Cambridge Land Economy interview (now Environment, Law and Economics)
Cambridge has renamed Land Economy as Environment, Law, and Economics. The course and the interview are the same kind of thing: a discussion of how law, economics and the environment shape the way land and resources are used. Interviews take place between 7 and 18 December 2026.
How the interview works
- Invitations: mostly in November, some in early December.
- Interviews: one or two, totalling 35 minutes to an hour, usually with two or three interviewers. Some colleges interview online and some in person; the college decides.
- No admissions test: there is no admission assessment for this course. Some colleges ask for one or two pieces of written work, which may come up in the interview.
- Results: 27 January 2027.
What interviewers look for
Cambridge says interviewers look for understanding of the subject, readiness to study it, critical and independent thinking, curiosity and enthusiasm. For this course, that usually means applying economic reasoning to a real policy and weighing who gains and who loses.
Three sample questions
These are original questions in the style of a Land Economy interview, with what an interviewer would be listening for.
A council caps rents in the city centre. Who gains and who loses, now and in ten years?
Start with sitting tenants (gain) and landlords (lose), then follow the effects over time: fewer homes to rent, less maintenance, longer queues. Interviewers reward candidates who separate the short run from the long run and suggest what evidence would settle it.
A new rail station opens. Who should pay for it: taxpayers, passengers or the owners of land near the station?
This is about land value capture. Nearby land rises in value because of public spending. A good answer explains why, then weighs fairness against practicality.
Should a farmer be paid not to farm a field?
Interviewers want you to identify an external benefit (biodiversity, flood protection, carbon) that the market does not pay for, and then question how you would measure it and check the farmer delivers it.
How to prepare
- Follow one housing or planning story in the news and be ready to explain both sides.
- Practise reasoning out loud about who gains and who loses from a policy.
- Re-read your written work if your college asked for it.
- Use the right name: calling it Land Economy is fine, but know it is now Environment, Law, and Economics.
Guide to Oxbridge Economics Interviews
The method for answering any interview question, what each course’s interview is like, and worked examples, written by a Cambridge economist. Read it before you start practising.
Interview guides by course
- Oxford PPE interview
- Oxford Economics and Management interview
- Cambridge Economics interview
- Cambridge HSPS interview
- Oxford and Cambridge interview dates
Weighing up tutors, courses and mock interviews? Interview preparation compared.
Questions people ask
Is Land Economy the same as Environment, Law and Economics?
Yes. Cambridge says the course was previously called Land Economy.
Is there an admissions test for Land Economy?
No. There is no admission assessment. Some colleges ask for written work instead.
When are Cambridge interviews in 2026?
The main interview period is 7–18 December 2026. Invitations mostly arrive in November.
Are Land Economy interviews online or in person?
It depends on the college. Cambridge publishes a college-by-college table.
Sources: Cambridge Environment, Law, and Economics; Cambridge interviews; Cambridge dates. Checked 21 October 2026.
Practise with questions that come with a mark scheme
Interview questions for Economics, E&M, PPE, HSPS, Land Economy and History and Politics, each with what the tutor is looking for, plus an AI interviewer that asks follow-ups.
Designed by a Cambridge Economics graduate. Original questions and guidance; none are official university questions. contact@econcoaching.com