Where the Money Comes From
The first step is to be sure about whether you will be treated as a 'Home', 'European' or 'Overseas' student for fee purposes. There are detailed guidelines about this. If you are in any doubt you should refer to the UKCISA website. The Murray Edwards College (New Hall) Admissions office will also help to advise you where the position is unclear.
The Government have provided the following helpful flier about financial costs and support for home students beginning their studies in October 2012 (Government Finance Flyer)
This College is also well aware of the serious concerns that students and their families now share about financing university studies. The attached leaflet outlines some of the ways in which this college is responding to these concerns (pdf leaflet: Student Finance issue1)
A limited number of small bursaries and scholarships are available.
Tuition Fees - Home / EU students
For most UK & EU students, the Tuition Fees will be paid by the Student Loans Company (SLC). This is a loan and so must be repaid later, by regular deductions direct from earnings, when (and only if) you are in employment and earning at least £15,000pa (soon to rise to a minimum of £21,000). The Government website provides further information.
Living costs - Home students
For most UK students, the SLC will provide a maintenance loan towards living costs of up to £5,500 per year (2012-13 figures). This is a loan and must be repaid later (in the same way as the Tuition Fee loan). A grant (not repaid later) of up to £3,250 per year will be made to those whose families are on low incomes of less than £25,000 (with a sliding scales for others up to a maximum household income of £42,600). This grant reduces the size of the maintenance loan that you can request. For those on low incomes (less than £25,000) the maximum funding available to support living costs via the grant and the loan is therefore £7,125 per year. The Government website provides further information.
In addition to the Government funding the University of Cambridge is also able to provide financial help to students from the UK taking an undergraduate course. These awards are known as Cambridge Newton Trust Bursaries. They are calculated on the basis of financial need. Many students (currently around one quarter of all students) have found that they are eligible for these bursaries (which operate on a sliding scale covering family incomes from less than £25,000 per year up to around £42,000 per year). The allocation of bursaries under the new fee and funding arrangements (from October 2012) is currently being finalised.
Living costs vary but are usually between £7,250 and £8,750 per year. For many students (particularly those not eligible for a grant or bursary) there is a shortfall between the their student loan and their living costs. This is met by a combination of direct support from families and paid employment during the summer vacation, longer at Cambridge than at most Universities.
Living costs - EU students
The Cambridge European Trust is able to make a small annual financial contribution to some students from Europe in financial need. However, the funds are limited and the Trust is only able to help those students who are able to provide a substantial proportion of the funding required through their own families and resources.
Tuition fees, College fees and living costs - overseas students
Overseas students are required to pay tuition fees, college fees and living costs. In total this amounts to at least £80,000 for a three year course. The Cambridge Overseas Trustis able to make a small annual financial contribution to some of these students who are in financial need. However, the funds are limited and the Trust is only able to help those students who are able to provide a substantial proportion of the funding required through their own families or through sponsorship from within their own countries.
Updated March 2011
