UK · Bachelor's
University of Cambridge
BA History
University of Cambridge
Course Overview
Cambridge's BA History (Historical Tripos) is a three-year honours degree taught through the small-group supervision system — typically two students per tutor, weekly, with one essay due each meeting. The department is consistently ranked #1 globally for History in QS World Rankings by Subject, with Sri Lankan applicants admitted across all 29 undergraduate colleges (Trinity, King's, Magdalene, Jesus, Selwyn are common admits).
Tripos Part I (Years 1-2) builds breadth — British, European and World History papers stretching from 285 AD to the present, plus theory and methodology. Part II (Year 3) is specialised: students pick a Special Subject (intensive primary-source paper), a long dissertation (10,000 words), and optional papers ranging from South Asian colonial history to Cold War diplomacy. Sri Lankan students often gravitate to the South Asia, Empire, or Global History papers.
For Sri Lankan applicants this is one of the most competitive UK undergraduate admits — entry needs A*AA, strong supercurricular reading evidence in the personal statement, the Cambridge written work submission, and a college interview (now run on Zoom for overseas applicants). Cambridge History grads feed into Civil Service Fast Stream, FCDO, BBC, FT, the Bar (via GDL/PGDL), Oxbridge MPhils, and Ivy League PhDs.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle A Level: A*AA — the A* should ideally be in History or a closely-related humanities subject.
- check_circle Sri Lankan A/Ls: A, A, A with at least one humanities subject (History, Geography, Political Science) at A grade. Edexcel / Cambridge International A-Levels accepted with the same A*AA equivalence.
- check_circle IB Diploma: 41-42 points with 776 at Higher Level — HL History strongly preferred.
- check_circle Cambridge written work: two recent A-Level essays (1,500-2,000 words each) submitted with the application.
- check_circle Cambridge-specific UCAS application by 15 October — one year earlier than most UK courses. College interview follows in December.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 7.5 Overall (min 7.0 in each component).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 110 Overall (min 25 in each component).
- check_circle Cambridge English C2 Proficiency: Grade A or B (200+).
- check_circle Waived if your school qualification was taught and assessed entirely in English (most Sri Lankan applicants from Edexcel / Cambridge International streams qualify with an MOI letter).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (£) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year, 2026 estimate) | £36,000 | Rs. 14,400,000 |
| Cambridge College Fee (per year) | £10,500 | Rs. 4,200,000 |
| Living Expenses (per year, Cambridge) | £14,200 | Rs. 5,680,000 |
| Student Visa & IHS (3 years) | £2,500 | Rs. 1,000,000 |
| Total Year 1 Investment | £63,200 | Rs. 25,280,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Eligible for the 2-year UK Graduate Route on graduation. Cambridge History graduates have the broadest career-funnel of any UK humanities degree — Civil Service Fast Stream, FCDO, House of Commons, BBC, FT, Economist, Reuters, the Bar (via GDL conversion), McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Goldman Sachs (TMT/financial sponsors desks recruit Cambridge humanities actively), plus Oxbridge MPhils, Harvard / Yale / Princeton PhDs.
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