If I receive an offer of a place at Cambridge, will I be automatically notified of the studentships and scholarships available?

No, it is up to students to locate information about funding. A 'Cambridge Funding Search' is available for funding offered within the University of Cambridge.

Cambridge Funding Search

Should I wait until I have received an offer of a place before I apply for funding?

You should apply for funding as early as possible, and should therefore do this before you have received a conditional offer of admission. Funding application deadlines are often a year in advance of the start of your study, and you may not receive a conditional offer of admission until much later.

I have not heard anything from Admissions regarding my application for funding through the GRADSAF - should I contact them?

No. Overseas applications will be automatically considered for funding through the Cambridge Trusts, including the CISS competition - the Cambridge Trusts will contact you on the outcome of your application. This also applies to the Gates Trust.

Home/EU applicants will be automatically considered through the CHESS competition - you will be contacted by the Scholarships Clerk at the Student Registry if you have been successful, or are on a reserve list. If applicants have not received an email by the end of April, they should assume that their application has not been successful.

What happens if I am offered funding from more than one source?

You should always notify all your sponsors of the scholarships or bursaries that you have been offered. Some sponsors may reduce their offer of funding accordingly, and these funds can be used to sponsor more students.

I have been offered a place at another University. Can I transfer my scholarship?

The terms and conditions of your funding offer will specify whether your offer of funding is transferable. Most Scholarships provided by the University of Cambridge will only be tenable at the University of Cambridge.

Can I hold more than one scholarship/studentship simultaneously?

Please check the terms and conditions of your award. In most cases the funding body will request to be notified if you receive any additional scholarships.

I have not heard whether I have been awarded funding. Who should I contact?

Funding at Cambridge is awarded by individual bodies/competitions within the University (e.g. college/department/Cambridge Trusts). Funding is not all allocated centrally, therefore you will need to check the specific funding timetable, and look for messages such as "If candidates have not received an offer by a specific date you should assume that your application has not been successful".

I have applied for funding from the Cambridge Trusts. How do I find out about the progress of my funding application?

Your application for funding will be considered by the Cambridge Trusts for all the awards for which you are eligible. Since the outcome is dependant on many factors, i.e. matching applicants to particular schemes of awards, approval of selection by funding partners, ability of the Trusts to help with a part-cost award etc., it is not possible to announce a specific date by which you will hear the result of your application.

If I have been advised I am on the reserve list for funding and I will be away from my email should I continue to check my emails or ask someone to keep checking my emails?

Yes, as you may be asked to confirm that you still require funding and be required to reply urgently.

I would like to apply for a college scholarship, but I haven't yet been accepted by a college. Do I need to wait until I am accepted before I apply?

We would encourage you to apply for a college scholarship prior to being offered membership by that college, as some applicants may not be offered membership by a college until close to the start of term, when it is too late to apply for a scholarship.

Am I eligible to apply for scholarships from colleges other than the one which has accepted me?

You may apply for scholarships at any college (or all of them if you wish to), however some colleges' scholarship criteria state that you must make their college the first choice on the application form, so you need to take this into consideration prior to making an application. It is normal practice, but not guaranteed, that an offer of a college scholarship will also include college membership. If you are offered membership by college X and later receive a scholarship from college Y, then college X will usually arrange for you to be transferred to the college which has offered the scholarship.

My Financial Tracker on CamSIS states "Award offered". Does this mean my award has been confirmed?

Yes. CamSIS wording referring to funding "offered" means that you have been offered funding from a funding body.

I have decided to withdraw my application from Cambridge. As well as withdrawing my application on CamSIS, should I also advise the funding bodies I am applying to for funding?

Yes, please contact the funding bodies, advising that you no longer wish to be considered for funding.

Who do I pay my fees to?

The College Fee and the University Composition Fee are paid directly to your college at the start of term. The college will invoice you for the payment and you should liaise with your college directly for information on how to make this payment. Any queries regarding your invoice should also be directed to the college.

As a PhD student when am I eligible for exemption from fees and how do I apply?

PhD students are liable to pay the UCF for the minimum number of terms:

9 terms full time
15 terms part time

After this time you will normally be automatically exempted (there is no need to apply).

Exceptions to this rule are if:

1. You are making substantial use of University facilities, beyond the minimum period.
2. your PhD course is of longer duration (applies to certain courses in Physics).
3. Your funding extends beyond this point.