How to Apply

Applications for the Online Capstone Programme are now open!

Applications are considered on a rolling basis and the start date is flexible based on your availability.

Who can apply

The Online Capstone Programme is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students across the world. You can also apply if you have completed your undergraduate or postgraduate studies.

To apply you need to:

• Be at least 18 years old by the start of the programme.
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.75 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent in your major at the time of application.
• Have finished the first year of your undergraduate degree course by the start of the programme.
• Have a high level of fluency in English.
• Be ready to study 100% online – take a look at our Online Readiness guidance.
• Have an idea of your availability to start the programme. 

Before you apply, make sure you’ve read and understood all our Terms and Conditions.

How to apply

Online application form

You apply with our online application form, which you’ll need to complete in one sitting.

Acknowledgement of the application form submission and supporting documents will only be sent Monday – Friday during UK office hours, so don’t worry if you don’t receive immediate confirmation.

Your availability

The Online Capstone Programme has a flexible start date based on your availability. You can start the programme any time providing your supervisor is also available, but the earliest you can start will usually be at least two weeks after your Programme Fee has been paid.

The programme consists of eight supervisions over eight weeks, plus two weeks to write your Project Report.

You will need to give an estimated starting date on your application form and there is also space to add any other information on your availability.

If your application is successful, we will liaise with you and your supervisor to confirm a start date that works for everyone.

Supporting Documents

After you submit your application, we will need the following supporting documents:

Capstone Project Form

You will need to decide which Capstone Project you would like to take and download and complete the Capstone Project Form with your choice. The form will be available to download in the email you will receive shortly after submitting your application.

CV/Résumé

You will need to paste your CV into the bottom of the Capstone Project Form. Please ensure you keep these together in one single document as together they form your application dossier which will go to the Selection Committee and your supervisor if your application is successful.

Academic Transcript

We also need to review your current or most recent academic transcript.

You’ll need to arrange for your institution to send us either a certified PDF via an official service such as Parchment or a scanned copy of an official transcript to ocp@pem.cam.ac.uk.

We’re unable to accept transcripts sent to us by applicants. They must be sent by a university administrator or academic from an institutional email address.

A university administrator or academic will need to identify themselves in their email with proof of their position, such as an official university webpage with their name and email address. This will help us to verify the authenticity of the transcript.

Academic Reference

The academic reference letter must be written by a lecturer who has regularly taught you at university level in an academic environment, ideally as part of your course.

Teaching assistants can be referees if they fulfil the criteria listed above.

Your referee should email this as a .doc, .docx or .pdf file from their institutional email address directly to the Programme Director at ocp@pem.cam.ac.uk. Please ask your referee to name the file with your name in the following format: SURNAME First name Reference.

We usually leave the content of the reference letter to the referee's discretion, however as a guide they should include details on your academic performance, class engagement, suitability for the programme and any other information they deem pertinent.

We are unable to accept references sent to us by applicants. 

Written Work Example

You will need to send us one example of a piece of written work you have done with the instructor's comments and a final grade. This will ideally need to be from your most recent year of study in the subject area of the Capstone Project that you are interested in.

You can email this yourself to us at ocp@pem.cam.ac.uk. 

Proof of English Fluency (if applicable)

If you are studying in a country where the native language is not English, you'll need to check our English Language Requirements to see if you need to provide anything to show your fluency in English.

If you are required to supply evidence, you will need to send this to ocp@pem.cam.ac.uk as soon as possible.

Next Steps

Once we receive your submitted online application and all the necessary supporting documents, our Selection Committee will be ready to review your completed application.

We aim let you know if your application has been successful within 10 working days of receiving all completed parts of your application.

Informal Online Interview

As part of the application process, we may invite you for an informal interview online. This would enable us to learn more about your background, interests and suitability for the Capstone Project of interest to you.

I’ve been offered a place! What happens now?

Congratulations! When we offer you a place on the programme, we’ll email you instructions on how to accept your offer and how to pay to secure your place on the programme.

You’ll need to pay within two weeks of the date of your offer to secure your place on the programme. Please get in touch with a statement if you need an extension to this deadline.