Mumbai: The University of Cambridge has confirmed that it will consider India’s CBSE Class 12 qualification for entry to selected undergraduate courses, in a move widely seen as a breakthrough for Indian
school students aspiring to study at one of the world’s most prestigious universities.
The announcement was made during a high-level visit to India by a senior Cambridge delegation, part of a wider effort to strengthen the institution’s academic, research and cultural engagement with the country. University officials said the change would make it easier for bright students educated under the Central Board of Secondary Education system to apply directly, subject to course-specific conditions and high academic performance. Until now, most Indian applicants to Cambridge have come through international pathways such as A-levels or the International Baccalaureate.
The recognition of CBSE marks a shift towards acknowledging national curricula more formally, reflecting both the scale of India’s education system and the growing demand among Indian students for access to elite global universities. School leaders and counsellors have welcomed the development, describing it as a positive signal for students who choose to remain within the Indian board system.
Sunayana Awasthi, principal of Kanakia International School, said the announcement would give pupils more confidence about their prospects abroad. “It opens up an additional route for capable students and sends a message that their academic background is being taken seriously,” she said.
Mixed Reaction From Students
Among students, the news has generated a mix of excitement and cautious optimism.
A Class 11 CBSE student in Delhi said the decision made Cambridge feel more attainable than before. “Earlier, it always seemed that only IB or A-level students had a realistic chance. Now it feels like CBSE students can also aim high, even if the competition will still be tough,” the student said.
Speaking during the visit, Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice said the university was keen to build deeper and more dynamic partnerships in India. She described the move as part of a broader strategy to engage with India’s expanding knowledge economy and pool of talented young people. “We are delighted to build on the strong and long-standing links between Cambridge and India,” she said. “There is enormous potential for collaboration in research, innovation and education.”
A key element of this renewed engagement is the launch of the Cambridge–India Centre for Advanced Studies (CAS). The new centre is intended to act as a focal point for joint research programmes, academic exchange and policy engagement between Cambridge and Indian institutions. University officials said it would support interdisciplinary projects and help connect Cambridge researchers with India’s growing innovation ecosystem.
Alongside academic initiatives, Cambridge has also taken steps to address the financial barriers that often prevent Indian students from applying to top overseas universities. The university has established a Section 8 company in India, the Cambridge India Research Foundation, which will allow alumni and donors based in the country to contribute towards scholarships, tuition fees, living costs and collaborative research projects. Cambridge said it was also exploring new philanthropic routes to expand funding for high-achieving students from India.
The visit also highlighted Cambridge’s long-standing cultural and sporting ties with the country. Building on historic cricketing links, the Cambridge University men’s cricket team is due to tour India in March 2026 for pre-season matches, the first such visit in 15 years. Plans are under way for the women’s team to follow the following year. University representatives referred to former students Ranjitsinhji and Duleepsinghji as enduring symbols of this shared heritage.
The British High Commissioner to India, Lindy Cameron, welcomed the initiatives, describing them as an important step in strengthening cooperation between the two countries. She said education and research lay at the heart of the UK–India Vision 2035 partnership, and that closer institutional ties would benefit both nations. Despite the positive response, prospective applicants and advisers have called for greater clarity on how the new policy will work in practice. Students are keen to know what score ranges will be expected, how subject combinations will be assessed and which courses will be open to CBSE applicants.
Some have expressed concern that, without detailed guidance, the announcement may raise expectations without providing a clear pathway. University officials have stressed that competition for places will remain intense and that academic results alone will not guarantee admission. As with other applicants, CBSE students will be expected to demonstrate strong subject knowledge, intellectual curiosity and readiness for Cambridge’s demanding style of teaching and assessment. For many families, however, the recognition of CBSE represents a symbolic as well as practical shift.
It suggests that one of the world’s oldest universities is adapting to a more diverse global education landscape and acknowledging the strength of national curricula outside Europe and North America. As schools and students digest the announcement, questions remain about how far the change will transform access in the short term. Yet for thousands of Indian pupils following the CBSE syllabus, the decision has already altered perceptions of what is possible. Cambridge, once seen as distant and unattainable, may now feel closer to reach — provided students can meet the university’s famously high standards.
