First National Scholarship Programme bursaries awarded

The students, from families with an income of less than £25,000, have each been awarded the £6,000 as a fee waiver. This is in addition to their Cambridge Bursary of £3,500.

Although the NSP is a Government scheme, universities set their own guidelines for eligibility. The University of Cambridge has chosen to give priority for NSP awards to care leavers, lone parents, those who were in receipt of free school meals, and students with a disability causing particular financial need.

Students who did not meet one of the above criteria but come from a family whose income is less than £12,000, were also eligible to apply for an award.

"We are pleased to have been able to make an award to every student accepted this year who has been on free school meals, every care leaver and every lone parent,” said Dr Patricia Fara, Senior Tutor of Clare College, and a member of the NSP panel which considered applications.

“While Cambridge is not a particularly expensive place to live or study, by taking part in the NSP we hope to provide additional reassurance to students from low-income families that taking up a place at Cambridge is affordable,” Dr Fara added.

“The NSP is only one small part of our extensive and flexible financial support package,” commented Director of Undergraduate Recruitment, Jon Beard. “As a university, we are committed to needs-blind admissions. No UK student with the academic ability to thrive at Cambridge should let financial worries put them off from making an application.”

Further information:-

•  NSP awards are jointly funded by the government and by the collegiate University. Under government rules, they are available to English and EU students only.
•  The total number of awards is calculated by the Government and is based on the total number of undergraduates at a university.