The University of Cambridge, UK is ranked the number 1 university in the world according to QS World Ranking 2011/2012 followed by Harvard University, USA.
The University of Cambridge is one of the oldest universities in the world and one of the largest in the United Kingdom. Its reputation for outstanding academic achievement is known world-wide and reflects the intellectual achievement of its students. These high standards are the result of both the learning opportunities offered at Cambridge and by its extensive resources, including libraries, museums and other collections.
There are 31 Colleges in Cambridge. Three are for women (New Hall, Newnham and Lucy Cavendish) and two admit only graduates (Clare Hall and Darwin). The remainder house and teach all students enrolled in courses of study or research at the University. Each College is an independent institution with its own property and income.
About Scholarships and Financial Awards for international students at University of Cambridge
The Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and the Cambridge Overseas Trust are both established as charities by the University of Cambridge UK in the 1980s to provide financial support for international students on degree courses at Cambridge.
The aim of the Trusts is to enable candidates of outstanding academic merit, who would not otherwise be able to take up places at Cambridge, to pursue courses of study or research. Awards are offered to selected students at PhD, Masters and undergraduate level in all subjects, and at all 31 Colleges of the University of Cambridge. Awards, which include both full-cost and part-cost scholarships, are made only at the beginning of a course of study, and continue for the duration of the course.
Some scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit alone. Most scholarship schemes also take account of financial need.
To be considered for an award by the Trusts you must be admitted by the University as a student.
Finding the Financial Support for you
If you plan to start a degree course at the University of Cambridge, and are from a country outside the European Union, use the tool from this link on country specific awards to see a list of scholarships for which you are eligible:
Please read the details of eligibility carefully.
Nationality
Applicants may be of any nationality including Africa except that of the UK and EU
Applicants must be liable to pay University fees at the Overseas Rate. To find out more about your fee status, see information for undergraduates and for postgraduates.
Subject
Applicants may study any subject currently available at the University.
Application and Admission
Applicants must be admitted to the University of Cambridge through the normal academic procedures. The Trusts have no role in the admission of applicants to study at the University, and are not able to influence the chances of an applicant being offered a place.
The University sets minimum standards – check the requirements for undergraduates and for postgraduates.
Check the information on application deadlines for undergraduates and postgraduates.
Equality
The Trusts are committed to equality of opportunity, and no applicant will be treated less favourably than another on the grounds of gender, marital or parental status, race, ethnic or national origin, colour, disability, sexual orientation, religion or age. The primary consideration in the selection of Scholars will be applicants’ ability to meet the selection criteria for each scholarship.
Disabled students who receive scholarships from the Trusts may be eligible for supplementary funding to assist with additional costs, e.g. necessary adjustments in the study environment.
List of Scholarships at University of Cambridge UK
Your application for funding will be considered first on the basis of financial need, and second on academic strength and potential. Some of these scholarships are not offered annually but like once in three years.
IDB Cambridge International Scholarship
Degree: PhD
Subject: Science, Technology
Value:
University Composition Fee
College Fee
Annual stipend sufficient for a single student
One return economy airfare
This scholarship is available for citizens of members countries of the Islamic Development Bank
Boustany Scholarship in Astronomy
Degree: PhD
Subject: Astronomy
Scholars are required to spend a 2-month internship at the Boustany Foundation
Value:
University Composition Fee
College Fee
Annual stipend
All expenses relating to internship
Successful applicants will become members of Pembroke College.
The scholarship is offered once every three years, and is available for citizens of any country outside the EU.
St Edmund’s Duke of Edinburgh Scholarship
Degree: PhD
Subject: All
Scholars should become members of St Edmund’s College.
Scholars should already be in receipt of a scholarship from the Cambridge Trusts or some other public source.
Value:
£2000
Available for citizens of any country outside the EU
Cambridge International Scholarship
Degree: PhD
Subject: All
These scholarships are offered to candidates who are highly ranked by their prospective Departments within the University, and are awarded on the basis of academic ability and research potential, examination results, and references. The financial situation of candidates does not affect selection.
Value:
University Composition Fee
College Fee
Annual stipend sufficient for a single student
This scholarship is only available for citizens of countries outside the EU.
Commonwealth Shared Cambridge Scholarship
Degree: 1 year postgraduate
Subject:
Development Studies
Economics
Education
Engineering for Sustainable Development
Environmental Policy
Law
Modern Society and Global Transformation
Planning, Growth and Regeneration
Public Health
Technology Policy
Value:
University Composition Fee
College Fee
Annual stipend sufficient for a single student
One return economy airfare
Cambridge Assessment Scholarship
Degree: 1 year postgraduate
Subject:
English Language
Applied Linguistics
Education
Scholars must hold a 1st class degree or equivalent from a recognised university
Value:
University Composition Fee
College Fee
This scholarship is available to citizens of any country outside the EU and Switzerland
Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship
Degree: All
Subject: Any
Value: £6000 or £12,000 per annum, depending on level of degree and financial need
These scholarships are only available for citizens of countries that are members of the Commonwealth.
Hamilton Cambridge International Scholarship
Degree: PhD
Subject: Any subject
Value:
University Composition Fee
College Fee
Annual stipend sufficient for a single student
This scholarship is available for citizens of any country outside the EU.
Smuts Cambridge Scholarship
Degree: PhD
Subject:
Any topic that relates to a Commonwealth country or countries (excluding the UK), normally in the fields of Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences
Value:
University Composition Fee
College Fee
Annual stipend (sufficient for a single person)
Churchill Gulbenkian Studentship
Degree: PhD
Subject: Any subject
Candidates should nominate Churchill as their first choice College.
Value:
University Composition Fee
College Fee
Annual stipend sufficient for a single person(the value may vary if a candidate receives additional funding from other sources)
This scholarship is available for citizens of any country outside the UK, but only applications from outside the EU will be eligible for co-funding by the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust or Cambridge Overseas Trust.
This scholarship may be awarded triennially (once every 3 years)
Churchill Pfizer Studentship
Degree: PhD
Subject:
Biological Sciences
Biochemistry
Candidates should nominate Churchill as their first choice College.
Value:
University Composition Fee
College Fee
Annual stipend sufficient for a single person(the value may vary if a candidate receives additional funding from other sources)
This scholarship is available for citizens of any country outside the UK, but only applications from outside the EU will be eligible for co-funding by the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust or Cambridge Overseas Trust.
This scholarship is not awarded annually.
Corpus Christi ACE Scholarship
Degree: 1 year postgraduate
Subject:
Fields of conservation, development and environment
Scholars must be offered a place at Corpus Christi College
The scholarships are mainly for candidates from the developing world, and preference may be given to candidates from Eastern Europe
Value:
University Composition Fee
College Fee
Annual stipend sufficient for a single student
This scholarship is available for citizens of any country outside the EU.
Hughes Hall Cambridge International Scholarship
Degree: PhD
Subject:
Any subject
Applicants should be currently studying for a one-year postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge, and should be members of Hughes Hall
Value:
University Composition Fee
College Fee
Annual stipend sufficient for a single student
This scholarship is available for citizens of any country outside the EU.
LMB Cambridge Scholarship
Degree: PhD
Subject:
Molecular Biology
Value:
University Composition Fee
College Fee
Annual stipend sufficient for a single student
Contribution towards travel costs
Initial application must be made to the University of Cambridge via the normal Graduate Admission and Scholarship Application Form. Candidates for an LMB Cambridge Scholarship will subsequently be sent a request for further information.
Nanoscience/Engineering Cambridge Scholarship
Degree: PhD
Subject:
Nanoscience
Engineering
Value:
University Composition Fee
College Fee
Annual stipend sufficient for a single student
Contribution towards travel costs
This scholarship is available for citizens of any country outside the EU.
Pembroke African Scholarship
Degree: BA
Subject: All
Applicants should have been educated fully or mainly within the African school system.
Applicants should require significant financial assistance in order to study at the University of Cambridge
Value:
University Composition Fee
College Fee
Annual stipend
This scholarship is available for citizens of any country in Africa.
Founded in 1347, Pembroke College is one of the University of Cambridge’s oldest and most attractive colleges.
Queens’ College Abba Eban Scholarship
Degree: One year taught postgraduate
Subject:
International Relations
Oriental Studies
History or related fields with special reference to the area of Middle Eastern studies
Applicants should select Queens’ College as their first choice college.
Applicants should require financial assistance to study at the University of Cambridge.
Value:
Up to £3000
This scholarship is available to citizens of all countries outside the EU.
Queens’ College John Lawrence Scholarship
Degree: PhD
Subject: Any
Applicants should select Queens’ College as their first-choice college.
Applicants should require financial assistance to study at the University of Cambridge.
Value:
University Composition Fee
College
Annual stipend (sufficient for a single student)
This scholarship is available to citizens of countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Schlumberger Cambridge International Scholarship
Degree: PhD
Subject:
Applications are invited in subjects relevant to the work of the Schlumberger Cambridge Research Center
Value:
University Composition Fee
College Fee
Annual stipend sufficient for a single student
This scholarship is available for citizens of any country outside the EU.
Wolfson Cambridge Scholarship
Degree: Mainly for undergraduates, though one-year postgraduates may be considered
Subject: Any
Value:
£6,000 or £12,000
This scholarship is available to citizens of any country outside the EU.
For Undergraduate Applicants
The Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and Cambridge Overseas Trust provide a large number of part-cost scholarships to undergraduate students at Cambridge who are from outside the European Union. A small number of full-cost scholarships are also provided, in conjunction with funding partners, for students of certain nationalities.
For Postgraduate Applicants
The Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and Cambridge Overseas Trust provide a large number of full- and part-cost scholarships to students at Cambridge from outside the European Union (including Africa).
See Scholarship page for more details