University of Cambridge

Undergraduate

Study

Financial support

There are various sources of financial support available to help towards your costs at Cambridge. These fall into two broad categories: Government financial support and Cambridge financial support. Some support is available to all UK/EU students, while eligibility for other funding may depend on your financial circumstances. Arrangements can also vary depending on where you’re from (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales or the EU).

Levels of support have not yet been set for the academic year 2014-15. The information below outlines the financial support available to first time undergraduates at Cambridge, based on figures for 2013-14.  The information will be updated as soon as figures for 2014-15 are available.

Students from England
Support What's it for? Eligibility? How much? Pay it back? Notes
Tuition Fee Loan Tuition fees All new students Up to £9,000 per year Yes, once left university and earning more than £21,000 per year
  • Repay 9% of earnings above £21,000 per year.
Maintenance Loan Living costs Dependent on household income Up to £5,500 per year Yes, once left university and earning more than £21,000 per year
  • Basic rate (65% of max. rate, £3,575) not dependent on household income, remaining 35% (up to £1,925) is dependent on household income.
  • Repay 9% of earnings above £21,000 per year.
Maintenance Grant (or Special Support Grant) Living costs Dependent on household income Up to £3,354 per year No
  • Full grant available to those with a household income of £25,000 per year or less.
  • Partial grant available to those with a household income between £25,001 and £42,611 per year.
  • Amount of Maintenance Loan that can be borrowed will be reduced by £0.50 for every £1 of Maintenance Grant.
  • Special Support Grant replaces Maintenance Grant for students who can claim certain income-related benefits.
National Scholarship Programme Tuition fees Students from low income families who meet particular criteria £6,000
first year only 		No  
Cambridge Bursary Living costs Students with a household income of £42,611 per year or less Up to £3,500
per year
(up to £5,600 for some mature students)		 No  
Cambridge College awards and grants Prizes for academic or other achievements and/or loans to help with specific costs or unexpected financial difficulties College and award dependent  
For full details of government support, see the GOV.UK website at: www.gov.uk/studentfinance/
Students from Northern Ireland
Support What's it for? Eligibility? How much? Pay it back? Notes
Tuition Fee Loan Tuition fees All new students Up to £9,000 per year Yes, once left university and earning more than £16,365 per year
  • Repay 9% of earnings above £16,365 per year.
Maintenance Loan Living costs Dependent on household income and amount of Maintenance Grant receive Up to £4,840 per year (up to £4,480 in final year) Yes, once left university and earning more than £16,365 per year
  • Basic rate (75% of max. rate) not dependent on household income, remaining 25% is dependent on household income.
  • If receive Maintenance Grant, amount of Maintenance Loan will be reduced.
  • Repay 9% of earnings above £16,365 per year.
Maintenance Grant (or Special Support Grant) Living costs Dependent on household income Up to £3,475 per year No, unless leave course early
  • Full grant available to those with a household income of £19,203 per year or less.
  • Partial grant available to those with a household income between £19,204 and £41,065 per year.
  • Amount of Maintenance Grant receive will affect amount of Maintenance Loan can borrow.
  • Special Support Grant replaces Maintenance Grant in certain circumstances.
Cambridge Bursary Living costs Students with a household income of £42,611 per year or less Up to £3,500
per year
(up to £5,600 for some mature students)		 No  
Cambridge College awards and grants Prizes for academic or other achievements and/or loans to help with specific costs or unexpected financial difficulties College and award dependent  
For full details of government support, see the Student Finance NI website at: www.studentfinanceni.co.uk
Students from Scotland
Support What's it for? Eligibility? How much? Pay it back? Notes
Tuition Fee Loan Tuition fees All new students Up to £9,000 per year Yes, once left university and earning more than £16,365 per year
  • Repay 9% of earnings above £16,365 per year.
Maintenance Loan Living costs Dependent on household income Up to £5,500 per year Yes, once left university and earning more than £16,365 per year
  • Up to £5,500 available to those with a household income of £33,999 per year or less.
  • Up to £4,500 available regardless of household income.
  • Repay 9% of earnings above £16,365 per year.
Young Students' Bursary (replacing Students' Outside Scotland Bursary) Living costs Dependent on household income Up to £1,750 per year No
  • Full bursary available to those with a household income of £16,999 per year or less.
  • Partial bursary available to those with a household income between £17,000 and £33,999 per year.
Cambridge Bursary Living costs Students with a household income of £42,611 per year or less Up to £3,500
per year
(up to £5,600 for some mature students)		 No  
Cambridge College awards and grants Prizes for academic or other achievements and/or loans to help with specific costs or unexpected financial difficulties College and award dependent  
For full details of government support, see the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) website at: www.saas.gov.uk
Students from Wales
Support What's it for? Eligibility? How much? Pay it back? Notes
Tuition Fee Loan Tuition fees All new students Up to £3,575 per year Yes, once left university and earning more than £21,000 per year
  • Repay 9% of earnings above £21,000 per year.
Tuition Fee Grant Tuition fees All new students Up to £5,425 per year No, unless leave course early
  • To cover the difference between the max. Tuition Fee Loan and the actual fee charged.
Maintenance Loan Living costs Dependent on household income and amount of Assembly Learning Grant receive Up to £5,150 per year (up to £4,771 in final year) Yes, once left university and earning more than £21,000 per year
  • Up to £5,150 available to those with a household income of £50,020 per year or less.
  • Up to £3,863 available regardless of household income.
  • If take out Maintenance Loan in 2013-14, could have up to £1,500 cancelled by Welsh Assembly Government when start repaying.
  • Repay 9% of earnings above £21,000 per year.
Assembly Learning Grant (or Special Support Grant) Living costs Dependent on household income Up to £5,161 per year No, unless leave course early
  • Full grant available to those with a household income of £18,370 per year or less.
  • Partial grant available to those with a household income between £18,371 and £50,020 per year.
  • Amount of Maintenance Loan that can be borrowed will be reduced by £0.50 for every £1 of Assembly Learning Grant received up to max. £2,575.
  • Special Support Grant replaces Assembly Learning Grant if claim certain income-related benefits.
Cambridge Bursary Living costs Students with a household income of £42,611 per year or less Up to £3,500
per year
(up to £5,600 for some mature students)		 No  
Cambridge College awards and grants Prizes for academic or other achievements and/or loans to help with specific costs or unexpected financial difficulties College and award dependent  
For full details of government support, see the Student Finance Wales website at: www.studentfinancewales.co.uk
Students from the EU (outside the UK)
Support What's it for? Eligibility? How much? Pay it back? Notes
Tuition Fee Loan Tuition fees Some new students Up to £9,000 per year Yes, once left university and earning more than £21,000 per year
  • Repay 9% of earnings above £21,000 per year.
National Scholarship Programme Tuition fees Students from low income families who meet particular criteria £6,000
first year only 		No  
Cambridge European Bursary Living costs Students with a household income of £42,611 per year or less Up to £3,500
per year
(up to £5,600 for some mature students)		 No  
Cambridge College awards and grants Prizes for academic or other achievements and/or loans to help with specific costs or unexpected financial difficulties College and award dependent  
For full details of government support, contact the Student Finance Services European Team (telephone: +44 (0) 141 243 3570; email: EU_Team@slc.co.uk)