University Scholarship · Masters, PhD

Cambridge Trust Scholarships

Q: Is a separate application required for Cambridge Trust Scholarships?

For most Cambridge Trust scholarships, a separate application is generally not required. You must apply for admission to the University of Cambridge through their online Applicant Portal by the relevant funding deadline, and crucially, indicate your wish to be considered for funding in the dedicated funding section of the application form. Your application will then be automatically assessed for any eligible Cambridge Trust awards. However, some scholarships co-funded with partners may require a separate application directly to the partner organization, and this will be specified in the scholarship listings.

Q: What does a Cambridge Trust Scholarship typically cover?

Cambridge Trust Scholarships can be full-cost or part-cost. Full-cost awards usually cover your University Composition Fee (tuition at the international rate), an annual maintenance stipend to cover living costs for a single person, and the Student Immigration Health Surcharge. The value of tuition fees varies significantly by course, ranging from approximately £25,000 to £60,000+, with the maintenance stipend around £21,000 per year (for 2025-26/2026-27). Part-cost scholarships provide a contribution towards tuition fees and/or maintenance.

Q: What are the key eligibility criteria for Indian students applying for a Cambridge Trust Scholarship?

Cambridge Trust Scholarships are open to outstanding international students, including those from India, applying for undergraduate, Master's (e.g., MPhil, LLM), and PhD degrees at the University of Cambridge. Key eligibility factors include significant academic achievement and potential. For competitive awards, Indian applicants typically need a CGPA of 8.5/10 or above, or a clear first-class degree (60%+ aggregate) from an Indian university. For undergraduate courses, some sources suggest a minimum of 70% in high school. While some scholarships are purely merit-based, many also consider demonstrated financial need.

Cambridge Trust · All India

Annual Award£25,000 to £60,000 (approx. ₹96.5 Lakh+)

Deadline8 Dec

Scheme Name	Cambridge Trust Scholarships
Provided By	Cambridge Trust
Eligibility Summary	Class 11-12, Graduation, Engineering (< ₹8L Income)

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About the Program

Comprehensive guide for Cambridge Trust Scholarships. Get eligibility details, stipend amounts, and registration instructions here.

Benefits & Financial Support

£25,000 to £60,000 (approx. ₹96.5 Lakh+)

Cambridge Trust Scholarships can be full-cost or part-cost. Full-cost scholarships typically cover University tuition fees (International rate), an annual maintenance stipend sufficient for a single person, and the Student Immigration Health Surcharge. The University Composition Fee can range from approximately £25,000 to £60,000+ per year, with an annual maintenance stipend around £21,000 per year (for 2025-26/2026-27 rates). The highest estimated annual amount for a full scholarship, combining a high tuition fee and maintenance, can be around £81,000 (approximately 10,449,000 INR, using an exchange rate of 1 GBP = 129 INR). Part-cost awards vary, with some undergraduate contributions ranging from £10,000 to £15,000 per year towards tuition fees or full tuition and college fees, and postgraduate part-cost awards typically around £12,000 towards tuition fees and maintenance. The minimum annual amount stated (1,290,000 INR) reflects a representative partial scholarship. Funds are generally disbursed to the University for fees and directly to the student's UK bank account for maintenance; Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to Aadhaar-seeded accounts is not applicable for these international scholarships.

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Nationality:Open to international students from countries outside the UK and Ireland for most awards. Some partner scholarships have specific nationality requirements (e.g., UCA for Central Asian countries; Bseisu for Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Syria).
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Degree Level:Intending to start an Undergraduate (excluding UK applicants), Master's (MPhil, MASt, LLM, with some restrictions), or Research postgraduate (PhD) course. The Trust typically does not fund MBA or MFin programs for full-cost scholarships, but may co-fund. It will not support a degree level that is the same as, or lower than, a degree already held, with an exception for second MPhil if departmentally required.
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Academic Achievement:Applicants must demonstrate significant academic achievement and potential. For highly competitive awards, Indian applicants typically need a CGPA of 8.5/10 or above, or a clear first-class degree (60%+ aggregate from most Indian universities).
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Financial Need:Many scholarships are means-tested, requiring demonstrated financial need. However, some are awarded purely on academic merit.
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English Language Proficiency:Excellent English language skills are required, typically proven by IELTS (e.g., 7.5) or TOEFL (e.g., 110) for postgraduate studies.
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Work Experience:Some specific scholarships (e.g., Chevening) may require work experience, but it is not a general requirement for Cambridge Trust scholarships.

Eligibility Criteria & Income Limit

Education Level	Masters, PhD
Course / Stream	Masters, PhD
Minimum Marks	85%
Income Limit	No income bar
Category / Caste	General, OBC, SC, ST
Domicile State	All India

Mandatory Documents Checklist

✓Completed University of Cambridge admission application form (via the Applicant Portal)
✓Academic Transcripts and Diplomas from previous institutions
✓Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Resume
✓Statement of Purpose (SOP) or Personal Statement
✓Research Proposal (for postgraduate research programs)
✓Letters of Recommendation (LORs)/References
✓Proof of English Language Proficiency (e.g., IELTS or TOEFL scores)
✓Copy of passport (for some partner scholarships like UCA-Cambridge Trust Scholarship)
✓GRE General Test scores for Economics programs (if no UK degree, for UCA-Cambridge Trust Scholarship)

Selection Process

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Candidates are selected based on academic ability and research potential, examination results, and references
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For most Cambridge Trust scholarships, financial need is also a key criterion, although some programs award solely based on academic merit
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Applicants are highly ranked by their prospective Departments within the University of Cambridge
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A University committee draws up a scored list of PhD applicants across all disciplines
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For Indian applicants, a CGPA of 8.5/10 or above, or a clear first-class degree (60%+ aggregate from most Indian universities) is typically required for competitive awards.

Renewal Policy

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Cambridge Trust PhD scholarships typically provide funding for 3 years
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PhD scholars receiving full or partial maintenance funding may apply for up to 6 additional months of maintenance funding to complete their studies, provided they apply before their award end date and have thoroughly explored all other eligible funding sources
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No extension funding is available beyond 3.5 years for PhD students
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All additional funding is discretionary and considered on a case-by-case basis by the Trust's Review Panel
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Continued eligibility is generally contingent on satisfactory academic progress.

How to Apply Online

Applications are submitted online via the official portal. Complete eKYC, upload scanned documents, and submit before the closing date.

1
Research Your Course and College * Thoroughly research your chosen course of study at the University of Cambridge via the official University website and the postgraduate course directory. * Identify a suitable Cambridge College, as all students admitted to the University must also be a member of a College.
2
Find Eligible Scholarships * Visit 'The Cambridge Trust' website's 'Find a scholarship' section to determine which Cambridge Trust scholarships you are eligible for, using filters for your degree level and nationality. Read each scholarship listing carefully, as some partner-funded awards may have additional criteria or require a separate application to the partner.
3
Submit Your University Application * Apply for admission to the University of Cambridge through the University's online Applicant Portal. * It is critical to submit your admissions application by the *relevant funding deadline specific to your course*. There are typically two general funding deadlines (e.g., in early December and early January for the subsequent academic year).
4
Indicate Funding Interest * Within the online admissions application form, you must complete the funding section and explicitly state your wish to be considered for funding. By doing so, you will automatically be considered for any eligible Cambridge Trust scholarships for which you qualify.
5
Await and Track Decision * You must have a conditional offer of admission to be considered for Cambridge Trust funding. * Scholarship decisions are typically announced between March and July. * Awardees will be notified as soon as possible, but due to the high volume of applications, it is generally not possible to notify unsuccessful applicants. You may be able to track your application status via the University's Applicant Portal. Respond promptly to any requests for additional information. Important Considerations:** * Ensure you meet all University entry requirements, including any language tests, early in the application process. * For highly competitive full-cost scholarships like Gates Cambridge (also administered via the Cambridge Trust process), additional essays and referee emails might be prompted within the application.

Common Questions (FAQs)

Is a separate application required for Cambridge Trust Scholarships?

For most Cambridge Trust scholarships, a separate application is generally not required. You must apply for admission to the University of Cambridge through their online Applicant Portal by the relevant funding deadline, and crucially, indicate your wish to be considered for funding in the dedicated funding section of the application form. Your application will then be automatically assessed for any eligible Cambridge Trust awards. However, some scholarships co-funded with partners may require a separate application directly to the partner organization, and this will be specified in the scholarship listings.

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IndiaScholarships.in attempts to provide accurate information manually curated from official sources. Scholarship details, timelines, and eligibility can change without notice as per the provider's discretion. Applying for a scholarship does not guarantee selection. Always verify all information on the official Cambridge Trust website before final submission.