Cambridge International Scholarship 2027/28

Applications are open for the Cambridge International Scholarship 2027/28, a full-cost University of Cambridge PhD award for outstanding international applicants. The scholarship is administered by the Cambridge Trust and covers the international University tuition fee, maintenance for a single person, the student visa cost and the Immigration Health Surcharge. There is no separate scholarship form: applicants must apply for an eligible Cambridge PhD, request funding in the Applicant Portal and submit the complete course application by the funding deadline shown for that course.

Cambridge International Scholarship 2027/28 at a glance

Host: University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Level: PhD
Eligible applicants: Overseas-fee-status applicants from countries other than the United Kingdom and Ireland
Funding: Full-cost support: international University tuition fee, annual maintenance for a single person, student visa cost and Immigration Health Surcharge
Number of awards: Approximately 60
Study mode: Full-time or part-time on eligible PhD courses
Application route: Cambridge postgraduate admission application; no separate scholarship application
Main funding deadlines: 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on the chosen course
Deadline time: 23:59 GMT

What does the Cambridge International Scholarship cover?

The official Cambridge Trust listing describes this as a full-cost scholarship. For 2027/28, the award includes the international University tuition fee, annual maintenance sufficient for a single person, the cost of the UK student visa and the Immigration Health Surcharge. Applicants should not insert an unofficial fixed stipend figure into their financial planning: the Trust’s current public listing describes maintenance by purpose rather than publishing one universal cash amount.

The scholarship is designed for the normal funded period of the eligible PhD. The exact value therefore depends on the course, fee status and duration. Applicants should also check the scholarship listing and their course page for any exclusions or conditions.

Who is eligible?

You may be considered if you:

are applying for a PhD at the University of Cambridge for 2027/28 entry;
have overseas fee status and are from a country other than the UK or Ireland;
apply for an eligible course by its published funding deadline;
select that you wish to apply for funding in the Applicant Portal; and
meet the academic, English-language, research and document requirements of your chosen course.

The scholarship is highly competitive. The Trust assesses academic ability and research potential using evidence including academic results and references. The official listing says financial circumstances do not affect selection for this specific award. Cambridge does not publish a universal minimum GPA for the scholarship; the academic threshold and evidence required depend on the PhD course.

Eligible subjects and important exclusions

The scholarship supports a broad range of Cambridge PhD subjects, but applicants must use the official scholarship finder and Postgraduate Course Directory to confirm that their proposed course is eligible. Premium-rate courses are excluded. Do not assume that every Cambridge programme or professional degree is covered simply because it appears in the University’s course directory.

Cambridge International Scholarship deadline

There is no single deadline for every applicant. For 2027/28 entry, the University’s two main postgraduate funding deadlines are:

Tuesday, 8 December 2026 at 23:59 GMT; or
Wednesday, 6 January 2027 at 23:59 GMT.

Your correct deadline is the funding deadline displayed on the page for your chosen PhD. A complete application—including references—must reach Cambridge before that deadline. A later general course deadline does not preserve scholarship eligibility. Some separately administered funds may also use different dates, so always check the official funding listing.

Documents you may need

Cambridge requirements vary by course. Applicants should follow the course directory rather than treating any third-party checklist as universal. A typical PhD application may require:

academic transcripts and degree information;
a research proposal or statement of research interests, where required;
personal or supporting statements requested by the course;
academic references;
CV or résumé, if the course requests one;
proof of English-language ability when required; and
any course-specific written work, portfolio or additional form.

English-language rules and accepted tests are course-specific. IELTS is not automatically mandatory for every applicant, and no waiver should be assumed until the relevant Cambridge course guidance confirms it.

How to apply

Choose an eligible PhD. Use Cambridge’s Postgraduate Course Directory and verify the course’s academic requirements, funding deadline, research fit and supervisor guidance.
Prepare the course application. Arrange transcripts, references, research materials and course-specific documents early.
Open the Applicant Portal application. Complete the postgraduate admission form for the selected PhD.
Request funding consideration. In the funding section, answer “Yes” when asked whether you wish to apply for funding. Cambridge states that applicants who do not indicate this cannot be considered by the Trust.
Complete any extra funding questions shown. Most University funding uses the course application, but some funds may request additional information.
Submit by the course funding deadline. Ensure that the application and all references are received by 23:59 GMT on 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, whichever your course specifies.
Monitor your applicant account. Cambridge Trust award decisions are normally communicated directly to successful candidates during the funding-award period.

Apply Now / View Official Scholarship

Selection criteria

The award is based on academic excellence and research potential. Departments assess admission applications and nominate highly ranked candidates for funding consideration. Strong examination results, a well-developed research plan, clear alignment with Cambridge expertise and persuasive academic references are therefore central. Meeting the eligibility rules does not guarantee nomination or an award.

Application fee and other costs

Cambridge charges an application fee for many postgraduate applications, although limited fee-waiver routes may exist under University rules. The Cambridge Trust states that it cannot pay application fees or provide its own fee waiver. Check the current fee and any official waiver eligibility in the Applicant Portal before submitting.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Cambridge International Scholarship fully funded?

Yes. The current official listing describes it as a full-cost award covering international University fees, maintenance for a single person, the student visa cost and the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Can Master’s applicants apply?

No, not for this specific Cambridge International Scholarship. It is a PhD award. Cambridge Trust separately offers other Master’s and postgraduate scholarships through its funding search.

Do I need a separate scholarship application?

No. Apply for Cambridge PhD admission, indicate that you wish to apply for funding and submit by the relevant course funding deadline.

What is the deadline?

The main University funding deadlines are 8 December 2026 and 6 January 2027 at 23:59 GMT. Your course page determines which deadline applies.

Are international students eligible?

Yes. The scholarship is for overseas-fee-status PhD applicants from countries other than the UK and Ireland, subject to the current official eligibility rules.

Is there an age limit?

The official scholarship listing does not publish a general upper age limit. Applicants must instead meet the admission and eligibility requirements for the chosen PhD.

Official sources

Related opportunities

ScholarshipHubNow independently summarizes official opportunities. Requirements can change; applicants should confirm the final course and funding rules on the official Cambridge pages before submission.