Submitted by Jo Dickson on Wed, 06/08/2025 - 15:01
The Programme Board for Education Space (PBES) is concerned about the current shortage of suitable venues for examinations, and is reaching out to Faculties and Departments for help to identify additional suitable venues.
The substantial increase in demand for examination space arises from several converging factors:
- A rise in candidate numbers overall (partly due to the growth in PGT courses)
- A significant increase in candidates with reasonable adjustments
- The desire to expand in-person digital examinations.
The Exam Demand Report explores these factors in more detail. You can find a number of other documents on this page that provide further background to this issue.
In line with the principles of Reshaping the Estate, we are taking steps to meet this increased demand using space across the University estate and need the help in order to do this.
Following a review of spaces classified as ‘education’ in the University’s space register (Micad) a number of potential exam spaces that are not currently being used have been identified. These are being shared directly with Faculties and Departments for comment on the suitability (or not) of these spaces for hosting exams and so that they can highlight any other spaces that may be suitable. For the School of Clinical Medicine the School Office will be asked to respond directly rather than individual departments.
We are mindful of the many demands on Faculties and Departments, and have tried to make the request as straightforward and simple to answer as possible.
The request is that you check the supplied spreadsheet and:
1. Check the list of venues not currently used for examinations, and filter by your Faculty/Department.
2. Follow the instructions (included on the final tab), which requires you to answer the following two questions
- Are there specific reasons why any listed venue cannot be used for University of Cambridge exams?
- Would hosting examinations in these spaces impact other departmental operations?
3. Add any additional spaces not on the list that could be considered for examinations.
Upload your completed spreadsheet via a Microsoft Form (link coming soon).
If you require any support or you have not received the spreadsheet, please contact the Education Space Programme team
Please respond by 12 September 2025.
This exercise will help us determine whether sufficient examination space is available or if further action is needed. Any proposed spaces will be reviewed by the exams team for suitability and subsequently surveyed for digital readiness. We are also initiating conversations with Colleges regarding potential use of their space.
Professor Bhaskar Vira
Professor Anna Philpott
Professor John Dennis