Bursaries

Cambridge Bursaries

Cambridge Bursaries are available to students from the UK taking any undergraduate course of study at the University of Cambridge. These bursaries are intended to help students in financial need and to encourage them to apply to Cambridge.

For students starting courses in October 2013 a Cambridge Bursary of up to £3,500 per annum is available, with a higher tier of awards for mature students.

The value of each bursary is calculated on a sliding scale based on the level of maintenance grant awarded by the student's LEA. Applications must be renewed annually. Students who are eligible apply during their first term of undergraduate study.

These bursaries are just one element of providing financial help for students at Cambridge. See the University website and the Cambridge Bursary website for more information.

National Scholarship Programme

Through the new National Scholarship Programme (NSP), new entrants to higher education from particularly disadvantaged backgrounds are eligible to receive a fee waiver of £6000 in their first year of study in addition to the Cambridge Bursary. There are two ways in which you might be eligible for this fee waiver:

1. You will be eligible to be considered for the NSP if you belong to a household whose total residual income is £25,000 per year or less, and if you also satisfy one of the following criteria:

you have spent more than three months in care
you are a lone parent
you received free school meals whilst at school
you have a disability causing particular financial needs whilst studying that are not met from other sources

2. If you do not meet one of the above criteria but your household's residual income is less than around £12,000, you will also be considered for the fee waiver.

These awards are made jointly by the government and the University of Cambridge. Unfortunately, there are government limits on the number of Scholarships that will be available. While all students who meet the criteria outlined above are eligible to apply and be considered for the NSP, we are unable to guarantee that all those who apply will receive an award. Priority will be given to care leavers, lone parents, those who were in receipt of free school meals, and students with a disability causing particular financial need. It is anticipated that this will leave a number of awards for students from households with low incomes, who will receive awards following an assessment of relative need.

Please note that students from England are eligible for the National Scholarship Programme. Students who are normally resident in the EU outside the UK are also eligible to apply. However, the government guidance is that students from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not currently eligible for the Programme.

Please visit the University website for more details.

Paula Browne Scholarship (Murray Edwards College)

This is awarded annually to one or two outstanding students usually from the EU (not UK) and occasionally from overseas or of refugee status. In total the award amounts to £6,000 per annum and this may be awarded in full to one student or split into two awards of £3,000. Students receiving this award will receive this amount annually for the period during which they are in residence for their undergraduate studies (usually three but in some cases four years). In addition a further £600 (or £300 each where the award is shared between two students) may be awarded for travel in years 1 and 2 in support of an approved plan for travel.

Anne Williams Scholarship (Murray Edwards College)

This is available to be awarded annually to an overseas medical undergraduate on the basis of both academic potential and financial need. This award has been made possible by the generosity of alumna Anne Williams. The recipient is awarded approximately £4,000 per year for the duration of their undergraduate medical course and the award may be extended to cover their clinical studies in Cambridge after review.

Blyth Scholarship (University of Cambridge)

Full financial support for up to three students from Canada (University-wide selection). Tenable for any subject except Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. Applicants must apply to the Blyth Academy by October 1st in the year of application as well as submitting an application to Cambridge (via UCAS). Full details are available from the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust.

Dangoor Scholarships (University of Cambridge)

Dangoor Scholarships of £1,000 are available to first year, home students, with priority being given to those from under-privileged or non-traditional backgrounds. Typically this might mean students who qualify for a full maintenance grant. To be eligible students must be pursuing a degree course in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics or Natural Sciences. The College's Senior Tutor will make applications for the scholarship of behalf of eligible students in their first term of study at Murray Edwards College.

Childcare bursaries (Murray Edwards College)

Bursaries of up to £1,500 per child per year are currently available for students who have children and need access to childcare.

Financial hardship

Murray Edwards College has its own Student Support Fund, which can help in cases of financial hardship. This makes grants commonly of £250, and occasionally very much more. While most costs associated with academic courses (including field courses) are met by the University, this Fund also makes grants towards exceptional costs for academic reasons (e.g. special equipment, additional classes or research for a dissertation).

Travel Awards

A large number of Travel Exhibitions (typically ££200-£300) are awarded each year towards the costs of travel. In addition, about £2,000 is available annually in the form of Panton Trust Grants to support wildlife/environmental projects.

As well as the Bursaries administered by the Newton Trust, the University has substantial Funds to support undergraduates in unexpected financial need or facing exceptional medical costs, and smaller Funds supporting a variety of purposes such as summer travel.

Gateway Challenges Funding

Those who attend our Gateway Programme are eligible for Gateway Challenges Funding.  The fund supports students in undertaking some additional activity (usually during the Summer vacation) which provides both challenge and an opportunity for personal development.  During Summer 2012 students in receipt of this funding (up to £500 per student) undertook volunteer work abroad, explored new cultures and funded their accommodation while experiencing an internship opportunity.

Updated April 2013