CURRENT STUDENTS

This page has been updated on the 1st of September 2025. If you’re unsure about whether a fund is still available, please message your Tutor or your Access & Admissions Officer (Weronika Szumielewicz).

If you’re looking for information on rents and accommodation-related charges, have a look at the 2025-26 rent and accommodation page.

For more information on the College schemes and financial help, please visit the Catz Undergraduate prospectus.

For most up-to-date information on student finances, 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 require approval from a Tutor in college.

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

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, Jude Howarth, or your Tutor, 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 Director of Studies 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, with priority being given to academic projects, those that aim to contribute to the good of others, and cultural enrichement for students who have had limited opportunities to travel. Grants are awarded by the Tutors’ Committee on the recommendation of your Director of Studies and the Senior Tutor. The maximum award is £500 per student per academic year.

To apply, please complete the application form and discuss the application with your Tutor before submitting it.

There are two deadlines per term:

Michaelmas term:

• 12 midday, Friday 24 October 2025 (to be paid in November)

• 12 midday, Friday 21 November 2025 (to be paid in December)

Lent term:

• 12 midday, Friday 30 January 2026 (to be paid in February)

• 12 midday, Friday 27 February 2026 (to be paid in March)

Easter term:

• 12 midday, Friday 24 April 2026 (to be paid in May)

• 12 midday, Friday 29 May 2026 (to be paid in June)
  

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

The College offers Sports Bursaries to help undergraduate and graduate students meet the extra costs of competing in sport at a high level within the College or University. Support can cover expenses such as specialist equipment, training camps, or additional rent required for sports commitments, and each application is considered on its individual merits.

Awards of up to £500 are made once a term by the Tutors in consultation with the Senior Tutor and Senior Treasurer of the Amalgamated Clubs. Applications may be submitted at any time using the online Sports Bursary form, but you should discuss your plans with your Tutor before applying.

There is one deadline per term:

Michaelmas term:

• 12 midday, Friday 21 November 2025 (to be paid in December)

Lent term:

• 12 midday, Friday 27 February 2026 (to be paid in March)

Easter term:

• 12 midday, Friday 29 May 2026 (to be paid in June)

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.

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.

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 (Weronika Szumielewicz) or your Tutor.