Cambridge University has a complex history with regards to Black students and academics. The university did not admit Black students until the 20th century, with the first known Black graduate being the Nigerian writer and lawyer, Adébáyọ̀ Faṣípè, who received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1926.

In the mid-20th century, prominent Black scholars such as Trinidadian historian Eric Williams and Ghanaian economist Kofi Abrefa Busia were associated with Cambridge University. Williams, who later became the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, studied at Jesus College, Cambridge in the 1930s. Busia, a scholar and politician who later became the Prime Minister of Ghana, was a lecturer at Cambridge in the 1950s.

More recently, there has been an increase in the number of Black students and scholars at Cambridge University, but there are ongoing challenges in terms of diversity and representation. Initiatives such as the Black Cantabs Research Society have worked to highlight the contributions of Black students throughout the university's history and advocate for greater inclusivity.

Overall, while the history of Black individuals at Cambridge University has been marked by exclusion and barriers, there have been notable achievements and contributions that have helped shape the university's academic landscape.