CURRENT STUDENTS

This page has been updated on the 1st of November 2024. If you’re unsure about whether a fund is still available, please message your Tutor or your Access & Admissions Officer (sl2193).

If you’re looking for information on rents and accommodation-related charges, have a look at the rent and accommodation page.

If you want to know how to pay your college bill, please see the relevant section of our FAQ.

For most up-to-date information, please visit https://www.caths.cam.ac.uk/students/financial-processes-and-support/financial-support-for-undergraduates

Applying for Funds

Before applying for major grants or bursaries, students should in most cases talk to their Tutor first. They will be able to check you’re applying to the right place and may be able to give assistance with the application. It should also be noted that most applications – even at a university level – require approval from a Tutor in college.

For more information on the College schemes, please visit the student finance part of the College website – in particular the document which contains more detailed information about financial assistance from college written by Dr Holly Canuto, the Senior Tutor. Application forms for college bursaries are also on the website (but remember that it’s worth checking with your Tutor before applying).

Grants and Bursaries

University Bursaries

The Cambridge Bursary Scheme

The Cambridge Bursary Scheme is a non-repayable bursary.

Funds Available – The Cambridge Bursary scheme provides bursaries of up to £3,500 , with the exact amount depending on your household income (further details of exact amounts can be found at this link on the university website: Cambridge Bursary

Applying for the Bursary – There is no application process for the Cambridge Bursary Scheme, you are automatically considered when you send in your application, just make sure you keep an eye on your emails so you don’t miss any updates or additional information.

 Education Premium – students who have been eligible for free school meals receive an additional £1000, which requires a confirmatory letter from the school once a place is confirmed.

 Enhanced Award – those classed as “independent” by their regional funding bodies are also eligible for an extra 60% on top of their award.

Cambridge Trust

The Cambridge Trust provides some scholarships to overseas students from certain countries. See details on their website: Cambridge Trust website

Accessibility and Disability Services financial support

See the ADRC Funding Website for detailed information on support available. Please contact our Disabilities Officer, Lucas Cheng, or the Disabilities Tutor, David Bainbridge, if you are seeking any advice.

Undergraduate Financial Assistance Fund

Please visit the website for more information: Financial Assistance Fund

College Bursaries

College Bursaries for undergraduates

.One form of support that the college is able to provide is the college bursary, and this can be applied for by speaking to your Tutor and downloading the form off the college website. This fund is intended to be used in order to support students financially, for example if their financial circumstances change, and can be applied for on many different grounds.

This Fund is also put in place to assist undergraduates with the academic costs involved in studying in Cambridge, such as: additional course costs, laboratory placements, project or research expenses and the like.

 Please ensure you check the website due to deadlines for the fund: College bursaries

Unforeseen financial hardship

If you find yourself in a difficult financial situation, the college offers an interest-free loan. This is immediate financial aid, and you should speak to your Tutor, who will help you with the form. The money will be sent to your account within 3 working days.

College Advice if your Household Income suddenly decreases:

If you find yourself in a situation in which your financial situation suddenly decreases, the College recommends that you should apply to the SLC for a “Current Year Assessment”, as you may be eligible for an increased maintenance loan or Cambridge and College Bursaries. In addition, you can apply for the college interest-free loan. Please contact your Tutor or Kati Sexton, the Tutorial Manager for more information and assistance.

Sports, Travel and Music Grants

Departmental Travel Grants

Some departments will offer vacation study grants to assist with the costs of fieldwork abroad or outside Cambridge. Your DoS should know if any are available and be able to help you with relevant applications. Check your department’s website for more information.

College Travel Grants

College Travel Funds are available for undergraduate travel, and for other Tripos-related or extra-curricular activities. Any undergraduate may apply to these funds, with priority being given to academic projects, those that aim to contribute to the good of others, and those who wish to travel for cultural enrichment by those whose opportunity to do so to this point has been limited.

 There are two deadlines per term, and please apply using the form on the College website. Please also discuss this application with your tutor before submitting it. For people joining sporting or other tours, see Caution Money grants instead.

Caution Money Grants

Money from the caution money fund can be awarded as a grant to individuals, groups or societies who wish to go on sporting tours, musical tours, expeditions or to travel. The deadline for applications is in February. To apply, download an application form from the college’s website and it will need to be accompanied by detailed budgets.

Sports Bursaries

Please contact Professor Peter Wothers for details on what support is available.

Blazer funding

Please contact Professor Peter Wothers if you would require funding for a University Sports blazer.

Joining University Sports for which no provision exists in College

Situations like these would fall udner the Sports Bursary. There is funding available if you would require, for example, a gym membership or a sports club membership. Contact Professor Peter Wothers.

College Language Grants

The College will normally fund half of the cost of a language course at the University Language Centre. You can apply for a grant when you have completed the course and you should provide a copy of your certificate or other evidence to show that you have completed the full course. You can apply for this grant using the College Bursary Form, which can be accessed on the college website. The grant is only available for one language course per year.

Overseas Language Course “Pressland Fund” Bursary

The University Language Centre also has a bursary for students who are based in the schools of Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Technology or Clinical Medicine, and who wish to take a language course overseas during the long vacation. See the language centre website for details.

Internship Bursaries

University Careers Service Summer Bursary

The university careers service offers a similar internship bursary scheme to the one run by the college society. It is open to all undergraduates, but priority is given to people with a Cambridge Bursary. It is available only for Not-for-profit, Arts and Heritage, or Media Internships. For more information see the career service website.

Other Funds, Grants and Bursaries

College Gender Expression Fund

The Gender Expression Fund has been created with the purpose of funding items used by individuals to express their true identity. Given the limitations of the fund (around £100), this is for individuals who require the funding from the college, as opposed to their own finances. However, this should not deter your application, as applications are kept confidential between the LGBT+ Officer and applicant. The items which may be covered by the fund, whilst not a definitive list, include: packers, concealing underwear, and binders, amongst others.

By no means is identity something that should be hindered by financial background, and the college, and its JCR, wish you to experience utmost liberation within our community and beyond.

The application process applies on a case by case basis. The individual should contact the JCR LGBT+ Officer (email/Facebook Messenger/in person), who will review the application for funding, and on acceptance will provide the funding.

The LGBT+ Officer recognises the fact, and is under obligation to ensure, that any application must be treated with utmost confidence, and so the application will not be discussed beyond the Officer and applicant. However, to require funding, the Officer must request funding from the treasurer. To protect confidentiality, this will be done under a Gender Expression Fund Request, and will not disclose details beyond that title and the amount of money requested.

If you require any further information or assistance, please contact your Tutor or the LGBTQ+ JCR officers.

The Master’s Fund

This grant gives funding to individuals or specific projects that would otherwise be unlikely to receive funding. You can find out more about this fund on the college website.

College Scholarships and Prizes and Outstanding Tripos Achievement Prizes

This information is currently being updated and will be added to the website in due course.

Other College Grants

There are additional small grants available for several sporting needs, for group activities and for expeditions, please visit the College website for more details on grants that are available.

Please make sure you visit the college’s Tutorial Office, where information about new opportunities for financial support is put up on the notice board. Additionally, in the archway between staircases C and D, another notice board is put up with funding information.

If you have any further questions regarding bursaries, funds, grants, or financial assistance, please do not hesitate to get in contact with the JCR Access and Admissions Officer (Sara Les) or your Tutor.