University of Cambridge Scholarships 2026: Amount and Eligibility

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Shreyashi Pathak

Study Abroad Expert | Updated on - Feb 17, 2026

The University of Cambridge offers a wide range of scholarships, supporting between 1,100 and 1,400 students in residence each year. Indian students are eligible for several funding opportunities to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate programs at University of Cambridge. Many scholarships at University of Cambridge cover full tuition fees, annual stipends for living expenses, and additional costs like airfare, visa, and Immigration Health Surcharge. The scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, financial need, and specific eligibility criteria. To maximize the chances of securing scholarships in Cambridge, Indian students should apply early and meet the scholarship deadlines, as many awards are granted on a competitive basis.

Undergraduate and graduate scholarships at University of Cambridge cater to diverse student needs, from general merit-based awards to subject-specific funding. Indian students can also apply for exclusive scholarships such as the Inlaks Cambridge Scholarship and Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Cambridge Scholarship. Indian students must properly check all the eligibility criteria, deadlines, and suitability of the scholarship with their chosen program before applying to any scholarship in University of Cambridge.

Check the University of Cambridge admissions process for application steps and deadlines

Table of Contents

University of Cambridge UG Scholarships
University of Cambridge PG Scholarships

University of Cambridge UG Scholarships

Cambridge offers limited financial support for international undergraduate students, including Indians. Full scholarships are very rare. Most awards are partial, competitive, and based on financial need, usually covering only part of tuition or living expenses.

The main funding body is the Cambridge Commonwealth, European & International Trust. It provides part-cost awards to international students who already hold an admission offer. These scholarships are not India-specific and are given based on academic merit, future potential, and financial need. Some Cambridge Colleges also offer small international awards, and a few external Indian organizations provide extra support.

Note: You must first apply through UCAS and receive a conditional offer. You cannot apply directly to the Trust; your College nominates eligible students automatically.

UCAS deadlines are usually in mid-October, and scholarship results are announced between March and July. Since funding changes every year, always check Cambridge’s official undergraduate site and contact Colleges directly for the latest details.

Scholarship Name	Eligibility	Value (GBP + INR)	Application Process	Notes
Cambridge Trust Undergraduate Scholarships (via Cambridge Commonwealth, European & International Trust)	International students (including Indians) with a conditional offer from University of Cambridge; merit + financial need	Part-cost, usually £10,000–£15,000/year (₹12.37–₹18.56 lakh)	No direct application. Apply to Cambridge via UCAS first; College nominates eligible students	Highly competitive; not India-specific
Oxford & Cambridge Society of India (OCSI) Scholarships	Indian citizens in India; under 30; admitted to Cambridge UG	₹4,00,000 (part-cost)	Separate application to Oxford and Cambridge Society of India after Cambridge application	Merit + need based; usable at Oxford or Cambridge
Cambridge Society Bombay Scholarship Fund	Indian students from Gujarat, Maharashtra, or Goa with Cambridge UG offer	Up to ₹2,50,000	Apply directly after admission	Covers part of expenses
Richard & Lydia Evans Bursary (Gonville & Caius College)	Indian Dalit / Scheduled Tribe students with UG offer from Caius	Variable (need-based)	Apply through College after offer	College-specific; supports underrepresented groups
Christ’s International Awards (Christ’s College, Cambridge)	International UG students (including Indians); merit + need	£10,000/year (₹12.37 lakh) + possible College fee waiver £11,000 (₹13.61 lakh)	Apply via College after offer	Can sometimes combine with other funding
Sukanya Rajaratnam Commonwealth Award (Christ’s College)	Commonwealth students (including Indians) admitted to Christ’s	£10,000/year (₹12.37 lakh) + possible College fee waiver £11,000 (₹13.61 lakh)	Apply through Christ’s College post-offer	Priority for Commonwealth students

University of Cambridge PG Scholarships

The University of Cambridge offers highly competitive postgraduate scholarships for international students, including Indians, mainly through the Cambridge Commonwealth, European & International Trust and the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Indians also have access to awards like Inlaks, Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial (PhD), Prathiba M Singh (LLM), and Pemanda Monappa. Most Cambridge scholarships need no separate application. Students should apply for your course and select funding in the portal.

Scholarship Name	Level	Who Can Apply	What It Covers	Duration	How to Apply
Inlaks Cambridge Scholarship	Masters / PhD	Indian nationals (some subjects excluded)	Tuition fees + living costs + visa + health surcharge	Full course	Apply to Cambridge first, then apply separately to Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation
Prathiba M Singh Cambridge Scholarship	Masters (LLM)	Indian students admitted to LLM	Full or major funding (need-based)	1 year	Apply for LLM at Cambridge; usually automatic consideration
Pemanda Monappa Scholarship	Masters	Indians in Biological Sciences, Geography, or Conservation	Partial or full funding (varies by need)	Course length	Apply with Cambridge application and select funding option
Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Cambridge Scholarship	PhD	Indian nationals (any subject)	Tuition + living costs + health surcharge	Up to 3–4 years	Apply to Cambridge; no separate scholarship application
Gates Cambridge Scholarship	Masters / PhD	Non-UK students with strong academics + leadership	Full fees + living allowance + airfare + visa + extra academic support	Up to 4 years	Included in Cambridge application (extra Gates section required)
Narotam Sekhsaria Cambridge Scholarship	Masters / PhD	Indian nationals with strong academics	Up to INR 20 lakhs	Course length	Apply to Cambridge + separate application to Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation

The University of Cambridge offers highly competitive scholarships for Indian students across levels. Most funding flows through the Cambridge Commonwealth, European & International Trust and elite programs like the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Full funding is concentrated at the postgraduate level. Undergraduate aid is limited and usually part-cost, via Trust or College awards.

Deadlines follow admissions. October for undergraduate courses. December or January for most postgraduate programs. Many scholarships need no separate application once you apply for the course and select funding. Competition is intense. Strong academics, leadership, and early preparation are essential for 2026/27 entry.

University of Cambridge Scholarships: Students' Opinion

AI-Generated Summary based on 7 Reviews

Most UK students receive means-tested student finance, which includes college funds and maintenance loans, based on parental income. Students from families earning less than $45,000 annually can receive an additional bursary of up to $3,500 from the university. Available scholarships include diversity and merit-based internal and external options such as a £7,500 bursary, the Forte fellowship awarded to four female students per admission round, and the Chevening scholarship for British schools.

Sports-based scholarships are also available. Late applications may affect eligibility, but applying between November and December can lead to a partial scholarship of up to £10,000. High achievers may qualify for the Gates Cambridge or Commonwealth Scholarship, potentially covering up to £60,000, with most scholarships reserved for PhD students as over 80% of MPhil students self-fund.

By Collegedunia’s Personal AI

Scholarships offered

Benavitch Scholarships

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: $20,257
Type: College-Specific
Level of Study: Doctorate
Number of Scholarships: 5

Fitzwilliam Master Studentship

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: Variable Amount
Type: College-Specific
Level of Study: Master
Number of Scholarships: 1

Cambridge C.T Taylor Fund

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: Variable Amount
Type: College-Specific
Level of Study: Master
Number of Scholarships: 1

Cambridge Trust Scholarship- UG and PG 2023

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: Variable Amount
Type: College-Specific
Level of Study: Bachelor
Number of Scholarships: N/A

Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: $100,000
Type: Merit-Based
Level of Study: Doctorate
Number of Scholarships: 480

Oxford and Cambridge Society of India (OCSI) Scholarships

International Student Eligible: Yes
Amount: Variable Amount
Type: College-Specific
Level of Study: Bachelor
Number of Scholarships: 1

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Uni of Cambridge review

Likes

Access to the UK's sharpest minds, leading companies, and prestigious alumni network
Globally diverse cohort - classmates from over 50 countries, great way to meet new people and make lifelong connections from across the globe
Fun extracurricular activities and college life - such as sports, MBAT, debate clubs, and formal dinners

Dislikes

Balance between academic and non-academic endeavours. While we were encouraged to not focus al our time on studies and told to spend time networking, the academically rigorous nature of the course often clashed with such aspirations.

The University of Cambridge has a collegiate system. Accommodation is managed by your college.

academic: 8/10

faculty: 6/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 8/10

extracurricular: 6/10

0 0

Apan

University of Cambridge( Enrolled 2023 )MPhil Advanced Computer ScienceJune 4, 2025

9.7 /10

My Masters in University of Cambridge Experience

Likes

Collegiate system provides a unique communal experience. Each college is a mini society within Cambridge; addressing different needs based on academic rigour, gender, age, etc.
Global Exposure from around 100 countries.
Chance to work under top computer scientists.

Dislikes

Short terms. Each term is only 8 weeks long.
Each week starts from Thursday for an odd reason.
Workload can overwhelming you. In the first term, I wrote 2 essays, each 1500 words long and reading 4 papers per week. In the second term, I read at least 3 papers per week, and writing a 1000 word review while doing my research.

Scholarship

I was ineligible for scholarships due to a late application. However, if applied between November and December, you can get a partial scholarship for up to £10,000. This depends on your college preference and allocated college too. The most competitive ones can get a Gates Cambridge Scholarship or even a Commonwealth Scholarship for up to £60,000. Usually scholarships are reserved for PhDs, as more than 80% of students pay for their MPhil.

Finding accommodation can be challenging; however, since my application got accepted early,. I got the invitation from Wolfson College to stay in their accommodation. The monthly rent was around £780 (£190 per week), which included heating, water, weekly cleaning facilities, a gym, and internet. My accommodation was within the college campus, so I didn't have to worry at all.

academic: 10/10

faculty: 10/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 10/10

placement: 8/10

extracurricular: 10/10

0 0

Prachi Dewangan

University of Cambridge( Enrolled 2023 )MBAFebruary 18, 2025

8.0 /10

A Day At University of Cambridge

Likes

Academic facilities, dedicated libraries, research tools.
Case study based lectures
Mental health platform free for students

Dislikes

Lack of individual focus on studies, everybody is on their own
No placements system, self secure jobs by creating network
Food and travel expensive

Scholarship

There are bursaries available and various diversity and merit based internal and external scholarships. I got a 7500 GBP bursary. There is a Forte fellowship which is given to 4 girls in each of the admission rounds. There is an external scholarship called Chevening scholarship for British schools. There are some sports based scholarships as well.

I was provided college accommodation. Cambridge has a unique collegiate system which is different from any other university.
There are 30 colleges in Cambridge University which are responsible for accommodation and food and have no meaning in academics.
The monthly rent was around 50000 rupees and it was 1 km from my department. The food was also provided near accommodation.

+8 more

academic: 8/10

faculty: 8/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 6/10

extracurricular: 8/10

0 0

YASH

University of Cambridge( Enrolled 2018 )BA EnglishMarch 14, 2022

7.8 /10

University of Cambridge is awesome.

Cambridge University is itself a brand name. Being a student at this university is itself an honour. The admission procedure includes filling out the admission form at the official website of you qualify for the eligibility criteria.

academic: 9/10

faculty: 8/10

infrastructure: 8/10

accomodation: 7/10

placement: 8/10

extracurricular: 7/10

0 0

Sanjana Ayagari

University of CambridgeBA LawMarch 28, 2021

6.7 /10

University Review

Scholarship

One of the best undergraduate law programs in the world. I appreciated the world-class teaching and the professors who were at the leading edge of their subjects.

academic: 9/10

faculty: 9/10

infrastructure: 7/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 7/10

0 0

Ananya

University of CambridgeBA LawJanuary 26, 2021

6.3 /10

Review of Cambridge University

Scholarship

Well reputed and offers a good quality education. Really nice campus town.

academic: 8/10

faculty: 8/10

infrastructure: 9/10

accomodation: 7/10

placement: 6/10

0 0

Sharon

University of Cambridge( Current Student )Modern and Medieval LanguagesMarch 15, 2019

8.8 /10

Oxbridge

Scholarship

Yes - Student Finance. Most UK students receive this funding. It's means-tested: the amount you receive depends on the income of your parents. You receive payments for your college funds and a maintenance loan (to cover living costs). Students whose families earn less than $45,000 a year also get an annual bursary from the university of up to $3,500.

It's prestigious and this means that graduates often enjoy excellent job opportunities. It's hard to get into (interview process, high grades, etc.) so the need to work hard to get in was a source of motivation when I was studying for my A level exams.

academic: 10/10

faculty: 9/10

infrastructure: 10/10

accomodation: 8/10

placement: 8/10

extracurricular: 8/10

0 0