How to fund your studies?
When looking at funding your postgraduate studies, you will need to consider both the cost of tuition fees and covering your living costs. Once you have identified the course you would like to study, you will need to research the wide range of funding options available. Some sources may relate to your nationality, lots will be specific to your area of study, and some funds may support students from particular backgrounds. Securing funding is not always straightforward, and if you are applying to Fitzwilliam, we will support you as much as we can in the process.
Your College Bill
For more detailed breakdown of the way College charges for tuition, rent and other costs, you can visit this page: https://www.fitz.cam.ac.uk/understanding-your-college-bill
If you have concerns or questions, do contact the Admissions team on admissions@fitz.cam.ac.uk
How can we help?
Fitz can support your application in two ways: firstly, we have dedicated postgraduate officers in our Student Services Hub who have significant experience in administrating the postgraduate application process. Once you decide to apply to Fitzwilliam, then you will be in contact with Suzy and Vicky, who can offer advice. They may also be able to put you directly in touch with Fitzwilliam postgraduates, either from the course you'd like to study, or perhaps who share your nationality or background.
Often the challenge in funding shorter courses such as MAs comes from the need to gather funding from multiple sources. The Fitz team have expertise in making the most of the funding you already have, and may be able to support you in finding match-funding from sources across the Cambridge network.
Secondly, Fitz has a range of competitive scholarships and support bursaries which may help to fund your course.
10th Term PhD Funding
Fitzwilliam is able to provide up to £3,300 towards the living costs of PhD students whose original source of funding runs out at the end of their third year. This includes self and family funded students. Applications should be made towards the end of the ninth term of study. Funding applies for the tenth term.
Hardship support
All students are eligible to apply for Fitzwilliam College Maintenance Bursaries, which are designed to alleviate moments of specific hardship. Awards are made according to individual circumstances.
The application process will require you to explain why your original sources of finance is no longer available and to discuss this with your Graduate Tutor. Awards are made by the Tutorial Committee, to a maximum of £750 per year, but may typically be £250 or £500.
In exceptional circumstances an award of £1000 can be made. If a postgraduate student has already received an award of £750 or less, and their circumstances remain difficult, they can also apply again within the same academic year.
Masters Studentships and Scholarships
Fitzwilliam has three fully-funded Masters Studentships, as well as range of scholarships to offer part-funding, for both Masters and PhDs. Academic merit is the main criteria for all scholarships.
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Quantedge - LKY Scholarship
Value: One award - Fully-funded (fees and maintenance)
Eligibility:
- All full-time one year Masters courses are eligible, with the exception, MBA, MFin, MRes and PGCE.
- Financially disadvantaged student of Singaporean nationality.
- Applicants may apply to any of the University's colleges as their first choice college. The awardee will be required to transfer college membership to Fitzwilliam College before the start of their course.
Financial Criteria for Quantedge Studentship
Applicants must be:
1. Singaporean citizens.
2. Residing, when at home in Singapore, in a Housing & Development Board (HDB) flat.
3. Recipient and immediate family members staying with the Recipient in the same household must not own any private property in Singapore.
4. Able to demonstrate either one of the following:
a. Genuine financial need with a monthly per capita income (“PCI”) of S$2,250 and below. This is computed by dividing the monthly gross household income by the number of family members living in the same household.
b. Success against adversity, such as by vulnerable socio-economic background, through disability, bereavement, or through being a first-generation undergraduate university student.Closing date for applications: This is the University funding deadline for your course.
How to Apply - tick the box to Opt In to this Studentship on your University Application Form
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Hong Leong - LKY Scholarship
Value: One award - Fully-funded (fees and maintenance)
Eligibility:
- All full-time one year Masters courses are eligible, with the exception of MBA, MFin, MRes and PGCE
- All nationalities and fee status
- There are specific subject area criteria for this Studentship. More information.
- Applicants may apply to any of the University's colleges as their first choice college. The awardee will be required to transfer college membership to Fitzwilliam College before the start of their course.
Closing date for applications: This is the University funding deadline for your course.
How to Apply - tick the box to Opt In to this Studentship on your University Application Form
Shortlisted candidates will be notified in February with online interviews to be held in March.
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Fitzwilliam Charlton Scholarships
Value: Up to five awards at £10,000 each
Eligibility:
- All full-time and part time Masters courses starting Michaelmas Term are eligible, with the exception of MRes, MBA, MFin and PGCE.
- All nationalities and fee status.
- Awards are made on academic merit.
Closing Date: 15 March
- Applicants must have an offer of a place on the course and membership with Fitzwilliam College by the closing date (to meet this criteria, we recommend that the University application is submitted by 3 December).
- It is not possible to transfer Colleges in order to be eligible for this Studentship, but all those who name Fitzwilliam as their first choice, or who are allocated via 2nd choice or random allocation, will be eligible
Application: All those eligible by the closing date will be automatically considered - no application form required. Interviews are held as part of the Masters Studentship competition. Results available May.
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Cleaver-Wang Studentship
Value: 1 award of between £5,000 and £10,000
Eligibility:
- All full-time and part time Masters courses starting Michaelmas Term are eligible, with the exception of MRes, MBA, MFin and PGCE.
- All nationalities and fee status.
- Awards are made on academic merit.
- Preference given to those working across disciplines or with innovative methodologies
Closing Date: 15 March
- Applicants must have an offer of a place on the course and membership with Fitzwilliam College by the closing date (to meet this criteria, we recommend that the University application is submitted by 3 December).
- It is not possible to transfer Colleges in order to be eligible for this Studentship, but all those who name Fitzwilliam as their first choice, or who are allocated via 2nd choice or random allocation, will be eligible
Application: All those eligible by the closing date will be automatically considered - no application form required. Interviews are held as part of the Masters Studentship competition. Results available May.
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Peter Wilson Estates Gazette Studentships
Value: Three awards at £4,000 each or two awards at £6,000.
Eligibility
- All full-time, one year Masters courses that are offered by the Department of Land Economy are eligible.
- One of the Studentships will be prioritised for a Fitzwilliam undergraduate student who is applying for MPhil in Cambridge.
- All nationalities and fee status
Closing date - 31 May
- Applicants must have an offer of a place on the course and membership with Fitzwilliam College by the closing date (to meet this criteria, we recommend that the University application is submitted by 3 December).
- It is not possible to transfer Colleges in order to be eligible for this Studentship, but all those who name Fitzwilliam as their first choice, or who are allocated via 2nd choice or random allocation, will be eligible
Application: All those eligible by the closing date will be automatically considered - no application form required. Interviews are not normally held for this studentship. Results available in June/July.
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Plummer-Pollard Studentship
Value: £3,500
Details: The Plummer-Pollard Student Research Fund was established in 2019, following a donation from Stephen Plummer (Fitz 1966-69 Mechanical Sciences), in memory of his daughter Sally Pollard, a dedicated lecturer and research scientist in the field of Genetics.
Eligibility:
- Full time or Part-time masters degrees starting Michaelmas term
- And whose research explores a topic that is integrally related to the study of genetics
Closing date - 30 April
- Applicants must have an offer of a place on the course and membership with Fitzwilliam College by the closing date (to meet this criteria, we recommend that the University application is submitted by 3 December).
- It is not possible to transfer Colleges in order to be eligible for this Studentship, but all those who name Fitzwilliam as their first choice, or who are allocated via 2nd choice or random allocation, will be eligible
Application: Please contact postgrad.office@fitz.cam.ac.uk by 30 April explaining how your research is linked to the field of genetics.
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Robert Lethbridge Scholarship in Modern Languages
Value: One award of £1,250
Eligibility
- All full-time, one year Masters courses that are offered by the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics are eligible.
- All nationalities and fee status
Closing date - 31 May
- Applicants must have an offer of a place on the course and membership with Fitzwilliam College by the closing date (to meet this criteria, we recommend that the University application is submitted by 3 December).
- It is not possible to transfer Colleges in order to be eligible for this Studentship, but all those who name Fitzwilliam as their first choice, or who are allocated via 2nd choice or random allocation, will be eligible
Application: All those eligible by the closing date will be automatically considered - no application form required. Interviews are not normally held for this studentship. Results available in June/July.
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Scholarships for students studying Theology, or a related topic, or expecting to take holy orders in a Christian church
Please note that one Application Form covers all 3 Scholarships.
Students may re-apply each year they are eligible
Gibson Scholarship
Value: One award of £1,165 - awarded for one year
This scholarship may not be used towards the financial undertaking required for admission to the course.
Eligiblity:
- Applicant should be intending to work towards a doctorate in New Testament Studies
- Students naming Fitzwilliam as first choice are preferred but not exclusively
Deadline is 30 September at 24:00 hours
Hirst-Player Scholarship
Value: One or two awards of up to £2,330 (maximum) - awarded for one year
This scholarship may not be used towards the financial undertaking required for admission to the course.
Eligibility
- Reading for a Degree or a Diploma in Theology.
- Intention to take Holy Orders in a Christian Church preferred.
- Students needing assistance with fees, who would otherwise be unable to study at Cambridge
Deadline is 30 September at 24:00 hours.The results will be available in mid-November
Shipley Scholarship
Value: One award of £1,460 - awarded for one year
This scholarship may not be used towards the financial undertaking required for admission to the course.
Eligibility
- Applicant should be undertaking / intending to undertake research at the Faculty of Divinity.
- Exceptionally, research on a theological topic in another faculty also accepted
Deadline is 30 September at 24:00 hours. The results will be available in mid-November