College Support
This page contains details of financial support for Downing students on a full time course of study only. This can include funds to support your studies, such as reimbursement for books or travel, as well as funds to help you in times of unexpected financial difficulty and hardship. Your Tutor will be able to assist you with your application for the following funds.
Please note: it is not expected for Downing postgraduate students receiving a fully Funded Studentship or a Cambridge Trust Award, such as a Doctoral Training Partnership Award, a Research Funded Award or a Gates Scholarship to apply for College funds. This also includes part-time postgraduate students who are employed, such as EMBA students.
Details of College applications you can make
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COLLEGE APPLICATION
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INFORMATION | APPLICATION PROCESS |
Course materials reimbursement:BOOKS |
The maximum amount awarded in total as a contribution towards your course materials (Books, Music or Other) is normally £300 per registered course. *Please note, undergraduate students who have course changes formally approved by the College's Education Committee are entitled to a further £300 to purchase books and materials for their new course of study.
*This does not apply to students who undertake an intercalated 3rd or 4th year of study in a different subject. |
Applications welcomed from undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Please note: Claims to purchase books that are available in the College Library will not be approved.
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Course materials reimbursement:MUSIC LESSONS |
To assist undergraduates reading Music, College will make a contribution of up to £420 (Year 1), £500 (Year 2) or £700 (Year 3) towards the cost of vocal or instrumental tuition if taking the recital option as part of the Music Tripos. |
Applications welcomed from undergraduate students only.
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Course materials reimbursement:OTHER |
The maximum amount awarded in total as a contribution towards your Course Materials (Books, Music or Other) is normally £300 per registered course. *Please note, students who have course changes formally approved by the College's Education Committee are entitled to a further £300 to purchase books and materials for their new course of study. Claims to purchase books that are available in the College Library will not be approved.
**An additional contribution of up to £300 from College can be applied for to assist with a repair or purchase for a laptop.
*This does not apply to students who undertake an intercalated 3rd or 4th year of study in a different subject. |
Applications welcomed from undergraduate and postgraduate students.
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Help with unexpected financial difficulties(previously known as hardship funds) |
Applications can be made by Undergraduate and Postgraduate students at any time of the academic year. The maximum amount awarded is normally no more than £500 per term. Postgraduates who may overrun with their thesis completion/submissions due to acceptable reasons may apply. In addition, if you are a postgraduate student who has incurred costs as a result of having problems with your English, and if you can demonstrate these costs have placed you in financial difficulties, you may also apply. |
Applications welcomed from undergraduate and postgraduate students.
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BAME Solidarity FundTo assist undergraduate students of colour with their welfare, by contributing towards the cost of mental health support. |
This fund of £5000 was established by the JCR, in response to the Black Lives Matter protests of Summer 2020, and the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on communities of colour. Applications can be made at any time until the fund is depleted. Students can claim up to £50 per application.
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Applications welcomed from undergraduate students only.
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The LGBT+ Fund |
This fund of £1500 was established by the JCR to support the wellbeing of LGBT+ students at Downing and can be applied to for therapy costs, gender affirming clothes, travel to clinics etc. Anyone who identifies as LGBT+ can apply. The fund is £1,500 which is the largest out of all LGBT+ specific funds in Cambridge colleges. There is currently a cap of £50 per individual applicant. |
Applications welcomed from undergraduate students only.
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Language course reimbursement |
Applications are considered when a student has enrolled and paid for a course on the Cambridge University Language Programme (CULP), or via another agreed route. Please note that applications can be considered for up to half the cost of any agreed course but will need to be repaid if the course is not completed or the course is not passed. The maximum amount one student can claim in an academic year would not normally exceed £250. |
Applications welcomed from undergraduate and postgraduate students.
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Travel expenses reimbursementPlease note, claims for the cost of accommodation, conference registration fees, as well as travel expenses, will be considered.
*Undergraduates: see table below
**Postgraduates: see table below |
Grants from the University are sometimes available on application to relevant University Departments or Faculties to help with the cost of certain courses or field-work/internships organised by Departments and Faculties, or with travel abroad which is deemed necessary for the particular University course being followed. Please consult the list of approved vacation courses, which is also known as the 'Pink List', to first determine if you are eligible to apply for funding from your Department or Faculty. Courses appearing on this list are not eligible for support from the College. |
Applications are open all year and are welcomed from undergraduate and postgraduate students.
*Undergraduate applications submitted to College are divided into three categories: A: Academic; B: Academically related; and C: Non-academic. Please note, category B applications may be upgraded to the category A rate should the Vacation Study or Travel Grant make up less than a quarter of the projected total costs. This only applies if no other external funding is obtained. Category A grants awarded may be increased at the Senior Tutor's discretion.
**Postgraduate applications submitted are allocated according to the table below. |
*Travel expenses reimbursement for Undergraduates per course of study
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CATEGORY
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A | B | C |
| Europe | £450 | £300 | £0 |
| Outside Europe | £750 | £600 | £0 |
**Travel expenses reimbursement for Postgraduates per course of study
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COURSE
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NON-EUROPE | EUROPE | UK | MAXIMUM |
| Clinical Medicine or Veterinary Studies | £600 | £500 | £300 | £600 |
| MPhil | £300 | £200 | £200 | £300 |
| PhD | £700 | £500 | £300 | £700 |
Other College funds subject to application
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Name and purpose
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Eligibility and typical amount awarded | Application information |
|---|---|---|
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Charlie Ellington Fund [Small grants to undertake field trips and laboratory-based research outside of Term] |
Current undergraduate reading Part IA, IB or Part II of the Natural Sciences Tripos in Biological Sciences
At least two awards of up to a maximum of £1,000 £1,000* |
Apply by 24 March 2023 |
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John Butterfield Harvard Award Harvard University [Summer School Course, Visiting Student Programme, Masters' or Doctor's Programme, or any other appropriate academic course qualifies] |
Current undergraduate or postgraduate
At least one award of up to a maximum of £5,000 £4,290* |
Apply by 21 April 2023 |
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John Maples America Fund United States of America [Travel and maintenance costs of a summer placement, internship, or other vacation study project in the US in the broad area of business, law, politics or international relations] |
Current undergraduate, postgraduate or just graduated
At least one Scholarship of up to a maximum of £2,000 £2,000* |
Apply by 21 April 2023 |
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The Matthews/McKinley Travel Fund North America [Travel costs and registration fees to attend an academic conference to either present a poster or give an oral presentation in the fields of Chemical Engineering, Engineering or Natural Sciences, although not exclusively] |
Current undergraduate or postgraduate
At least one award of up to a total of £800.00 £670.00* |
Apply by 21 April 2023 |
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Oon Khye Beng Ch'hia Tsio Grants [Small project grants to assist research in any aspect of Preventive Medicine] |
Current undergraduate or postgraduate |
Apply by 19 May 2023 |
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Oon, Percy Lander and Treherne [Studentships to fund a specific research or training need in Preventative Medicine] |
Current postgraduate entering the 2nd or 3rd year of their PhD studies At least one Studentship £1,500 [Percy Lander and Treherne] £2,000 [Oon] |
Apply by 21 July 2023 |
The College also offers a number of Bursaries, Scholarships and Studentships to fund the cost of courses commencing in the 2023-2024 academic year; either in part or in full, to enable students to continue their education in the following subject areas:
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Name and purpose
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Eligibility and typical amount awarded | Application information |
|---|---|---|
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Angharad Dodds John Bursary in Mental Health and Neuropsychiatry [Residence costs to enable student to undertake further research and scholarship for an additional year in Cambridge] |
Current postgraduate in the University of Cambridge entering the final 3rd or 4th year of their PhD studies
One award of £12,500 to assist with residence costs post-submission |
Apply by 5 May 2023 |
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Glynn Jones Scholarship in Business and Management Education [The cost or part-cost of a postgraduate course at Cambridge University or other institution in this country or abroad of not more than two years' duration] |
Current undergraduate, postgraduate or alumni
At least one partially or fully-funded scholarship £14,070* |
Apply by 30 May 2023 |
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John Whitworth Postgraduate Studentship in Natural Sciences or Geography [Fully-funded postgraduate course to the level of home fees]
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Current undergraduate, postgraduate or alumni |
Apply by 31 May 2022 |
As well as the above courses, the College also offers a number of entry level Scholarships and Studentships to fund the cost of courses, either in part or in full, which are administered and awarded externally, as follows:
Cambridge UK Masters' Scholarships - The Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trust
Applicants from the UK, with 'home' fee status, applying for MPhil programmes in the following subjects will be eligible for these awards, provided they
- Apply by the Graduate Funding deadline for their chosen course of study, and be offered conditional admission to the University of Cambridge;
- Tick the box to apply for funding, and fill in the Cambridge Trust section of the online form, as part of their application for admission through the University's Applicant Portal.
Therefore, in summary, to be eligible for consideration in the Graduate Funding Competition, an application to study and supporting documents need to be submitted via the above Applicant Portal by the relevant deadlines, as well as completing the funding section to indicate that you wish to be considered for funding. Awards are made automatically by the Cambridge Trust as part of this process.
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Name and purpose
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Eligibility and typical amount awarded | Application information |
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Alf Monk Studentship in English [Partially-funded Masters' course at Downing] |
UK applicants with 'Home' fee status for one-year MPhil course of study One studentship of £12,000 [£6,000 paid by College, £6,000 paid by the Isaac Newton Trust] |
Variable funding deadlines dependent upon application subject No separate application form required, assessed as part of the Masters' application process via the Graduate Funding Competition |
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Percy Lander Studentship in Medical Sciences with a preference for Cancer/Chemotherapy [Partially-funded Masters' course at Downing] |
UK applicants with 'Home' fee status for one-year MPhil course of study One studentship of £12,000 [£6,000 paid by College, £6,000 paid by the Isaac Newton Trust] |
Variable funding deadlines dependent upon application subject No separate application form required, assessed as part of the Masters' application process via the Graduate Funding Competition |
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Robson Studentship in Electrical Sciences [Partially-funded Masters' course at Downing]
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UK applicants with 'Home' fee status for one-year MPhil course of study One studentship of £12,000 [£6,000 paid by College, £6,000 paid by the Isaac Newton Trust] |
Variable funding deadlines dependent upon application subject No separate application form required, assessed as part of the Masters' application process via the Graduate Funding Competition |
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Sutcliffe Studentship in Maritime Archaeology [Partially-funded Masters' course at Downing] |
UK applicants with 'Home' fee status for one-year MPhil course of study One studentship of £12,000 [£6,000 paid by College, £6,000 paid by the Isaac Newton Trust] |
Variable funding deadlines dependent upon application subject No separate application form required, assessed as part of the Masters' application process via the Graduate Funding Competition |
The following competitions will only be advertised and opened for student applications by College should an award not be made as part of the above process by the Cambridge Trust in any given year:
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Name and purpose
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Eligibility and typical amount awarded | Application information |
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Alf Monk Studentship in English [Partially-funded Postgraduate course] |
Undergraduate, postgraduate or alumni [Conditional upon the recipient becoming a member of Downing if not already a member] One studentship of up to £6,000 £5,500* [mean over 4 years] |
Currently Closed Historic award information [Please note, this competition will only open for applications in a given year if funds remain unallocated by the Graduate Funding Competition above] |
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Robson Studentship in Electrical Sciences [Partially-funded Postgraduate course]
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Undergraduate, postgraduate or alumni [Conditional upon the recipient becoming a member of Downing, if not already a member] At least one Studentship up to a maximum of £11,000 £4,000* [mean over 4 years] |
Currently Closed Historic award information [Please note, this competition will only open for applications in a given year if funds remain unallocated by the Graduate Funding Competition above] |
The Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trust also administer the following awards on behalf of the College:
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Name and purpose
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Eligibility and typical amount awarded | Application information |
|---|---|---|
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Stephen Fleet Scholarship in any subject area [Honorary title bestowed in memory of Stephen Fleet, the former Master of Downing and Treasurer of the Cambridge Trust] |
Cambridge Trust award holder at Downing [Not a funded Scholarship]
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No separate application form required, assessed as part of the application process via the Graduate Funding Competition |
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The Tazaki Cambridge Studentships in Computer Science or other related subjects with a strong Computer Science element [Fully-funded Postgraduate course]
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Japanese nationals [Eligible students in any College (or none) at the University of Cambridge and not conditional upon the recipient becoming a member of Downing] At least one fully-funded Studentship |
Currently Closed
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The Department of Plant Sciences administer the following award with the College as part of their admissions' process:
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Name and purpose
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Eligibility and typical amount awarded | Application information |
|---|---|---|
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Ralph Lewin - F E Fritsch Prize Studentship in Phycology (the study of algae) [Fully-funded Postgraduate course at the Department of Plant Sciences] |
UK and EU applicants with a 'Home' fee status intending to register for the PhD Degree in the Department of Plant Sciences
One fully-funded studentship, tenable for up to three years [All College and University Fees, as well as a contribution towards research expenses and a living allowance] £20,406* in 2014-2015 |
Variable funding deadlines dependent upon application subject via the Graduate Funding Competition Please contact the Graduate Student Administrator at the Department of Plant Sciences for further information |
The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission administers the following award as a Marshall Scholarship on behalf of the College:
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Name and purpose
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Eligibility and typical amount awarded | Application information |
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Parke Davis Studentship in Biological Science [Fully-funded postgraduate course at Downing] |
Available to citizens of the United States (at the time of application) with an 'Overseas' fee status for a postgraduate course of study. |
Closing date is early October of year preceding tenure Please contact the Marshall Scholarship Administrator for further information |
Jardine Foundation Scholarships administered by the Jardine Foundation:
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Name and purpose
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Eligibility and typical amount awarded | Application information |
|---|---|---|
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Jardine Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship Undergraduate course at Downing [non-subject specific] |
Undergraduate offer holder [Applicants must be resident in any of the countries or territories in which the Jardine Matheson Group has significant business interests]
Fully-funded scholarships [to cover the range of fees and expenses necessary to support studies] |
Jardine Foundation Re-opens for applications in mid-August 2022 for 2023 awards |
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Jardine Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship Postgraduate course at Downing [non-subject specific] |
Postgraduate offer holder [Applicants must be resident in any of the countries or territories in which the Jardine Matheson Group has significant business interests]
One scholarship [sufficient to cover University and College fees and an annual stipend to cover accommodation costs, reasonable living expenses, UK Immigration Health Surcharge and travel expenses to and from College at the beginning and end of the course] |
[Application documents will be emailed to eligible candidates in February/March; completed forms should be emailed to the Postgraduate Admissions Tutor at Downing College]
Closing date: 16 March 2023
Please contact the Jardine Foundation for further queries |
Other College funding by Course not subject to application
Subject and fund name
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Information
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Typical amount awarded |
Application process |
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ECONOMICS Ivor Evans Fund |
To assist undergraduates reading Economics from certain maintained schools in West Wales Criteria is widened to all subjects and the whole of Wales if no eligible undergraduates in the above category |
Up to £1200 per annum is distributed equally between qualifying students | No Application Form - Awarded automatically in the Michaelmas Term |
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ENGLISH Denham Fund |
To assist undergraduates reading English with a contribution towards the purchase of academic books relevant to the course |
Year 1 [ELP1] - Amount per student to be confirmed Year 2 [ELT1] - Amount per student to be confirmed Year 3 [ELT2] - Amount per student to be confirmed |
No Application Form - Each student coming into residence in the Michaelmas Term will be considered to receive the amount specified in a specific year |
