The costs of studying
The costs of studying at Cambridge can seem daunting at first but in this section of the guide, those costs will be broken down to help you manage your finances and expenditure whilst also highlighting the different sources of finance available for your research. Broadly, the costs can be broken down into two areas: the University Composition Fee, which covers tuition and college membership, and general living costs. The Postgraduate Admissions Office provide a handy calculator for the University Composition Fee, based on your course and home country.
No matter what source of funding you are applying for or thinking of using, it is worth planning in advance and, if you are not intending to self-fund your studies, applying in advance as most forms of funding are in demand and can be competitive. Luckily, Cambridge makes it easy to search for many of the internal forms of funding, whether scholarships and studentships or grants from departments and colleges, through this portal.
Funding Sources
The first subset of internal funding available through the university itself, comes in the form of scholarships, bursaries, and studentships, though the availability of such awards does depend on the department to which you are thinking of applying. There are also many Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) or Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) where full funding is available that covers fees and provides a stipend.
The other subset of Cambridge internal funding comes from departments and colleges directly with many full and partial awards on offer. If this is a source of funding that you are considering, then you should investigate what options are available on the relevant department and college websites and factor this into your application, particularly the section where you select which Cambridge college you are interested in.
Another potential source of funding, particularly if you are an international student outside the residency remits of the various scholarships and awards on offer from the university, is government grants. These grants can help cover the full costs of studying and living and so it is worth checking with your respective government as to what funding is available and what the terms are.
The government does offer support depending on your circumstances, such as the Personal Independence Payment, some of which are assessed against your capabilities and means. A very in depth guide is available from CPAG here.
Many colleges also offer disability allowances and hardship funds that are means tested, so you should check with your college if you feel this might apply to you.
Through the Postgraduate Hardship Fund, the University can support postgraduate who face unforeseen financial hardship during their studies.
The remaining option is for you to use personal finance to pay for your studies, such as through savings or loans. If you are planning on funding your studies using personal finance, then ensure that you have the requisite three years' worth of University Composition Fee and maintenance in order to prove you can meet the financial commitment. It might also be sensible to account for up to four years worth of living cost, to allow for additional time to write your thesis.
Living costs
What to expect in terms of average monthly living costs will vary depending on which college you choose, where you live in Cambridge, and what your lifestyle priorities might be. Rent and accommodation costs in Cambridge can be quite high, so it is important to budget for this prior to starting, and the following table can provide a useful starting point:
| Cost | Per month |
| Accommodation | £650 |
| Utility bills | £40 |
| Food | £160 |
| Communication | £15 |
| Extraneous study materials | £10 |
| Transport (bus/bicycle/etc.) | £10 |
| Entertainment & going out | £65 |
| Sport/Gym membership | £20 |
| Health | £10 |
| Clothes/grooming/other | £40 |
| Total | £1020 |
It is worth noting that, for example, UKRI provide a minimum stipend for a doctoral student of £15,600 per year; given that a large proportion of PhD students at Cambridge are in receipt of such studentships and awards, this works out at potentially having £1,300 per month to live off, which, along with creating a monthly budget, can help you plan and prepare for your time at Cambridge.
If you have any dependents, such as children or care receivers, then the costs will be significantly higher and you should factor this into any budgeting.
Working part-time
Working part-time can be a viable way of covering the costs of studying and even a way to apply research and develop useful skills but there are some caveats to be aware of that should help build up a realistic picture for what may or may not be feasible. First of all, the University itself stipulates a limit of 10 hours per week maximum that any postgraduate student can work whilst studying. Then there are the expectations of your supervisor to consider; they may prefer that you only work a certain number of hours, so as not to conflict with your studies. Finally, you should aim to plan any part time work around and prioritise your research schedule. There are also a number of opportunities available for PhD students, such as supervising undergraduates, that fit in well with postgraduate studies.