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Study at Cambridge (Scholarships)

Information for Africans Applying to Study at the University of Cambridge 

Applications can be submitted by individuals who would like to study for degrees at the University of Cambridge. To apply for postgraduate courses at the University of Cambridge, you must submit an online application through the Applicant Portal. For undergraduate courses submit an application through the UCAS portal (along with the My Cambridge Application form). The list of undergraduate and postgraduate courses are listed on the following websites which also have links to the application process and advice on applying to the University of Cambridge.

For further information on applying to the University of Cambridge visit:

Note: Charge for accessing the graduate application form

There is an application charge of (GBP sterling) £50 per application for postgraduate courses other than doctorate programmes , unless you are from a (low-income) country which is eligible for fee waiver. A list of other eligible courses and further information can be found at https://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/how-do-i-apply/application-fee. You can make the payment by providing your credit card details to a secure server when you submit your online application. Apparently, there are alternatives to the credit card payment, and this is available on request from the Graduate Admissions Office, if people come from countries where credit cards are not used.

Scholarships Available for African Applicants to Study at the University of Cambridge

To be considered for funding from the main scholarship providers, you must complete the funding section of the relevant application form (undergraduate or graduate) and submit to the University of Cambridge by the following deadlines:

  • Undergraduate applications - Deadline to be announced but usually in early October 
  • Graduate applications - Open now for application but best to check specific course deadlines. Search the course directory for more information. Some deadlines are as early as mid-November (LLM Law) and there will be two general course deadlines in December 2024 and  January 2025.

The list below has been compiled to help African applicants identify scholarships at the University of Cambridge that they are eligible to apply for.

1) Gates Cambridge Scholarships: https://www.gatescambridge.org/apply

2) Cambridge Trust Scholarships: https://www.cambridgetrust.org/scholarships. Do note that there is a searchable facility on this website that can help to narrow down available scholarships by country, degree level, subject and the Cambridge College, etc. These are now open for applications.

3) Various Cambridge College bursaries (see examples below)

4) Mastercard Foundation African Scholars Programme  https://www.mastercardfoundation.fund.cam.ac.uk/ The prestigious Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge was established in 2022 as a collaboration between the University and the Mastercard Foundation. Over 500 Scholars from the African continent will be enrolled in the program between 2023 and 2030 to undertake a wide range of fully funded Master's courses contributing to climate resilience and sustainable futures in Africa. 

 

Examples of scholarships that are specific to applicants from Africa:

Cambridge Africa ChangeMakers Scholarship: https://www.cambridgetrust.org/scholarships/cambridge-africa-changemakers-scholarship This is a programme of full-cost scholarships for PhD students in any subject, open to candidates from any country in Africa.To be considered for funding, complete the standard University Graduate Students' Application Form and complete the 'funding' section. You can then be considered for all scholarships you are eligible to apply for. The deadline for Cambridge-Trust scholarships is usually the first week in December. 

  • BP Cambridge Scholarship for Egypt
  • Wolfson OCS Kenya Scholarship
  • Beacon Scholarship at Cambridge (Kenya)
  • Beit Cambridge Scholarship (Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe)
  • CSIR South Africa Cambridge Scholarship
  • Skye Cambridge Scholarship (South Africa)
  • Mandela Magdalene College Scholarship (South Africa - offered by Magdalene College, Cambridge)
  • Tigris
  • Trinity College Bursary: https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding-awards/
  • Wolfson

Examples of scholarships that are available to applicants of many nationalities, including Africans: