What is the hardest degree at Cambridge?

There isn't one single "hardest" degree, but Computer Science is consistently the most competitive to get into (lowest acceptance rates), while Mathematics (Mathematical Tripos) (especially Part III) is widely regarded as one of the most academically demanding and intensive courses, requiring immense conceptual depth and consistent high performance. Medicine (Graduate) also ranks very high in difficulty for entry, alongside STEM subjects like Natural Sciences and Engineering.

What is the hardest degree to get into at Cambridge?

As we can see, Computer Science isn't just the most competitive of the top five Cambridge degrees, but is the most competitive undergraduate course taught at Cambridge in terms of offers.

What are the top 3 hardest degrees?

The most difficult majors require extensive study time, more STEM courses, and a solid foundation in math. Chemistry, engineering, and physics are generally considered some of the hardest college majors available to undergraduates.

What is the most competitive degree at Cambridge?

What Is the Hardest Subject to Get Into at Cambridge? Computer Science is the hardest undergraduate course to get into, with an acceptance rate of just 7.6%. Graduate Medicine, however, had a success rate of just 7.3%.

What degree is Cambridge best known for?

Although all Cambridge courses are renowned, degrees in law, medicine, and natural sciences are often considered prestigious due to their rigorous academic requirements and the historical reputation of these disciplines.

A Day in the Life of a Cambridge Math Student | Part III Mathematics

What is the easiest degree to get into at Cambridge?

Once again, the top ten courses for offer rate and acceptance rate are relatively consistent; Modern and Medieval Languages (MML) is by far and away the 'easiest' course to get into at the University of Cambridge, with a whopping 61% of applicants receiving an offer, and 50.4% eventually being accepted onto the course.

What is the #1 University in the world?

There's no single "number 1" university, as rankings vary by methodology, but the University of Oxford and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) consistently rank at the very top, with Oxford often #1 in Times Higher Education (THE) 2026 and MIT leading QS 2026 rankings, while Harvard University leads U.S. News rankings for global universities.
 

Which is the most elite Cambridge college?

The Top 10 Best Colleges in Cambridge According to Students

1. Christ's College. So now we've made it to prime position - top of our list of the best colleges in Cambridge: Christ's College.
2. Trinity College. ...
3. Pembroke College. ...
4. Peterhouse. ...
5. Churchill College. ...
6. Queen's College. ...
7. Emmanuel College. ...
8. Selwyn College. ...

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

Is Cambridge less prestigious than Oxford?

The QS World University Rankings place Cambridge 2nd and Oxford 3rd in 2024. These rankings reflect the strong Oxbridge brand, recognised internationally by academics, employers, and students alike. However, when deciding between the two, it's helpful to consider rankings by subject and specific academic departments.

What is the no. 1 toughest degree in the world?

Medical is usually regarded as the hardest major because of the vast scope of its curriculum, lengthy time frame, and significant stakes in life-or-death decisions. It requires a rigorous education in the classroom, as well as practical training as well as emotional resilience.

What is the #1 easiest major?

There's no single #1 easiest major, as it depends on your strengths, but Psychology, Education, English, and Criminal Justice frequently rank as the easiest due to higher average GPAs and less demanding technical skills compared to STEM fields, often focusing on human behavior, societal structures, and communication. Majors like Sociology, Social Work, and Communications are also commonly cited as easier liberal arts options. 

Which degree leads to the highest burnout?

Architecture. Architecture is known as one of the degrees that leads to the highest mental burnout due to its intense studio culture, long working hours, and demanding design expectations. Students often spend nights completing models, drawings, and critiques, which can lead to stress and exhaustion.

What's more prestigious, Harvard or Cambridge?

In terms of prestige, Harvard may have a slight edge, especially in the United States; however, Cambridge has a strong global reputation as well. Ultimately, the opportunities after graduation will be influenced by your academic field, achievements, and personal aspirations.

Which major has the most dropouts?

Dropout rates by major:

STEM fields have higher attrition than non-STEM majors overall. Computer science has a 10.7% early dropout rate (among the highest) Business and engineering also show high early losses. Only 40% of those who declare STEM majors complete the degree.

Which college in Cambridge is easiest to get into?

What's the Easiest Cambridge College to get into? Based on the data above, Murray Edwards College has the highest offer rate (39.1%) and acceptance rate (26.4%), making it statistically the easiest college to get into.

What is the hardest Ivy League school?

1. Harvard University. The most challenging Ivy League school to get into is Harvard, established in 1636 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. According to Harvard Admissions (Class of 2029), only 2,418 (including Regular Decision and Early Action) out of 42,765 candidates were accepted to the college.

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of the wealthiest Americans disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities, particularly Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, Columbia) and other top institutions like MIT, Stanford, Duke, and UChicago, where they make up a large percentage of the student body, often outnumbering students from the bottom 60% of income earners combined. Liberal arts colleges and prestigious public universities also attract many wealthy students, with specific examples including WashU St. Louis, UVA, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, and Johns Hopkins.
 

Which is the wealthiest Cambridge college?

Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any college at Oxford or Cambridge.

Which is better, Cambridge or MIT?

Neither MIT nor Cambridge is definitively "better"; they are world-leading institutions with different strengths, with MIT often favored for tech/STEM & US careers and Cambridge for broader academics/European careers, though rankings often place them #1 and #2 globally, with the choice depending on your specific field, career goals (US vs. UK/Europe), and desired learning environment. 

What is the most underrated College in Cambridge?

Pembroke College must be one of the most underrated Cambridge colleges out there. Most of the time, admission is free to visitors unlike the big, famous colleges, unless it's during exam season or a special event. It has peaceful and beautiful grounds, and a very beautiful library and chapel.

Which university is #1 in the USA?

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, Massachusetts) 2. Columbia University (New York City, New York)

What is the best university in the UK?

As of 2025, the top-five ranked universities in the United Kingdom are Oxford, Cambridge, London School of Economics (LSE), St Andrews, and Durham, with Imperial College London, Bath and Warwick also appearing in the top ten of all three rankings.