CUNJC, the Cambridge Admissions Office and the Nanjing Overseas Collaborative Innovation Centre (Cambridge, UK) successfully jointly held the "Applying to Cambridge: Undergraduate Study at Cambridge 2025" in Nanjing. During the nearly 3-hour event, Ms. Pamela Chen, the Regional Manager for International Recruitment at the Cambridge Admissions Office, provided a detailed explanation of the application process. Professor Daping Chu, tenured chair professor at the Cambridge University and Academic Director and CEO of CUNJC, warmly addressed the event. Cambridge alumni from various subjects including Engineering, Mathematics, Land Economy, Architecture, Natural Sciences, and Human, Social and Political Sciences enthusiastically shared their study experiences and patiently provided students with guidance on their applications.

The information sharing session was conducted both on-site and online, with over a hundred teachers, students, and parents from Nanjing Foreign Language School, High School Affiliated To Nanjing Normal University, Jinling High School, International School of Nanjing Yu Hua Tai High School, Nanjing International School, BASIS International School Nanjing, Nanjing Thomas School, Dulwich International High School Suzhou, and Jinan Zhensheng School participating in person. Additionally, more than 700 people watched the session online. The event yielded successful outcomes.

As a diverse international community, the University of Cambridge is committed to "contributing to society through the pursuit of education, learning, and research at the highest international levels." It warmly welcomes outstanding students from all around the world. It is reported that 41% of the students at the University of Cambridge comes from nearly 150 countries and regions outside the UK, with Chinese students comprising its largest international student community. Over 2,000 students from China are enrolled at the university.

Professor Daping Chu expressed his expectation toward young students that "those successful are who can seize the opportunities. I am looking forward to seeing you guys in Cambridge next year." Speaking about why one should choose Cambridge, he, in the role of an educator, gently suggests: studying at Cambridge not only means gaining access to top-tier global education and research resources but also enjoys the opportunity to deeply understand the society in which we live, grasp the core spirit of Cambridge University, and actively engage in addressing and solving global challenges faced by humanity, such as food security, climate change, urban safety.

"International collaboration is indispensable for addressing the aforementioned global challenges," he noted. "China is an important participant and key collaborator in global development. As the first research center established overseas by the University of Cambridge, CUNJC embodies Cambridge's enthusiasm for collaborative innovation. We are dedicated to integrating top international resources and talents from Cambridge and beyond to collaborate with local universities, institutions, and industry partners, which further promotes the commercialisation of cutting-edge technologies, and helping the local better address various challenges to development."

Ms. Pamela Chen provided a comprehensive overview of the application process for the University of Cambridge, covering aspects such as the collegiate system tradition, key assessment criteria, academic requirements, and application procedures.

Cambridge University comprises 29 undergraduate colleges, each provides students with accommodation, dining, recreational facilities, and academic mentors, and is responsible for undergraduate admissions. The University as a whole, on the other hand, determines the daily teaching content, organises courses, seminars, practical sessions, and laboratory operations, and takes charges of awarding degrees. "Therefore, although there are some differences between those colleges on the entry requirements in terms of a same subject, the students studying the same subject but in different colleges should learn the same courses," emphasized Ms. Chen to students.

"Cambridge seeks the smartest and most outstanding students around the world, regardless of their social, religious, or education backgrounds," Ms. Chen stated. "Academic ability and potential are the core what Cambridge will assess. The University will comprehensively assess applicants' interest on subject, ability of independent thinking, initiative for study and resilience, master and utilisation of knowledge, and fitness with the subject through a series of materials including academic records, personal statements, school references, written assignments, entrance assessments, and interview performance."

In terms of the minimum of academic requirements, the University of Cambridge requires A-Level students to achieve grades of A*A*A—A*AA, IB students to attain scores of 40-42 points with Higher Level (HL) subjects at 7,7,6 points, and AP students to have five subjects with no less than 5 for each one. Regarding personal statements, the University suggests that at least 80% of the statement should be linked with the subject to be applied, for example the understanding of subject knowledge, the self-motivated exploration on the subject outside the curricular

During the subsequent Alumni Story and Subject Focus Group sessions, alumni from various colleges and different subjects shared their experiences and insights:

- Lisa Shen, enrolled in2014, Natural Sciences (Chemistry), St John's College
- Rex Wang, enrolled in2012, Human Social and Political Sciences, Gonville & Caius College
- Jianye Chen, enrolled in 2012, Engineering, Corpus Christi College
-Ran Wang, enrolled in 2007, Land Economy, Fitzwilliam College
-Frank Han, enrolled in 2014, Mathematics, Homerton College
-Chen Lu, enrolled in 2019, Natural Sciences (Physics), Peterhouse
- Lucy Lu, enrolled in 2023 (current undergraduate), Architecture, Fitzwilliam College
-Sally Yuan, enrolled in 2023 (current undergraduate), Natural Sciences (Biology), Queens' College

They shared their stories at Cambridge and introduced the employment prospects.

"Immersed in Cambridge's innovative, inclusive, and diverse atmosphere, you'll constantly encounter people from different backgrounds around the globe, receive guidance from top scholars worldwide, and share creative ideas. This makes everyday life at Cambridge tremendously stimulating intelligence and fosters innovative thinking," described Rex Wang. "When you're sitting in classrooms with centuries of history, you're also exposed to the world's most cutting-edge technologies. All these wonders happen in the same place." Chen Lu also emphasised, "At Cambridge, you'll encounter scholars and professors full of creativity, enthusiasm for the unknown, and relentless exploration. They strive to drive progress in various fields, but more importantly, they always maintain the courage and determination to pursue their passions. Their attitudes inspire countless young students."

Speaking of their learning experiences, Ran Wang and Lucy Lu both highlighted the intensity and autonomy of academic learning at Cambridge. With its unique lecture and tutorial system, Cambridge emphasises harnessing students' autonomy in learning. Based on the basic introductions and framework outlined in lectures, students are required to independently arrange extensive reading and research in their spare time, culminating in presentations of their findings. "Cambridge is an institution known for its high academic intensity and numerous study challenges," remarked one student. Sally Yuan, a current undergraduate student enrolled in 2023, shared, "Cambridge has a flexible course structure and fosters a friendly and supportive learning environment." As a first-year student majoring in Natural Sciences, she has the opportunity to choose any natural science course she finds interesting without fear of being mocked for asking basic questions. "To the supervisors, the absence of questions is the most foolish question. Daring to speak candidly about academic issues has greatly benefited me," she added.

When discussing their initial motivations for choosing Cambridge, Lisa Shen believed that students select Cambridge University not solely because of its world-renowned reputation but rather due to their passion for their chosen field and admiration for the professors. Meanwhile, to Frank Han, an alumnus from the Mathematics Department, Cambridge is the hub of global mathematics, having nurtured mathematicians like Russell and Ramanujan who transcend eras. This fact served as his driving force for applying to Cambridge, echoing the famous saying, "The people who came here changed Cambridge, the idea left the Cambridge changed the world."

Towards popular Engineering subject, Jianye Chen mentioned that for those interested in applying to the Engineering at Cambridge University, it's essential to pay attention to whether there are additional examinations when applying to different college. Different colleges may have different requirements. Typically, the Engineering Department at Cambridge University implements a broad education approach in the first and second years, with specific directions in the third year. For graduates from the Engineering Department, besides those job opportunities directly related to engineering, careers in capital investment, investment banking, and consulting are also compatible options.

The nature of science is innovation, and the key to innovation lies in talents. As a comprehensive platform supporting the overall development of the University of Cambridge in China, since 2022, CUNJC has assisted the Cambridge Admissions Office in hosting the "Applying to Cambridge" series of undergraduate and graduate admission events in Nanjing several times. This has provided an accessible channel for excellent students in China to communicate directly with the official Admissions Office of Cambridge. In the future, CUNJC will continue to support the University's work on education and contribute to talent cultivation.