have received information about a ‘Tech Test’ included on your invitation – this is an opportunity to test your set up, camera, microphone, and any other relevant technology before your interview, and it is compulsory for you to attend this. This is required for each interview in order to cut down on technical malfunctions during the interview. We do not estimate that this will take the full 15 minutes it is scheduled for. If both of your interviews are scheduled on the same day then you will only receive one tech test. It is imperative to keep all settings the same after this tech test.
Invigilated Pre-Reading or Interview Preparation Task Sessions
Where relevant, a pre-reading or interview preparation task session has been scheduled for you. If this applies to your subject then it will have been included on your invitation. Pre-reading sessions will be invigilated by current Newnham students. You will join a zoom call and be assigned to a breakout room, where you will receive the link for your pre-reading. You will be required to share your screen and keep your camera and microphone on unless instructed differently by the Student Helper. If you require additional time for pre-reading, this will have been taken into account and included in your original invitation.
Technology Requirements
Newnham will be using Zoom for Admissions Interviews this year. Applicants are strongly advised to read through the Virtual Interview Guide and contact the Admissions Office as soon as possible if you have any questions.
If your subject has a paper-based element, then you may be asked to annotate a shared whiteboard. Further guidance will be available soon.
The subjects that may have paper-based elements are:
- Chemical Engineering
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- History of Art
- HSPS
- Maths
- Medicine
- Music
- Natural Sciences
- Veterinary Medicine
*Applicants who do not have access to a tablet will be able to use pen and paper. Your access to a tablet will not affect the outcome of your application in any way.
All applicants for subjects with paper-based elements should bring paper and a thick black pen (felt tip) with them to the virtual interview – even those who plan to use a tablet should have paper and pen ready as a back up in case there are any technology issues.
Location
It is up to you whether you choose to be at home or at school/ college during your interview, and you’re advised to talk to a teacher about this if you’re not sure which would be best for you. If you have indicated that you can only access the required technology during school hours, we have endeavored to schedule accordingly. It’s vital that there is no one else present in the room with you when you are in your virtual interviews. You may be asked to show the interviewers the room through your webcam to verify this.