About the University of Cambridge
Established in 1209, the University of Cambridge is a public research university with a unique collegiate structure. With over 800 years of history, it ranks as the fourth-oldest university in the world and the second-oldest in the English-speaking world.
Today, Cambridge welcomes more than 18,000 students from diverse cultural backgrounds across the globe. Around 4,000 of these students are international, representing over 120 countries. The university also offers International Summer Schools, providing 150 courses to students from more than 50 nations.
The university is made up of 31 independent colleges, where students benefit from personalized small-group teaching sessions called “supervisions.”
Academic studies are organized into six schools, encompassing roughly 150 departments and institutions. These schools are:
- Arts and Humanities
- Biological Sciences
- Clinical Medicine
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Physical Sciences
- Technology
Situated in the heart of Cambridge, the campus features many historic listed buildings, with several of the oldest colleges located along or near the River Cam.
Cambridge boasts an impressive collection of over 100 libraries, holding more than 15 million books combined. The main University Library alone, which serves as a legal depository, contains eight million items. Additionally, the university maintains nine public museums dedicated to art, science, and culture, along with a botanical garden.
Cambridge University Press, the university’s publishing arm, operates globally with more than 50 offices. Its extensive catalog includes 45,000 titles covering academic research, professional development, journals, education, and Bible publishing.
An extraordinary 92 Cambridge-affiliated individuals have received Nobel Prizes, spanning every category.
The university’s endowment stands at nearly £6 billion.
Rankings
Explore Cambridge’s performance in different rankings:
- World University Rankings 2025: 5th
- Arts and Humanities 2025: 2nd
- Business and Economics 2025: 5th
- Medical and Health 2025: 3rd
- Computer Science 2025: 2nd
- Education Studies 2025: 4th
- Engineering 2025: 6th
- Law 2025: 4th
- Life Sciences 2025: 2nd
- Physical Sciences 2025: 7th
- Psychology 2025: 2nd
- Social Sciences 2025: 6th
World University Rankings 2025 Breakdown
Similar Universities
Interested in other top institutions? Here are a few options:
- University of Bristol (Founded: 1909) – A leading redbrick research university in Bristol, UK.
- University of Liverpool (Founded: 1881) – A Russell Group member with a strong research focus.
- University of Glasgow (Founded: 1451) – A historic public research university in Scotland.
- Newcastle University (Founded: 1963) – A dynamic institution in Northeast England.
- Queen’s University Belfast (Founded: 1845) – One of the UK’s oldest universities, with royal roots.
Key Student Statistics
- Gender Ratio: 49% Female, 51% Male
- International Students: 38%
- Students per Staff: 11.5
- Total Students: 20,980
Career Opportunities
Looking for academic roles? Here are some relevant positions:
- Adjunct Faculty, Natural Sciences – Dominican University of California (Salary: $1,949–$8,296)
- Lecturer in Technology & International Development – King’s College London (£53,149–£62,422)
- Post-Doctoral Associate – NYU Abu Dhabi (Competitive salary)
- Research Assistant Professor – Lingnan University, Hong Kong (Competitive salary)
- Associate Professor of Teaching – Lingnan University, Hong Kong (Competitive salary)
Subjects Taught at Cambridge
- Computer Science (Ranked 2nd)
- Medicine & Dentistry (Ranked 3rd)
- Business & Economics (Ranked 5th)
- Arts & Humanities (Ranked 2nd)
- Psychology (Ranked 2nd)
- Life Sciences (Ranked 2nd)
- Physical Sciences (Ranked 7th)
- Law (Ranked 4th)
- Engineering (Ranked 6th)
- Social Sciences (Ranked 6th)
- Education (Ranked 4th)