Cambridge Judge admissions:
which test to take and the scores it reports for each class

Which Cambridge Judge programs require a test?

Cambridge Judge handles applications program by program, each with its own online application page, and admissions tests play different roles. The table reflects the cycles shown: 2027 intakes, except the Global EMBA, which starts in January 2028. There is no single test requirement across the school.

The MBA is a one-year program with a September 2027 intake. Its page requires at least two years of work experience, a good UK 2:1 or equivalent international degree, a supervisor as a reference, and essays. The Master of Finance is intended for applicants with at least two years of experience in a finance role. The MPhil in Management is aimed at recent graduates with no more than one year of post-degree experience and a degree in a field other than management.

GMAT or GRE for the MBA: which test should you choose?

The MBA application page requires a GMAT, GMAT Focus Edition, or GRE score. The FAQ says the school accepts either test without preference and accepts both test-center and online exams. Your choice therefore depends on your strengths, schedule, and other schools you are considering, not on any advantage Cambridge gives one test. Our GMAT vs. GRE article can help you decide.

Two rules leave no room for flexibility. First, the MBA does not offer a test waiver and will not review an application until a score report is submitted. Second, the score is valid for five years and must still be valid when you apply. A score from four years ago is therefore acceptable as long as it is still valid on the application date.

The Executive MBA has different requirements: the school asks for the GMAT, Executive Assessment, or GRE, or an application for a waiver reviewed by the admissions committee with at least one program instructor. Contact admissions to discuss your situation. For the Master of Finance, a score may support an application with borderline academic results or a degree outside finance; the school reserves the right to request one in rare cases. For the MPhil in Management, MPhil in Finance, and MPhil in Technology Policy, the school says a score adds no value to the application.

The MSt in Entrepreneurship follows another rule: a GMAT/GRE may be requested if the applicant does not meet the expected degree level. Applicants who lack the required first degree and do not hold a graduate degree must also show exceptional achievements and score above the 50th percentile in Verbal and Quantitative. These are percentile ranks, not raw scores.

The MBA pages do not mention the TAGE MAGE; applicants with only a score out of 600 are not given an equivalency option. The GRE is accepted alongside the GMAT for the MBA, which matters if your preparation is already focused on it.

Which English test, and what is the minimum?

For the MBA, the policy currently linked from the FAQ, reviewed October 15, 2026, accepts TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, and Cambridge English C2 Proficiency unless exempt. The IELTS minimum is 7.0 overall, with 7.0 in Listening, Writing, and Speaking and 6.5 in Reading; for C2, 200 with no component below 185. IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted; the FAQ also lists IELTS for UKVI Academic. IELTS or TOEFL tests must have been taken within two years before the start of the program. Applicants just below the minimum may be referred to the Language Centre at the committee’s discretion.

The MBA policy now gives TOEFL thresholds: for tests taken before January 21, 2026, 100/120 with 25 in each section; from that date onward, 5.5/6 overall, at least two sections at 5.5 or higher, and none below 5. The Home Edition is accepted. The old July PDF, which omitted the TOEFL, is no longer the currently linked document. For the MFin, the page lists 100 on the 0–120 scale, with 25 in each section, and provides for a Language Centre assessment after January 21, 2026; it also notes that its linked policy still applies to September 2026.

The three MPhil programs and MSt list TOEFL 110/120 with 25 in each section for tests taken on or before January 21, 2026, while mentioning an additional assessment for later tests. Confirm how these rules fit together before booking; calculating your own conversion to the 1–6 scale does not resolve the uncertainty. IELTS is 7.5 with 7.0 in each section; scores must be less than two years old at the start of the program. None of the English-language pages reviewed mentions the TOEIC.

For the Executive MBA, the 2027–2028 PDF explicitly distinguishes the scales: before January 21, 2026, TOEFL 100/120 with 25 in each section; from that date onward, 5.5/6 overall, at least two sections at 5.5 or higher, and none below 5.0. IELTS Academic requires 7.0 overall, 7.0 in Listening, Writing, and Speaking, and 6.5 in Reading; tests must be less than two years old at the start of the program. Always read the policy for the program you are applying to.

The MBA PDF also provides exemptions: under conditions related to nationality, education, and timing, some applicants connected to countries on its List A are exempt; other pathways, particularly for List B countries, may lead to an internal assessment. France is not on List A; check your exact situation in the document and do not infer a waiver from nationality alone.

Which scores does Cambridge Judge publish?

The school sets no MBA cutoff: the FAQ says it specifies no GMAT or GRE minimum, as the score is one of many selection criteria. It does publish averages on two different pages. The class profile reports an average GMAT of 690 for 222 students, representing 43 nationalities and averaging six years of experience; a class of 2026 article dated October 2, 2026, gives the same figures. The application page gives different averages, separating the current and previous GMAT formats.

The table includes only what the school itself publishes, with its scope and source page. An average is not a minimum; it describes a class, not an admissions cutoff. For other programs, we note only that the cited application pages do not report an average, without concluding that the school publishes none elsewhere. No scores are converted between scales.

What happens after you submit your application?

MBA applications are submitted online and cost £165. The application includes essays (one of up to 500 words about career goals and three essays of up to 200 words) and a supervisor as a reference. The school says applicants will learn within three weeks whether they are shortlisted for a remote interview; a conditional offer normally follows within three weeks of the interview, sometimes longer. Accepting an offer requires a nonrefundable £7,950 reservation fee, deducted from tuition, before an unconditional offer is issued. For the MFin, the school aims to review a complete application and two references within two weeks, followed by a video interview with the director or a finance instructor; an interview in Cambridge may be requested.

The 2027 MBA calendar has five rounds: August 24, 2026; October 5, 2026; January 4, 2027; March 22, 2027; and May 4, 2027. The final Master of Finance deadline is May 31, 2027, and the school encourages applicants to apply as early as possible. The page does not say which part of the application carries the most weight in the decision.