Looking for Cambridge funding for 2027/28? Start with the scholarship deadline, not just the admission deadline. This guide helps prospective postgraduate applicants organise their checks before submitting.
Current cycle: Cambridge’s Course Directory says applications are open for 2027/28. This does not mean every course, scholarship or applicant has the same deadline.
Scope: an overview of Cambridge Trust postgraduate funding, not a promise of eligibility, admission or an award. Undergraduate applicants need the Trust’s separate undergraduate guidance. Information checked 24 October 2026; recheck before applying.
1. Check which award fits you
The Cambridge Trust scholarship finder lists 2027/28 opportunities, including full-cost and part-cost awards. Filter by nationality and study level, then read the individual listing. A headline about Cambridge funding is not confirmation that a particular award covers your course or circumstances.
The Trust’s postgraduate guidance generally requires strong academic achievement and financial need; some awards use academic merit alone. It funds eligible master’s and doctoral courses, but excludes qualifications including the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Finance (MFin). Nationality and partner conditions vary.
Study at the same or a lower degree level is normally excluded, except a second Master of Philosophy required before doctoral study. Read the complete rules for your circumstances.
2. Understand what the funding actually covers
Full-cost and part-cost are different
The Trust offers both. There is no single stipend or universal package to quote for every applicant. Read the award’s amount, duration, conditions and covered costs before building your budget.
Check the gap in your own budget
Our suggestion: compare the award with course fees, living costs, travel, immigration charges and any dependants’ costs. Mark each item as covered, excluded or not confirmed. Ask the funder about unclear items; do not assume “scholarship” means every expense is paid.
3. Record your course’s funding deadline
Cambridge’s postgraduate funding guidance gives two main deadlines for 2027/28: 8 December 2026 and 6 January 2027. The applicable date depends on the course. A complete application, including references, is due by 23:59 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) on the relevant funding deadline; individual funds can have different dates.
Save the course page and note both its admission and funding deadlines. An admission closing date later in the year does not extend a funding deadline. If a scholarship listing adds another deadline, track that separately.
4. Follow the correct application route
Apply through the University’s Applicant Portal and request funding in the course application. Some Trust partner awards require an additional application. The Trust needs a conditional admission offer before funding consideration; do not wait for that offer before submitting by the course funding deadline.
The official portal guidance explains how to save and submit an application, upload documents, manage reference requests, request funding and track progress. The portal requires an account. It is not a separate scholarship application service run by Swan Study Bridge.
Use your selected course’s document instructions. Our preparation list: gather academic records, check whether a proposal or other course-specific material is required, contact referees early and keep a submission record. Do not submit financial or identity documents to unofficial contacts claiming to guarantee a scholarship.
5. Keep admission and funding decisions separate
Cambridge explains that admission and funding offers usually arrive separately. A course offer therefore does not establish that your costs are funded. Continue checking the relevant fund’s instructions and your application messages.
Before accepting commitments you cannot afford, compare the written funding offer with the budget you prepared. Ask about unresolved conditions in writing. This is a planning suggestion, not individual financial or immigration advice.
Your next step
Choose the course first, identify matching awards and record the exact deadline and document requirements. These official routes serve different purposes:
Sources: Cambridge Trust scholarship finder and postgraduate guidance; University of Cambridge Course Directory, postgraduate funding and application-tracking guidance. Linked above. Swan Study Bridge is an independent information publisher; no Cambridge partnership or endorsement is claimed.