What is the University Composition Fee?
The University Composition Fee (UCF) is basically your course tuition fee. It covers the cost of your teaching and supervision, and access to University and College facilities and support services.
The amount you pay depends on your course and your fee status. You can find the exact fee on your course page.
You're required to pay the UCF for at least the number of terms shown in the table below.
| Qualification | Minimum number of terms (full-time) | Minimum number of terms (part-time) |
|---|---|---|
| PhD, CPGS | 9 terms (3 years) | 15 terms (5 years) at 0.6 FTE 12 terms (4 years) at 0.75 FTE |
| MLitt, MSc | 6 terms (2 years) | 10 terms (3⅓ years) |
| MPhil | 3 terms (1 year) | 6 terms (2 years) |
Payment of fees
The University Composition Fee is collected by your College at the start of term (or just before), along with any College-related living costs such as rent and meals.
Some Colleges may invoice you for the whole year at the beginning of the course.
Your College will explain how to make payments and let you know of any deadlines.
Part-time students
For part-time students, your annual UCF will be reduced to reflect the proportion of time spent in study. You will still pay the same total fee as full-time students over the full duration of the course. For example:
PhD, MSc, MLitt, CPGS: The part-time fee is 60% or 75% of the full-time UCF per year, depending on your study rate.
MPhil (2 years): The part-time fee is 50% of the full-time UCF per year.
MSt degrees, PG Certificates and Diplomas: Fees vary depending on course.
As a part-time student, you're not required to provide evidence of maintenance costs, but you will need to confirm that you can cover your living expenses. See Living costs for part-time students for further guidance.
To be admitted to your course, you must show that you can cover the UCF for the full length of your course.
MAst courses
Master of Advanced Study (MASt) courses are treated as undergraduate courses for fee purposes.
Overseas students on MASt courses are also charged the undergraduate College fee.
Staff Bursary Scheme
You may be eligible for a staff bursary to cover some of your course fees if you are:
- a member of staff at the University of Cambridge, and plan to start a postgraduate course related to your employment on or after October 2026
- a current student who has or expects to have an employment contract with the University of Cambridge
For full guidance on entitlement and eligibility criteria and details on how to apply, please visit the Fees and Financial Assistance website.