Application fee waiver

Most postgraduate courses at Cambridge require an application fee. However, some applicants do not need to pay this fee.

Depending on your circumstances, your fee may be automatically waived or you may need to submit a fee waiver request. Check the information below to see which applies to you.

Automatic application fee waiver

You do not need to pay an application fee or complete a fee waiver form if you are a national of one of the listed eligible countries and have lived there since birth.

Eligible countries

Requesting an application fee waiver

If you are not automatically eligible, you may still request a waiver if you meet one of the following criteria.

UK applicants

You can request a waiver if you:

• Received full state support for living costs (also known as maintenance) in your final undergraduate year at a UK university (within the last 4 years).
• Were not a student in the last full academic year and are receiving one of the following when you apply:
  • Income Support
  • Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Employment Support Allowance
  • Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
  • Universal Credit

Applicants with Refugee, Asylum Seeker, or Humanitarian Protection Status in the UK

You can request a waiver if you have:

• A Biometric Residence Permit confirming Refugee/Humanitarian Protection status
• An Asylum Registration Card issued by the UK Home Office confirming Asylum Seeker status

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program applicants

You can request a waiver if you’re an African student applying for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (Master’s courses only), and you're not from one of the countries listed above. You must meet your chosen course’s eligibility requirements.

How to request an application fee waiver

1. Start your Cambridge application
2. Before you submit your application, complete and submit one of the following:
   •  Application fee waiver request form
   • Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application fee waiver request form
3. Provide your supporting documents (listed on the fee waiver request form).
4. Allow at least 10 working days for us to review your request and make a decision.
5. Once we have confirmed whether we will waive your fee, you can submit your application. 

Deadlines for application fee waiver requests

Submit your fee waiver request well ahead of your course or funding deadline. If you are applying for funding, you must submit your request by:

• 20 November 2025 for the 5 December 2025 funding deadline
• 18 December 2025 for the 12 January 2026 funding deadline

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application fee waiver request form must be submitted by 15 November 2025.