Application fee waiver

Some applicants do not need to pay the application fee when they apply to Cambridge.

Depending on your circumstances, your fee may be waived automatically or you might need to submit a fee waiver request.

International applicants

You do not need to pay an application fee if you are a national of an eligible country listed below and have lived there since birth.

The application fee will be waived automatically when you submit your application—you do not need to take any action.

Eligible countries

Please note:

• International applicants from countries not on this list must pay the application fee. Requests not to pay will be refused.
• If you're a national of an eligible country and have moved to another eligible country, please request a fee waiver via our Contact Form (use ‘Fee waiver’ as the reason for contact and ‘Application Fee Waiver Request’ as the subject line).
• This list is reviewed and updated annually (last updated September 2025).

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program applicants

If you’re an African student applying for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and you're not from one of the countries listed above, you may request an application fee waiver.

In these circumstances, you should complete and submit a Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Application Fee Waiver Request Form by 15 November 2025, after starting but before submitting your Cambridge application.

UK applicants

You can request an application fee waiver if you meet one of the following conditions:

• 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).
• You 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 an application fee waiver if you hold one of the following:

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

How to request an application fee waiver

If you are an eligible UK applicant or an applicant with Refugee, Asylum Seeker, or Humanitarian Protection Status in the UK:

1. Start your Cambridge application (but do not submit it).
2. Complete and submit the  Application Fee Waiver Request Form and your supporting evidence.
3. Allow at least 10 working days for your request to be reviewed.
4. Once you receive confirmation, you can submit your application.

Deadlines for requests

You should submit your application fee waiver request well in advance of your course or funding deadline.

If you are applying for funding, you must submit your request by:

• 20 November 2025 for the 2 December 2025 funding deadline
• 18 December 2025 for the 7 January 2026 funding deadline

If you have already submitted and paid the application fee, a waiver cannot be given.