Carola Binney Carola Binney

There’s nothing wrong with Prince ‘one-A’ William studying at Cambridge

Prince William has arrived in Cambridge today to study agricultural management at Cambridge. According to the Guardian  his admission is ‘an insult to every student, whatever their background, who got into Cambridge by getting the required A-level or degree results’. The average Cambridge undergraduate had to get A*AA at A-Level to secure their place, but Prince William got one ‘A’, a ‘B’ and a ‘C’.

What no one mentions is that Prince William’s course isn’t an undergraduate one, and neither are his A-Levels his most relevant qualifications. He’ll be studying a ‘bespoke’ concoction run by the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership. The most similar “commoners’ option” I could find is the Department of Land Economy’s 2-year MSt course in Sustainability Leadership. The sole entry requirement is at least a 2.i honours degree. Prince William has a 2.i  degree from St Andrew’s, in the highly relevant discipline of Geography – sounds kosher to me.

Once you’re over the minimum entry threshold, as William is, the Oxbridge admissions system is hard to predict.

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in