Cambridge International Scholarship 2027 United Kingdom: Fully Funded PhD

The Cambridge International Scholarship 2027, officially the Cambridge Trust International Scholarship, supports PhD students from countries other than the UK and Ireland. It pays the international tuition fee, a yearly maintenance amount, the student visa cost and the Immigration Health Surcharge. You apply by applying to Cambridge and asking to be considered for funding. The main University funding deadlines for 2027/28 entry are 8 December 2026 and 6 January 2027, depending on your course. The University’s funding database lists about 60 awards, and only applicants ranked highly by their department are considered.

Scholarship Summary

Item	Details
University	University of Cambridge (funded through the Cambridge Trust)
Country	United Kingdom
Degree level	PhD, in any subject except premium rate courses
Funding	Fully funded by our definition: international tuition fee, annual maintenance “sufficient for a single person”, student visa cost, Student Immigration Health Surcharge, and other benefits that are not detailed. The maintenance amount is not stated.
Eligible nationalities	Applicants from all countries except the UK and Ireland, who are classed as overseas for fee status
Deadlines (2027/28 entry)	Same as the funding deadline for your course. Main University dates: 8 December 2026 and 6 January 2027, 23:59 GMT. Check your course page.
Intake	Michaelmas term 2027 (starting around October 2027)
Language requirement	Course-specific. Examples: IELTS Academic 7.0 to 7.5 overall, or TOEFL iBT 100 to 110 overall. Many applicants only need to show proof after an offer.
Official link	https://www.cambridgetrust.org/scholarship/cambridge-international-scholarship/

Benefits and Funding

The official scholarship page lists these benefits. Together they cover tuition, a living allowance and the health surcharge, so we describe the scholarship as fully funded.

What is covered

• University tuition fee at the international rate.
• Annual maintenance, described as sufficient for a single person.
• The cost of the student visa.
• The Student Immigration Health Surcharge.
• “Various additional benefits”. The page does not say what these are.

The University’s funding database lists the award length as the course length. It adds that the Trust will, on application, provide up to six more months of maintenance to help you write up your PhD. Separate Trust guidance for current scholars says PhD scholarships typically cover three years unless stated, and that no extension funding is available beyond 3.5 years. Check your offer letter for your exact funding period.

What is not covered or not stated

• The maintenance amount. No figure appears on the scholarship pages we checked.
• Support for family members. Maintenance is described as enough for a single person.
• Premium rate courses. The scholarship cannot be used for them.

For budgeting, the University’s student funding pages give an indicative living cost of £19,860 for 2026-27. That is a University planning figure, not the scholarship’s value.

Eligibility Criteria

Nationality and fee status. The scholarship is for applicants from countries other than the UK or Ireland who are classed as overseas for fee status. The University decides your fee status. The scholarship page says it is not for applicants from the UK or Ireland.

Ranking. You must be highly ranked by your prospective department. For example, the Department of Computer Science and Technology says it considers very highly ranked international students for nomination to the Cambridge International Scholarship competition.

Selection factors. The official page says awards are based on academic ability, research potential, exam results and references. It also says your financial situation does not affect selection.

Academic. Cambridge’s minimum for postgraduate study is a 2:1 UK bachelor’s degree or an international equivalent. Many courses ask for more. For example, the PhD in Computer Science expects a first-class degree, and the PhD in English expects a Master’s with Merit.

Other Trust rules. The Trust says applicants cannot already hold a degree at the same level or lower than the one they apply for, with a limited exception for a second MPhil that a department requires before a PhD. It also does not accept people already part-way through a Cambridge course, unless they are seeking funding for a higher degree after graduating.

Language. See the language section below.

Age and work experience. The scholarship pages we checked set no age limit or work-experience rule. Your course may. Not confirmed: check your course page.

Who should not apply. This route is not for UK or Irish applicants, premium rate courses, or applicants who already hold a PhD-level degree. It is also not the right fit if you cannot meet your course’s funding deadline.

Required Documents

There is no separate scholarship application. You use the University’s application, so your documents are the ones your course asks for. Typical items include:

• Completed application in the Applicant Portal, with the funding section answered
• Degree certificates and transcripts
• References, submitted by your referees before the funding deadline
• Research proposal or statement, if your course asks for one
• CV, if your course asks for one
• English language evidence, if the portal says you need it (often after an offer)

Not confirmed: your course page and the Applicant Portal give the exact list. The funding deadline applies to the complete application, including references.

How to Apply

1. Choose your course. Use the Postgraduate Course Directory at https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses and note the funding deadline on the course page.
2. Read the course requirements. Check the expected academic standard and the English requirement for your PhD.
3. Apply in the Applicant Portal. Follow the steps at http://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/how-do-i-apply.
4. Complete the funding section. State that you wish to be considered for funding. The Trust says it will not consider you if you skip this, and the section may close after the deadline.
5. Submit everything by the deadline. The University’s funding page asks for your complete application, including references, by 23:59 GMT on the relevant date.
6. Wait for decisions. Admission and funding offers are usually made separately.
7. Check the Trust website. The Trust does not give updates to individual applicants, but it says it will confirm online when it finishes issuing main offers.

Tips to Strengthen Your Application

1. Find your own deadline first. The 8 December 2026 and 6 January 2027 dates are the main ones, but your course page decides. Put the date in your calendar.
2. Ask referees early. References must arrive by the funding deadline for your application to count as complete. Give referees your deadline and a short summary of your plans.
3. Match your course’s academic standard. Some PhD courses expect a first or a Master’s with Merit or Distinction. If you are below the stated level, consider whether another course or funder fits better.
4. Make your research potential visible. The scholarship is awarded on research potential and references as well as grades. Use your proposal to show a clear question, method and fit with the department.
5. Answer the funding section fully. The Trust asks applicants to report significant income sources because some of its awards consider financial need. The scholarship page says finances do not affect this award, so follow the portal instructions and answer honestly.
6. Apply for other funding at the same time. Some departments tell PhD applicants to apply for every fund they are eligible for. If you accept a Gates Cambridge or Harding scholarship, any Trust offer lapses.
7. Book your English test with time to spare. Many courses only ask for proof after an offer, but offers can depend on it.

Language Requirement

English requirements are set by each course. For most courses you do not need to provide evidence until you receive an offer. The Applicant Portal estimates whether you need a test.

Cambridge accepts IELTS Academic (including UKVI Academic, One Skill Retake and Online), TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition), and C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency for some courses.

Course examples show the range:

• PhD in English: IELTS 7.5 overall with 7.0 in each element, or TOEFL iBT 110 overall.
• PhD in Engineering: IELTS 7.0 overall, or TOEFL iBT 100 overall.
• PhD in Computer Science: TOEFL iBT 107 overall.

You may not need a test if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country and were educated there, or if your degree meets the University’s rules for such countries. Check the official page before you rely on this.

Visa, Health Cover and Work Rights

The scholarship covers the cost of your student visa and the Student Immigration Health Surcharge. The amounts are not stated on the pages we checked. Read the official guidance at https://www.gov.uk/student-visa.

Work. Under the Immigration Rules, a full-time student at degree level or above with a sponsor that has a track record of compliance can work up to 20 hours per week in term time. Full-time work is allowed outside term time. Part-time study at postgraduate level does not allow work.

Dependants. A GOV.UK evaluation says that only international students on postgraduate research courses, and those on government-funded scholarships for courses of six months or more, can now bring dependants. The scholarship maintenance is described as enough for a single person, so plan family costs separately.

Health cover. The surcharge is paid by the scholarship. Not confirmed: check GOV.UK for what it gives you access to.

Career and Post-Study Options

A PhD from Cambridge can lead to research, teaching and industry roles, but the scholarship does not promise a job or a visa. UK rules are set by the Home Office and can change.

According to the April 2026 guidance for Skilled Worker sponsors, a PhD student may switch to the Skilled Worker route before finishing if they have completed at least 12 months of the PhD in the UK. Other conditions apply. Not confirmed: check GOV.UK for the Graduate route and for current rules before you plan.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using the wrong deadline. Funding deadlines are set course by course.
• Leaving the funding section blank or answering “no”.
• Submitting without references. An application without references is incomplete.
• Assuming the scholarship has a stated stipend figure. The maintenance amount is not published on the scholarship page.
• Applying for a premium rate course.
• Waiting for news in the wrong place. The Trust does not notify unsuccessful applicants, and says to assume no award if you hear nothing by the end of July.
• Paying anyone to “guarantee” a scholarship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a separate application for the scholarship? No. You apply for admission and complete the funding section of the online form. The application must be in by your course’s funding deadline.

Does it cover living costs? The page says it pays annual maintenance sufficient for a single person. The amount is not stated.

When will I hear about funding? The Trust’s awarding period runs from mid-February to the end of July. Most awards are made in February and March, and some partner-funded awards come later. If you have not heard by the end of July, assume the application was unsuccessful.

Is it only for PhD students? The University’s funding database lists the level of study as PhD. The Trust page does not state the level. Other Trust awards may suit Master’s applicants.

Can I hold another scholarship? If you receive another award that meets the full cost of study, the Trust says you can choose which to accept. If you accept a Gates Cambridge or Harding scholarship, any Trust offer lapses.

Do I need to take IELTS or TOEFL? It depends on your course and background. Some applicants are exempt, and many only show proof after an offer. The scholarship does not waive the University’s English requirement.

Does my financial situation affect selection? The scholarship page says it does not. Other Trust pages say many of its awards consider financial need, so complete the funding section as instructed.

Can the scholarship be used for part-time study? The funding database lists both full-time and part-time modes. Not confirmed how this works for overseas applicants who need a Student visa. Contact the Trust before you plan.

Scam Warning

Scholarships do not charge application or “processing” fees. This scholarship has no separate application, so any message asking you to pay for a Cambridge Trust scholarship is suspicious. The Trust says it cannot help with application fees. Not confirmed: check the Applicant Portal for any University application fee. Contact the Trust only through its official website, and be careful with emails that ask for payment or passwords.

Final Words

The Cambridge International Scholarship 2027 offers a strong funding package for PhD applicants from outside the UK and Ireland, but only to a small group of highly ranked candidates. Find your course deadline, complete the funding section, and make sure your references arrive on time.

Apply only through the official Cambridge and Cambridge Trust websites.

Disclaimer

We are not the scholarship provider. Please confirm all details on the official website.

Sources

All pages were checked on 31 October 2026.

• Cambridge Trust International Scholarship (official page): https://www.cambridgetrust.org/scholarship/cambridge-international-scholarship/
• Cambridge Trust International Scholarship, Postgraduate Funding Search: https://www.student-funding.cam.ac.uk/fund/cambridge-international-scholarship-2026
• Postgraduate applicants, The Cambridge Trust: https://cambridgetrust.org/postgraduate-applicants/
• Guidance for awardees, The Cambridge Trust: https://www.cambridgetrust.org/current-scholars/
• Postgraduate funding, University of Cambridge: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/funding
• English language requirements: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/before/english-language-requirements
• Entry requirements: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/before/entry-requirements
• PhD in English, requirements: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/elelpdeng/requirements
• PhD in Engineering, requirements: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/egegpdpeg/requirements
• PhD in Computer Science, requirements: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/cscspdpcs/requirements
• PhD in Computer Science, application deadlines: https://www.cst.cam.ac.uk/admissions/phd
• Postgraduate Financial Assistance Fund (living cost figure): https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/financial-assistance/postgraduate-financial-assistance-fund
• Immigration Rules: Appendix Student, GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-student
• Student route evaluation (wave 2), GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/student-route-evaluation-wave-2/student-route-evaluation-wave-2
• Sponsor a Skilled Worker (April 2026), GOV.UK: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69d4c7d4d6a236570a263e41/Sponsor-a-Skilled-Worker-04-26-v1.0.pdf
• Student visa, GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa