Tripos
A Tripos is both the course of study and the examinations that lead to a Cambridge BA degree. All undergraduate subjects are Triposes, each split into Parts - usually a broad Part I followed by a specialised Part II - which students combine across their years to qualify for the degree.
In practice
Most students take all the Parts of a single Tripos, but that is not required. Parts can be mixed across subjects, so a first year in one Tripos can be followed by a different Part II, and some subjects exist only as a later Part with no direct entry. A few Triposes offer an optional Part III: in Mathematics, Parts IA, IB and II lead to the BA, and Part III adds a Master of Mathematics degree in a fourth year.
Why it matters to newcomers
When Cambridge graduates name their degree, they name the Tripos, not a department: "I did the History Tripos." The system also explains the local habit of changing direction - switching subjects between years is built into the structure, not a sign of failure. If you hire Cambridge graduates, read the Part II subject, not just the degree title.
Related
- Supervision - the small-group teaching behind Tripos results
- Director of Studies - who guides students through Parts and paper choices
- Michaelmas, Lent and Easter terms - the calendar the examinations follow
Source: The structure of undergraduate courses at Cambridge.