University of Cambridge Scholarships 2026: Amount and Eligibility

University of Cambridge Scholarships 2026: Amount and Eligibility

Cambridge, EnglandLocation
UniversitySchool type
Estd1209established year
21045enrollment
Public
7.9/10
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Study Abroad Team

Updated on - Aug 10, 2026

University of Cambridge offers over 200 scholarship schemes for postgraduates, of which 40+ are accessible to Indian applicants.Cambridge funding combines central Cambridge Trust awards, Gates Cambridge full rides, college bursaries and India-specific named awards backed by alumni.

  • Standard 2026-27 tuition (international): Undergraduate £25,734 to £67,194 (INR 32.9 to 86 Lakhs); Master’s £29,865 to £45,000+ (INR 38.2 to 57.6 Lakhs)
  • With a Cambridge Trust part-cost award: Tuition liability drops by 50 to 100 percent; college fees of about £13,000 (INR 16.6 Lakhs) remain
  • With a Gates or Trust full award: All tuition, college fees, £21,000 (INR 26.9 Lakhs) annual stipend plus airfare and visa are covered
  • Next major deadline: Cambridge Trust and Gates international round is tentatively December 3, 2026 to January 6, 2027, course dependent

Currency Note: All INR conversions use the live rate of 1 GBP = INR 128 as of August 2026. "Part-cost" awards fund partial tuition; "full-cost" awards fund tuition plus college fees plus a maintenance stipend.


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University of Cambridge Fees


University of Cambridge Scholarships for UG Students

Cambridge funds Indian undergraduates through the Cambridge Trust Undergraduate Scholarship and individual college bursaries, both awarded after an admission offer is confirmed.

Full undergraduate rides for international applicants are rare at Cambridge. Most Indian UG admits combine a Trust part-cost award with a college bursary and a family contribution.

Scholarship Coverage Eligibility (Indian) Deadline (2027 entry)
Cambridge Trust Undergraduate Scholarship Part-cost, up to full tuition of £25,734 to £67,194 (INR 32.9 to 86 Lakhs) Indian nationals holding a Cambridge UG offer; financial need assessed Tentative March 2027, after admission decision
Newton Trust Bursary (need-based) Living-cost grant of £500 to £5,000 (INR 64,000 to 6.4 Lakhs) per year Cambridge UG offer holders with documented household income constraints Tentative April 2027, aligned with the offer window
Individual College Bursaries (Trinity, King’s, St John’s, others) £1,000 to £8,000 (INR 1.28 to 10.24 Lakhs) per academic year Varies by college; some ring-fenced for Indian nationals Confirmed on the offer letter; typically May 2027

Applicants must apply through UCAS by tentative October 15, 2026 for 2027 entry. Scholarship consideration follows only after the college issues a written offer.


University of Cambridge Scholarships for PG / Master’s Students

Cambridge PG scholarships fall into three groups:

  • Gates full awards: Approximately 80 international scholarships annually, roughly one-third going to taught Master’s candidates
  • Cambridge Trust schemes: Part-cost and full-cost awards administered centrally; no separate application needed
  • College and subject top-ups: Discretionary awards from your college or department, added to a Trust award
Scholarship Coverage Eligibility (Indian) Deadline (2027 entry)
Gates Cambridge Scholarship (Master’s) Full tuition, £21,000 stipend (INR 26.88 Lakhs), airfare, visa, £2,000 academic development, up to £16,548 (INR 21.18 Lakhs) family allowance Applying to an eligible one-year Master’s; strong leadership evidence and a First Class degree Tentative January 6, 2027 (international round, course dependent)
Cambridge Trust Masters Studentship Part-cost tuition support of £5,000 to £25,000 (INR 6.4 to 32 Lakhs) Indian admits to a taught Master’s; automatically considered Tentative December 3, 2026 (Trust deadline)
Vice-Chancellor’s Award Full tuition plus college fee plus maintenance stipend Top-ranked international admits across MPhil applicants; no separate form Automatic on admission; tentative January 6, 2027
Boustany MBA Cambridge Scholarship 75 percent of MBA tuition (£64,687, INR 82.8 Lakhs) plus Monaco internship travel and lodging Open to all nationalities; Judge MBA offer holder Tentative March 2027 (awarded biennially; next round Autumn 2028 intake)
Forté Foundation Fellowship (Judge MBA) Additional stipend; must already hold another Cambridge award to qualify Women MBA admits at Cambridge Judge Business School Tentative April 2027, alongside MBA admission rounds
Cambridge MBA Distinction Awards £15,000 to £32,000 (INR 19.2 to 40.96 Lakhs) toward MBA tuition Merit-based, all nationalities; no separate application required Automatic on MBA offer; tentative rolling through May 2027

Most Cambridge Trust awards need no separate application. Indian applicants are considered automatically once the graduate admission form reaches the Trust by its coursework deadline.

Reddit Insight: Indian applicants who won Trust support say filing the graduate admission by the tentative December 3, 2026 Trust deadline (not the later course deadline of early January 2027) sharply raises shortlist odds, since an earlier review pool opens.

Explore More: Cambridge Admissions for Indians |


India-Specific Scholarships at University of Cambridge

Cambridge runs five named scholarships open only to Indian applicants, funded by alumni endowments and Government of India partnerships.

Scholarship Coverage Eligibility (Indian) Deadline (2027 entry)
Dr Manmohan Singh PhD Scholarships Full tuition, college fee, £21,000 (INR 26.88 Lakhs) maintenance stipend and return airfare Indian national under 35 with a First Class Master’s; St John’s College PhD admit in STEM, Economics or Social Sciences Tentative December 3, 2026
Inlaks Shivdasani Cambridge Scholarship Up to USD 100,000 (INR 83 Lakhs) toward tuition, living and travel Indian resident under 30 with a Cambridge Master’s admit; no prior US or UK graduate degree Tentative April 2027 (Inlaks India round)
Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Cambridge Scholarship Full tuition plus college fee plus maintenance stipend Indian national admitted to a Cambridge PhD in any subject Tentative December 3, 2026
Prathiba M Singh Cambridge Scholarship Full tuition plus maintenance stipend for the one-year LLM Indian applicant admitted to the LLM with an Intellectual Property Law focus Tentative January 6, 2027
Pemanda Monappa Scholarship Variable tuition top-up of £5,000 to £15,000 (INR 6.4 to 19.2 Lakhs) Domicile in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu or Telangana; UG or PG offer holder Tentative December 3, 2026

The Dr Manmohan Singh Scholarships have selected only 19 Indian PhD candidates over the past ten years. Selection strongly favours applicants with published research and a clear post-PhD India-focused agenda.


University of Cambridge PhD Scholarships

PhD funding for Indian students at Cambridge is dominated by four full-cost schemes, each covering tuition, college fee, maintenance stipend and travel for three to four years.

Scholarship Coverage Eligibility (Indian) Deadline (2027 entry)
Gates Cambridge Scholarship (PhD) Full tuition, £21,000 (INR 26.88 Lakhs) annual stipend for up to 4 years, airfare and visa; total value approximately £150,000 (INR 192 Lakhs) Two-thirds of the 80 annual international Gates awards go to PhD candidates Tentative January 6, 2027 (course-specific)
Cambridge International Scholarship (PhD) Full tuition plus college fee plus the UKRI-linked stipend of £20,780 (INR 26.6 Lakhs) per year for 3 to 4 years Indian applicants ranked in the top tier by their department; no separate form Tentative December 3, 2026
Cambridge Trust PhD Full-Cost Award Full tuition plus college fee plus maintenance stipend; often co-funded with a UKRI Doctoral Training Partnership Indian PhD admits; auto-considered on the admission form Tentative December 3, 2026
Dr Manmohan Singh PhD Scholarships Full tuition plus college fee plus stipend and return airfare; ring-fenced for St John’s College Indian national under 35 with a First Class Master’s in STEM, Economics or Social Sciences Tentative December 3, 2026

A funded PhD offer letter is a hard prerequisite for the UK Student visa. Self-funded PhD candidates must instead document £45,000+ (INR 57.6 Lakhs) in liquid reserves at visa stage.

Reddit Insight: Indian PhD scholars who won Gates say a statement tied to a UN Sustainable Development Goal, plus two aligned recommenders, matter more than a fractional GPA gap. Sub-3.7/4.0 GPAs have won when research fit is exceptional.


External Government Scholarships for University of Cambridge Applicants

Three external routes fund Indian students at Cambridge: UK Government Chevening, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and Indian Government awards for reserved-category or returning-scholar applicants.

Scholarship Coverage Eligibility (Indian) Deadline (2027 entry)
Chevening Scholarship (UK FCDO) Full tuition, £1,093 (INR 1.40 Lakh) monthly stipend, airfare, visa and arrival allowance Indian citizen with 2,800+ hours of work experience, 2:1 bachelor’s equivalent, unconditional Cambridge Master’s offer by July 9, 2027 October 6, 2026 (confirmed for the 2027-28 cycle)
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship (India) Full tuition, £1,452 (INR 1.86 Lakh) monthly stipend for scholars outside London, airfare and a thesis grant Indian citizen with a high 2:1 bachelor’s; prioritises applicants from lower-income households Tentative mid-October 2026 (nominating body: Ministry of Education, India)
British Council GREAT Scholarship Minimum £10,000 (INR 12.8 Lakhs) tuition contribution Indian passport, PG admission at a partner UK university; Cambridge subject participation varies year on year Tentative March 2027 (course-linked)
Inspire Fellowship (DST, Government of India) Full PhD funding for Indian citizens returning to Indian research institutes on completion Indian applicant with a Cambridge PhD offer, agreeing to return-service in India Tentative March 2027 (JRF annual round)
Indian Government National Overseas Scholarship (reserved-category) Full tuition, £15,400 (INR 19.7 Lakhs) annual stipend and airfare Indian SC/ST/DNT applicant with family income below INR 8 Lakhs; PG or PhD admit at Cambridge Tentative March 2027 (Ministry of Social Justice annual round)

Explore More: Cambridge Rankings for Indians

Chevening is not stackable with other UK Government scholarships. It may be combined with a Cambridge Trust top-up covering the college fees that Chevening does not fund.


Frequently Asked Questions

Ques. What is the maximum scholarship funding an Indian student can stack at University of Cambridge?

Ans. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship for a PhD stacks to approximately £150,000 (INR 192 Lakhs) over four years. It covers full tuition, £21,000 (INR 26.88 Lakhs) annual stipend, college fees, airfare, visa, £2,000 academic development funding, and a family allowance of up to £16,548 (INR 21.18 Lakhs) if dependants travel.

Ques. When should Indian applicants apply for University of Cambridge scholarships for 2027 entry?

Ans. File the graduate admission by the tentative December 3, 2026 Cambridge Trust deadline to be automatically considered for Trust and India-specific awards. Gates Cambridge international round closes tentatively on January 6, 2027, course dependent. Chevening applications for 2027-28 close October 6, 2026, before you hold a Cambridge offer.

Ques. Do I need a separate scholarship application at University of Cambridge?

Ans. No, for most Cambridge Trust and college awards. Submitting the graduate admission form auto-enters you into scholarship consideration. Gates Cambridge requires a supplementary section within the same Applicant Portal. India-specific awards like Dr Manmohan Singh, Inlaks and Nehru Memorial each have separate application windows managed by their trustees.

Ques. What GPA does an Indian student need for a Cambridge Trust or Gates scholarship?

Ans. Cambridge does not publish a fixed cutoff. Successful Indian Master’s applicants typically hold a First Class bachelor’s (60 percent+ from IITs and IIMs, 75 percent+ from other Indian universities). Gates PhD winners usually show a First Class Master’s plus two research publications or comparable leadership evidence.

Ques. How does the Dr Manmohan Singh Scholarship work for Indian PhD applicants?

Ans. The Dr Manmohan Singh Scholarship funds three to four Indian PhD candidates each year at St John’s College, Cambridge. It provides full tuition, college fee, maintenance stipend and return airfare across the PhD duration. Eligible subjects are STEM, Economics and Social Sciences; applicants must be under 35 with a First Class Master’s degree.

Ques. Does a Cambridge scholarship cover the full cost of living in Cambridge for Indian students?

Ans. Yes, for Gates and full Cambridge Trust awards. The £21,000 (INR 26.88 Lakhs) annual stipend clears the University’s estimated £13,296 (INR 17.02 Lakhs) minimum living cost for single students, leaving headroom for study travel. Part-cost Trust awards leave a gap of £8,000 to £15,000 (INR 10.24 to 19.2 Lakhs) per year, which Indian families typically bridge through education loans.

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.

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 By Collegedunia’s Personal AI

Scholarships offered

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

The Dr. Manmohan Singh Scholarships


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

Benavitch Scholarships


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

S
7.7 /10

  • 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

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

PD
8.0 /10

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

Y
7.8 /10

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

Scholarship

No

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

A
6.3 /10

Scholarship

NA

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

S
8.8 /10

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

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