Funding
Postgraduate Funding
There are hundreds of funding opportunities available to postgraduate students at the University, but identifying those you are eligible for can be challenging.
To make the process easier, we have compiled a guide to the central funding schemes available to all Cambridge postgraduates, alongside funding opportunities available only within the Department.
You are advised to also do your own research into University funding schemes and external sources of financial support. Competition for funding is high so we strongly advise that you apply for as many funding opportunities as possible, to maximise your chance of success.
You should begin looking for funding at least a year before your course starts. Funders may have different deadlines.
Cambridge Funding Search Tool
The University’s Postgraduate Funding Search is a live database that lists a wide range of funding opportunities for postgraduate students. You can filter results by student status, mode of study, qualification, nationality, department, and other criteria to identify funding that may be available to you.
You can also search studentship vacancies.
Cambridge Trust
The Trust supports students at PhD, Master’s and undergraduate level through full-cost and part-cost scholarships. All of these are listed in the ‘Find a scholarship’ search tool. Some awards have specific eligibility criteria; you can use the filters to find the level you are looking for and select your nationality.
To be considered for a postgraduate scholarship from the Trust, you must complete the funding section of the University’s online admissions application form via the Applicant Portal and indicate that you wish to be considered for funding.
Essential guidance on Cambridge Trust eligibility and applications
Gates Cambridge
Each year Gates Cambridge offers full-cost scholarships to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a postgraduate degree in any subject available at Cambridge.
To be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, you must complete the funding section of the University’s online admissions application form via the Applicant Portal. Gates Cambridge has its own sub-section. Applicants will also need to submit a specific-Gates Cambridge reference and a research proposal (PhD applicants only).
Essential guidance on Gates Cambridge eligibility and applications
College Funding
Many colleges offer generous scholarships for postgraduate students, but competition is often strong. Some awards require applicants to name the college as their first or second choice on the admissions application.
As college preferences cannot be changed after submission, applicants should check the eligibility criteria carefully before applying.
Explore the full list of Cambridge colleges
ESRC-funded PhD studentships
CAM-DTP supports part-time or full-time doctoral students each year to undertake social science PhDs.
They encourage high-potential applicants from low socio-economic backgrounds or educational disadvantage. They are also keen to attract students who have inter- or cross-disciplinary interests and who are hoping to do research with industry or third sector partners.
CAM-DTP does not take direct applications, but offer scholarship routes by departmental nomination or topic supervisor nomination. Students must have an offer of admission before they can be considered for funding by CAM-DTP.
Find out more about ESRC-funded PhD studentships
Please email the Department’s Postgraduate Administrator if you are interested in applying for a CAM-DTP studentship.
Department Funding
The William Wyse Fund provides support for postgraduate students applying to the Department of Social Anthropology through two routes:
- The William Wyse Bursary is available for students who wish to pursue either the MPhil in Social Anthropology or the MPhil in Social Anthropological Research. All MPhil applicants who apply by the main funding deadline will be automatically considered for this fund. There is no need to submit a separate funding application.
- The William Wyse Studentship provides funding for students who wish to pursue the PhD in Social Anthropology. All PhD applicants who apply by the main funding deadline will be automatically considered for this fund. There is no need to submit a separate funding application.
The Sigrid Rausing Studentship is funded by a generous donation from the Sigrid Rausing Trust:
- It is available once every 3 years for full-time PhD applicants who are planning to undertake research in the region of Inner Asia.
- The next funding round will be for candidates applying to start in 2028-29 academic year.
- To qualify, applicants must be accepted onto the Social Anthropology doctoral programme. Applicants meeting the criteria will automatically be considered for this studentship.
The Professor James Laidlaw PhD Studentship Fund was established in 2026 to support PhD students in Social Anthropology, and the Arts and Humanities at King’s College, Cambridge.
- An initiative of 1992 alumnus Simon Patterson, these studentships recognise the work of Professor James Laidlaw, former William Wyse Professor and Life Fellow in Social Anthropology at King’s.
- All PhD applicants who apply by the main funding deadline will be automatically considered for this fund. There is no need to submit a separate funding application.