The University of Cambridge has a dizzying array of funds and scholarships available for graduate study. The list below includes the main funding sources for Classicists, but is by no means exhaustive. For a fuller listing (and further details) see the University’s Graduate Admissions website.
The good news is that many of these funds can be applied for very simply: you check the apppropriate box in section B of your application form. The only special requirements after that are for Gates Trust or AHRC applicants (see below).
However, there are also lots of more obscure College awards available, and many of these have separate application forms. Whilst this can be a bit fiddly and time consuming, it is well worth doing. A handy tool that allows you to see what funds you might be eligible for can be found here.
1. University
(a) Gates Cambridge Scholarships (Non-UK Students Only)
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Gates Cambridge Scholarships are offered by the Gates Trust, aimed at outstanding young men and women from outside the United Kingdom. Unlike many scholarships, the Gates Trust look for a mixture of academic ability, leadership potential, and social commitment. It is worth bearing this in mind when drafting your application. Gates Scholarships are awarded in two rounds:
To apply you must:
Applications in Classics for the Gates scholarship scheme may be discussed informally, before being submitted, with Dr Carrie Vout (cv103@cam.ac.uk). |
(b) CISS - Cambridge International Scholarship Scheme (Non-UK Students Only) |
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The University offers, via the Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trust, a number of Scholarships to Overseas Students undertaking PhDs. To apply you must:
Some partially funded awards will also be made by the Trust to candidates who are not successful in obtaining a fully funded CISS award. For more details see here. |
(c) Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trust one-year and PhD awards |
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Some further one-year and PhD awards are also offered by the Trust. There is no separate application form, but you will need to indicate on your on-line University GRADSAF application that you are applying for these awards, and you need to meet the relevant deadline. The awards are made on a competitive basis to those applicants considered by their departments to be the most outstanding. (NB the majority of these awards are for overseas candidates; only a few are available for UK/EU applicants). For more details see here. |
(d) Cambridge Home and EU Scholarship Scheme (CHESS) |
| This covers a range of MPhil and PhD studentship and bursary schemes, which are available to UK and EU applicants. There is no separate application form, but you will need to indicate on your on-line University GRADSAF application that you are applying for these awards, and you need to meet the relevant deadline. The first round of assessment happens at Faculty level and Faculties nominate and rank selected students to the competition, which is administered at the Student Registry. For more details see here. |
(e) AHRC - Arts & Humanities Research Council (UK & EU Students) |
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Students Applying for an MPhil or PhD may ask for AHRC funding as part of the standard application process. For full details of the AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership Scheme, please see the University's AHRC funding page. MPhil & PhD Candidates must:
Note: There is a 7 day window from the date of submission to provide additional documents such as references. PhD Candidates must also:
We suggest that candidates consult the PhD Student Research Proposal guidance before completing the AHRC Application Form. Note: There is no additional form for MPhil candidates. We anticipate following the timetable below for this year’s AHRC competition:
Current PhD students applying for AHRC funding should:
Again, we suggest that students read the PhD Student Research Proposal guide before completing the application form. They may need to consult their supervisor for advice about the content. If you need any further guidance please consult the general graduate admissions pages on the Classics Faculty website, or email: graduate.secretary@classics.cam.ac.uk Further information on the competition will be posted here as and when it becomes available. |
(f) Jebb Fund |
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A Jebb Studentship for advanced study in the field of European literature of any period (i.e. including Classical literature), is offered for award annually, normally to PhD students or candidates for PhD study; a Student is eligible for re-election. Candidates must be under the age of 26, and be a Cambridge graduate at the time of taking up the award. The maximum stipend of the Studentship is at present £10,000. For more details and application forms, please see http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/students/studentregistry/fees/funding/awards/index.html. The closing date is 1 May annually. |
2. Faculty of Classics
(a) Craven Studentship, Prendergast Studentship, Henry Arthur Thomas Studentship, Charles Oldham Classical Scholarship, George Charles Winter Warr Scholarship |
| These studentships and scholarships are awarded annually to well qualified MPhil or PhD students in the Classics Faculty. The amounts awarded are variable: at the maximum they may provide full fees and maintenance for a UK/EU MPhil student (approx. £16,000), but they are more likely to provide part-funding. Additional bursaries may also be available. All those who apply by 4 January 2017 will automatically be considered for these studentships and scholarships, and awards are normally made in the summer when candidates’ final undergraduate or master’s examination results are known. Further information can be found (current students only) on Moodle. |
(b) Seven Pillars Studentship |
| This studentship is awarded annually to a well qualified student taking the MPhil in the Classics Faculty, with preference being given to a candidate electing to work in the field of Art or Archaeology. All those who apply in a relevant subject area by 4 January 2017 will automatically be considered for this studentship, and awards are normally made in the summer, when candidates’ final examination results are known. |
(c) John Chadwick Studentship |
| From time to time the Faculty of Classics is able to offer a studentship of £6,000 to a well qualified MPhil student planning to work in the field of Classical Philology and Linguistics. All those who apply in a relevant subject area by 4 January 2017 will automatically be considered in each year that the studentship is available, and awards are normally made in the summer, when candidates’ final examination results are known. |
(d) Hellenic College Trust Studentship
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The Hellenic College Trust offers a generously funded studentship covering fees and maintenance for a student studying for the MPhil in Classics. The student must be someone normally resident in Greece who demonstrates a commitment/particular interest in classical Greek studies and who under normal circumstances could not afford to study at the university without bursarial support. No additional application form is required; applicants simply need to make an application for the MPhil by 4 January 2017 in the usual way. The Faculty will consider all eligible applicants and make a recommendation to the Trustees. |
(e) Graduate Teaching Assistant Bursaries |
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A number of Teaching Bursaries are available each year for graduate students in the Classics Faculty; the competition for these bursaries is held over the summer. However, only those currently studying for the MPhil or PhD in Classics at Cambridge are eligible. |
3. College
(a) John Killen Scholarship (Jesus College) |
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£6,000 scholarship available for an MPhil student, made once every two years. Applicants should apply to the College directly. |
