External scholarships
There are many external funding opportunities for postgraduate study.
We have compiled a list of the most notable funds and useful links, tailored to your region.
Each external funding body will have a separate application process and deadline. These may differ from the deadlines for University funding. Take note of these and contact the funder directly if you have any questions.
The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding
Popular database of alternative funding opportunities from charities and trusts. Applicants can email altguide.pgfunding@admin.cam.ac.uk for an access pin.
British Council
Country-specific funding and funding opportunities for international students.
European Funding Guide
Scholarships and grants for European students.
FindAMasters and FindAPhD
Both of these award £12,000 in scholarships to prospective students each year.
The Grants Register (hardcover book)
"The Complete Guide to Postgraduate Funding Worldwide" may be available in your university library, careers service, or the British Council in your country.
International Education Financial Aid (IEFA)
Search tool and information source for international scholarships and grants.
Postgraduate Funding
Top-up grants, travel bursaries, exchange programme funding, living cost grants and master's funding.
Postgraduate Search
Scholarship search for prospective students.
Prospects
Scholarships, grants and loans from UK and global sources.
Scholarships for development
International scholarships that are open to students from developing countries and international students in general.
The Scholarships Hub
Scholarships, grants or bursaries for UK and EU students.
UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)
Advice and useful information on funding your studies.
Anglo-Jewish Association
Financial assistance for Jewish students starting degree-level study in the UK.
Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (BIF)
PhD fellowships for outstanding junior scientists worldwide wishing to pursue a PhD project in basic biomedical research in an internationally leading laboratory.
British Federation of Women Graduates (BFWG)
Financial support for women of any nationality studying in higher education at British Universities, for academic excellence or financial need.
Colt Foundation Fellowships
Funding for three years to enable students to study for a PhD in occupational or environmental health at a UK university.
FINCAD Women in Finance Scholarship
Awards to encourage and support talented women studying at graduate level in the field of finance.
Gilchrist Educational Trust
Grants for individuals facing financial difficulties in the last year of the course, and travel grants for students needing to spend time abroad as part of their degree.
Google Europe Students with Disabilities Scholarship
Support for university students with disabilities studying computer science, computer engineering, informatics or a closely related technical field at an accredited university in Europe or Israel.
Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)
Scholarships for students applying for a Master’s degree in a development-related topic, and with professional experience of supporting their countries’ development efforts.
JMK Women in Business Scholarship
Scholarships to help women pursue Master's degrees in business management.
Linnean Society of London
Awards and grants to promote the study of biological sciences.
Postgrad.com
5 x Postgraduate Solutions Study Bursaries worth £2000. Open to postgraduates from anywhere in the world.
Research and Development Management (RADMA)
Funding for doctoral studies and postgraduate student research support.
The Rotary Foundation
Scholarships for graduate students studying abroad in topics related to building international relationships, conflict resolution, improving lives and creating a better world.
Royal Geographical Society with IBG
Grants to support geographical research for Master's and research students.
Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust
Grants for students who have been accepted on or are applying for a Master’s or Doctoral degree in any subject.
Anglo-Danish Society Scholarships
Partial awards for Danish graduates who are going to study a postgraduate degree in the UK. There are no restrictions as to the subject of study.
DAAD
The German Academic Exchange Service, or DAAD, offers a wide range of scholarships to German students who are wanting to study abroad.
Director IB Henrik’s Fund
Support for students with a bachelor's degree from a Danish university or higher education institution and who wish to obtain a Master's degree abroad.
Herbert Smith Freehills Entente Cordiale scholarships
Support for one year of full-time postgraduate study in a British university.
IELTS Award
For students who have taken an IELTS test at a British Council centre in Germany. The award is worth between £3,000 up to £10,000.
Jansons Scholarships
Scholarships to help fund study abroad for Norwegian students for up to one year.
Lånekassen
Norwegian student loan and grant-awarding body that supports Norwegian students to study overseas.
Marius Jakulis Jason Foundation
Grants for Master’s studies at the world’s best universities. The recipient of the grant commits to working in Lithuania for an agreed period after finishing their studies.
St Matthias Trust
Scholarships towards study/research that will contribute to the work of the Church of England.
World Wide Studies Grants
Support for Ukrainian citizens aged 35 or under to get a Master's degree at the world's best universities.
Canon Collins Trust
Fully-funded Commonwealth Scholarships for students from Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique or Zambia to study for a PhD at any UK university.
Gordon Memorial College Trust Fund
Funding for Sudanese/South Sudanese individuals looking to conduct postgraduate study that will ultimately benefit their home country.
Qalaa Holdings Scholarship Foundation
Academic scholarships for talented and promising young Egyptian men and women to pursue Master’s degrees abroad in all fields of study.
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Scholarships for students from Singapore pursuing their passion in science at universities overseas.
Bangkok Bank
Scholarships for Thai students pursuing a Master’s degree.
British Lebanese Association
Fully-funded scholarships for Master’s level courses in subjects considered to be most beneficial to Lebanon’s development.
Charles Wallace Trusts
Financial assistance for nationals of Bangladesh, Burma/Myanmar, India, and Pakistan to help them in obtaining education and professional development in the UK.
Great Britain–China Educational Trust
Awards of up to £3,000 for Chinese students studying a PhD in the UK.
Indian Department of Education
Funding for Indian students studying abroad.
J.N. Tata Endowment awards
Loan scholarships to help support Indian students with higher studies overseas.
King Abdullah Scholarships Program
Opportunities for Saudi citizens to pursue graduate university education overseas.
Lebanese International Finance Executives (LIFE) Scholarship
Support for Lebanese students in financial need to pursue academic aspirations in the fields of economics, finance, law and STEM.
Narotam Sekhsaria PG Scholarship
Full and part scholarships as interest-free loans for Indian nationals pursuing postgraduate studies.
Oxford and Cambridge Society of India (OCSI) Scholarships
Scholarships for Indian students pursuing graduate study and research in any subject at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford.
Regeneration Center of Thailand
Scholarships for motivated graduates of Southeast Asian heritage looking to acquire knowledge in the field of healthcare, science, biology, or mathematics.
Singapore Public Service Commission Master’s Scholarships
Scholarships for Singapore citizens who wish to study from a diverse range of courses relevant to the Public Service.
Tan Kah Kee Foundation
Postgraduate scholarships for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs) pursuing full-time PhD or Master’s degrees.
Banking & Financial Services Law Association
Scholarship to citizens and permanent residents of Australia and New Zealand studying post-graduate banking, financial services or insolvency law, or a related field of law.
General Sir John Monash Foundation
Scholarships for Australian citizens who are planning to undertake postgraduate study overseas.
Gowrie Bursary
Bursary for past and present members of the Australian Armed Forces and their descendants, undertaking a graduate research program at an international university.
North America
Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship Program
Scholarship to enable American students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad.
Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund
Funding for outstanding students from across Canada who are already enrolled in postgraduate programmes at UK universities.
Fulbright Awards
Awards for US graduate students, academics and professionals interested in studying, researching or teaching at higher education institutions in the UK.
FUNED
Financial assistance for Mexican students to study full-time Master's courses abroad.
Law Foundation of British Columbia
Fellowships for British Columbian students pursuing full time graduate studies in law or a law-related area.
Mexican Embassy
A list of scholarships offered by Mexican institutions for Mexican students to study in the UK.
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
Postgraduate scholarships for citizens and permanent residents of Canada studying at universities outside Canada.
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
Graduate scholarships for citizens and permanent residents of Canada wishing to undertake study in the field of humanities or social sciences.
The WL Mackenzie King Memorial Scholarships
Scholarships for graduates of Canadian universities who want to pursue graduate study in Canada or abroad.
Trudeau Foundation Scholarships
Scholarships for Canadian citizens studying full-time in a doctoral program in a field relating to one of the Foundations four social sciences and humanities themes.
Thouron Award
Awards for graduate students from the University of Pennsylvania. The award covers full tuition and fees for up to two years at any degree-granting programme in the UK.
South America
Instituto Ling
Partial scholarships to Brazilians wishing to study for an MBA, MPA and LLM at a leading US or European university.
Many charities make awards to current and prospective postgraduate students. These opportunities are not always advertised and can be hard to find.
Charities offering funding usually also have specific terms and conditions attached.
Below we have put together a list of useful pages and funding opportunities to help you save time searching for charities that match your academic, societal or economic background.
The Charities Digest publication or online Charity Register
A comprehensive list of charities. The Charities Digest is not available online so you can ask your University Library or Careers Service if they have this.
The Directory of Grant Making Trusts publication
This is a best-selling guide to funding from grant-making charities. This is not available online so you can ask your University Library or Careers Service if they have this.
The Educational Grants Directory publication
Over 800 sources of non-statutory financial help for people in education. This is not available online so you can ask your University Library or Careers Service if they have this.
Postgraduate Studentships
Search for charity and Trust funding in specific subject areas.
Turn2Us
A searchable database of available charitable grants.
Letter for external funders
The Head of Student Funding has drafted a letter encouraging external funding partners to align their support with the UKRI maintenance level for postgraduate research courses.
Students are welcome to use this letter in discussions with external funders.
Loans
Loans provide an alternative source of funding for postgraduate study.
One of the main eligibility criteria will be your country of residence, as they're often connected to government schemes.
The following loans are available:
- UK Government Postgraduate Masters Loans
- UK Government Postgraduate Doctoral Loans
- US Loans (federal or private and Veteran Affairs benefits)
- Canadian Student Loans
- Educational Loans (other options)
You can apply for a study loan once you are a student. However, you must confirm how you are financing your course before you can be admitted to study.
If you have any questions, please email StudentLoans@admin.cam.ac.uk
