The University has various scholarships and hardship funding options available.

Scholarships and funding

Cambridge Bursary

The Cambridge Bursary Scheme provides free financial support of up to £3,500 a year for your Cambridge fees or living costs.

Independent students and care leavers are eligible for extra funding in addition to the bursary payment. For care leavers this is up to a maximum total of £8,350 a year.

There is no separate application for the Cambridge Bursary. If you’re eligible, you are automatically considered when you apply for a student loan through your regional funding body.

See what you could get from the Cambridge Bursary

Rowan Williams Cambridge Studentship

This is a full-cost award available to undergraduate and postgraduate students.

This is for students from:

  • an area of instability, zone of conflict, at risk of discrimination, persecution, violence of human rights
  • refugees
  • asylum seekers

This studentship provides University tuition fee, annual maintenance (sufficient for a single person) and other allowances (ie travel, visa and Immigration Health Surcharge costs) considered on a need basis.

Apply for the Rowan Williams Cambridge Studentship

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

This is a fully-funded scholarship for students from Africa to pursue a master’s degree. More than 500 students are expected to be enrolled by 2030. Women, refugees, internally displaced persons, and people with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.

Check if you are eligible the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

University funding to help with your postgraduate studies

This funding search lists most University funding available for postgraduates.

Search for more postgraduate funding

Hardship funding for current students

Undergraduate Financial Assistance Fund

This is a hardship fund that provides up to £3,000 to full-time undergraduate students in unforeseen financial need.

Check if you are eligible for the Undergraduate Financial Assistance Fund

Postgraduate Financial Assistance Fund

This hardship fund provides up to £3,000 to full-time postgraduate students in unforeseen financial difficulties. Students must apply more than six weeks before the competition of their course to be eligible.

Check if you are eligible for the Postgraduate Financial Assistance Fund

The Crane Medical Fund

This fund provides awards of up to £1,800 to current Cambridge University students for support with medical costs. Students must apply to the fund before seeking medical treatment.

Learn about the Crane Medical Fund

The Realise Fund 

The Realise Financial Assistance fund supports home fee undergraduate and Foundation Year students on intermission in financial need, who fall into groups identified in The Realise Project as follows:  

  • Care-experienced and/or estranged students  
  • Refugee, asylum seeker and forced migrant students   
  • Young carer students  
  • Gypsy, Roma, traveller, showman and boater students.  

This fund can provide awards of up to £3,650 to help eligible students on intermission who are in financial need.

Check if you are eligible for the Realise Fund

Humanitarian Response Fund

The humanitarian response fund supports current undergraduate and postgraduate students affected by conflict or humanitarian crises as defined by UNICEF Level 2 and Level 3 Emergencies list. It provides cost of living grants of up to £5,000.

Check if you are eligible for the Humanitarian Response Fund