For information on funding and finances, please see our Finance section.
Q. Is there funding available for my studies?
There are various forms of funding, both specific to the University of Cambridge, and available more widely.
Please see our Funding page for an overview, details of eligibility and application methods for the main funding competitions, and links to other potential sources of funding.
Other sources of funding are available and may need to be applied for separately, often with the guidance from the relevant academic departments.
Q. How do I apply for scholarships?
To indicate you wish to be considered for the main University scholarships (Gates Cambridge and Cambridge Trust) and two UK research council scholarships (AHRC and ESRC), simply tick the appropriate boxes in the GRADSAF form. Additional fields (eg personal references) will have to be completed depending on which schemes you choose.
Other sources of funding are available and may need to be applied for separately, often with the guidance from the relevant academic departments.
Q. Can I apply for more than one scholarship?
Applicants are strongly advised to apply for all sources of funding for which they might be eligible, both internal and external to the University. See the Useful Advice page.
Q. What types of scholarships are available?
Scholarships are available from a range of sources, including:
Gates Scholarships
Gates scholarships are available to citizens of all countries outside the UK for a postgraduate degree in any subject at Cambridge. See more at the Gates Cambridge website.
Cambridge Trust Scholarships
Cambridge Trust scholarships are available to citizens of all countries for a postgraduate degree in any subject at Cambridge. Please see the Cambridge Trust website for more information.
If you wish to be considered, tick the Cambridge Trust box (select the one that matches your nationality) in the Funding section of the application form when applying for your course, and follow the instructions for completing the required personal statement and financial details. This must be done before the deadline which depends on your status.
UK Research Council Scholarships
The UKRI has confirmed that international students (EU and non-EU) will be eligible for all Research Council-funded postgraduate studentships from the start of the 2021/22 academic year. The text of the August 2020 public statement is here.
Each Research Council DTP or CDT within the UKRI will be able to offer a limited number of studentships to international students; funding will contribute to both fees at the Home rate and a stipend to support living costs. (Additional sources of funding for fees can include contributions from the institution, co-funding partners or from the students directly).
Each Research Council-funded DTP or CDT offers studentships in a slightly different way, and you should follow the links for the appropriate Cambridge DTP and CDT websites. More information is available here.
Departmental Scholarships
Apart from the main University-wide funding competitions, for which you apply by ticking the relevant box in the Funding section of the form while applying for your course, there are many departmental awards that can provide full or partial funding. These are applied for separately. A good starting point for finding these opportunities is the Cambridge Funding Search website.
College Scholarships
Apart from the main University-wide funding competitions, for which you apply by ticking the relevant box in the Funding section of the form while applying for your course, there are many College awards that can provide full or partial funding. These are applied for separately. A good starting point for finding these opportunities is the Cambridge Funding Search website.
Q. When should I complete my Financial Undertaking Form if I have applied for funding?
If you are able to finance your studies yourself, you may upload your completed financial undertaking form straight away stating that you are self-financing. However, under no circumstances should you sign this form if you are in any doubt whatsoever about whether you have sufficient funds for your fees and living costs. If there is any doubt, then you should wait until funding is confirmed before completing the form and uploading evidence of your funding.
Q. When will I hear if my application for funding has been successful?
The funding bodies will contact applicants directly to let them know if they have been successful. For Cambridge Trust, this will be between late April and early July. For Gates Cambridge, this will be early February for U.S. applicants and late March for all other eligible applicants.
Q. I have missed the funding deadline. What can I do?
If you have missed the deadlines for University-wide funding competitions, there may still be opportunities to qualify for departmental or College awards. The application processes for these vary, but they are separate from application for admission, so you can apply for them after submitting your course application.
Please use the Cambridge Funding Search website.
Q. I have applied for scholarships using the Applicant Portal. Can I apply for other funding as well?
Yes. A good starting point for finding other opportunities is the Cambridge Funding Search website.