Cambridge Trust - Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trust

Cambridge Trust International Scholarship

At the University of Cambridge, you will receive a full PhD scholarship. This will cover your tuition fees in full as an international student (from abroad) and provide you with an annual living allowance for one person. The Trust also covers your ‘Student Immigration Health Surcharge’ – the fee that enables you to access the UK healthcare system under the terms of your visa. The funding covers the entire duration of your studies, up to four years. It is provided by the Cambridge Trust, an independent UK charity that provides financial support to international students at Cambridge. Around 80 of these scholarships are awarded each year. At the end of your studies, you may apply for a short extension to cover the optional period for writing your dissertation; however, this is not automatically granted.

Who can apply

• Level of study: You are applying for a PhD, either full-time or part-time.
• Nationality: You can be from any country except the UK and Ireland (your fee status must be ‘International’).
• Field of study: Any subject, with the exception of degree programmes with higher tuition fees, such as the MBA or the MFin.
• University: You have applied to the University of Cambridge and have been offered at least a conditional place. You can study at any college in Cambridge.
• Grades: Selection is based solely on academic merit: your grades, your references and your research potential. Your financial circumstances are not taken into account.
• Previous degrees: You cannot use this course towards a qualification at the same level or a lower level than the one you already hold. Furthermore, you must not already be in the middle of a Cambridge course, unless you are progressing to a higher qualification.

How to apply

There is no separate application to the Trust. You apply for admission to Cambridge via the applicant portal, where you should tick the box indicating that you wish to be considered for funding. Please do this before the funding deadline for your degree programme. The deadlines are in the winter before the start of the academic year in October; please therefore check the exact date for your programme. There is no interview. A university committee draws up a ranking list of all PhD candidates, and the funding is awarded to the highest-ranked applicants.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a well-known scholarship offered by the University of Cambridge, which is open to applicants from almost all countries and disciplines; as a result, the pool of applicants is large and competition is fierce. Selection is based solely on academic merit and the ranking of your department. The key factors are therefore outstanding academic achievement and a compelling research proposal. With around 80 scholarships awarded each year, applicants whose department is ranked at the very top have the best chances. It is advantageous to submit your application before the early deadline.