Cambridge History interview 2026: dates, questions, format and success rate
How Cambridge interviews for History, varies by college, 7-18 Dec 2026: the format, the questions reported for it, and the practice interview built on them.
Figures from undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk, checked 18 October 2026.
At a glance
- When: 7-18 Dec 2026 (Winter pool mid to late January 2027)
- Format: Panel interview, Varies by College (Two or three interviewers in subject interviews)
- How many: Varies by College (most applicants 1-2; some 3-4)
- Length: 35 min to 1 hour in total for most applicants (varies by College)
- Who's interviewed: Shortlisted applicants
- Before it: No pre-registered admission test (College assessment only)
How the Cambridge History interview runs
- Before: No pre-registered admission test (College assessment only)
- Interviews: Varies by College (most applicants 1-2; some 3-4), 7-18 Dec 2026, varies by college
- Each one: 35 min to 1 hour in total for most applicants (varies by College), with Two or three interviewers in subject interviews
- In the room: College admission assessment at Hughes Hall and St Edmund's: Details will be provided by the relevant College.
- They assess: "Understanding of the subject, readiness for high-level study, fit with the Cambridge learning environment, critical and independent thinking, curiosity, enthusiasm", in the university's own words
Applied: 631. Offered: 241 (2025 cycle (applications from Sep 2024 for entry in Oct 2025 or deferred 2026)).
Questions asked
- Official sample question: What can historians not find out about the past?
- Official sample question: Imagine we had no records about the past at all, except everything to do with sport – how much of the past could we find out about?
- Official sample question: What makes civil wars so different from other wars?
Every question reported for this course is open with a free account.
Cambridge History interview FAQ
When are Cambridge History interviews in 2026?
7-18 Dec 2026 (main period).
Online or in person?
Varies by College, as a panel interview.
How long is each interview?
35 min to 1 hour in total for most applicants (varies by College). Varies by College (most applicants 1-2; some 3-4).
Is there a test?
No pre-registered admission test (College assessment only).
Related
- Cambridge History and Modern Languages interview
- Cambridge History and Politics interview
- Cambridge History of Art interview
- Oxford History interview
- Oxford History (Ancient and Modern) interview