Cambridge Fights Student Overwork Culture

These rankings showed each student's position among their peers based on final test results. The university administration made this decision to reduce student stress levels.

Information about one's ranking will only be available upon personal request to the designated academic supervisor. At the same time, each student will only have access to their individual scores, avoiding comparisons with others.

The administration of the University of Cambridge believes that the so-called culture of overwork-fueled in part by the publication of exam rankings-negatively affects students' mental well-being and academic performance. To help students maintain a balance between study and personal life, Cambridge will also cancel classes held before 8 a.m., after 8 p.m., and on weekends.

However, not all university staff support this decision. Many professors believe that the university will lose its competitiveness. This, in turn, could lead to the devaluation of Cambridge's reputation and its higher education diplomas.

Exam rankings at Cambridge have been compiled and published since the late 17th century. However, a few years ago, in 2017, students themselves protested against this practice. As a result, each student was given the option to opt out. Since 2021, rankings have no longer been published, although students still automatically received information about their standing among peers immediately after exams or assessments. Starting in 2025, Cambridge will abolish this rule as well.

Previous student surveys have shown that such practices negatively affect learners' well-being. For example, in China, it was found that one in three students loses interest in their studies during the first year, almost immediately after enrollment. One of the key reasons is burnout, which young people experience as early as the university admission competition phase.