Applications for the Cambridge International Scholarship 2027/28 are now being considered through the University of Cambridge postgraduate admissions and funding process.
Officially listed as the Cambridge Trust International Scholarship, this is one of the University of Cambridge’s major funding opportunities for international PhD applicants. For the 2027/28 academic year, Cambridge currently expects to award approximately 60 scholarships to outstanding doctoral applicants from countries outside the United Kingdom and Ireland.
The current funding package includes international University fees, maintenance support, the student visa cost and the UK Immigration Health Surcharge. The scholarship normally runs for the length of the recipient’s PhD, and the Cambridge Trust may provide up to an additional six months of maintenance funding for writing up when approved.
There is no separate Cambridge International Scholarship application form. Applicants submit their normal Cambridge PhD application, indicate in the Applicant Portal that they want to be considered for funding, and meet the funding deadline for their chosen course.
The main University funding deadlines for 2027/28 are 8 December 2026 and 6 January 2027, but the exact deadline depends on the PhD course.
Students comparing international doctoral opportunities can also explore Scholarships Central’s PhD Scholarships directory and Fully Funded Scholarships directory.
Cambridge International Scholarship 2027/28 Overview
| Scholarship Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | Cambridge Trust International Scholarship |
| Common search name | Cambridge International Scholarship |
| University | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Level | PhD |
| Academic year | 2027/28 |
| Number of awards | Approximately 60 |
| Eligible nationalities | All countries except UK and Ireland |
| Fee status | Overseas |
| Study mode | Full-time or part-time |
| Eligible courses | 112 currently listed |
| College | Any Cambridge College |
| International tuition fees | Covered |
| Maintenance | Covered |
| Student visa cost | Covered |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | Covered |
| Writing-up extension | Up to 6 additional months of maintenance, on application |
| Separate scholarship form | No |
| Additional scholarship questions | No |
| Deadline | Funding deadline of chosen PhD course |
| Main 2027/28 University funding deadlines | 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027 |
| Award period | Mid-February to end of July 2027 |
Cambridge’s live 2027/28 funding entry currently lists approximately 60 awards, 112 associated courses, full- and part-time study, overseas fee status and the funding components above.
What Is the Cambridge International Scholarship?
The Cambridge International Scholarship is a Cambridge Trust award for highly competitive international PhD applicants.
It is intended for applicants from countries other than the United Kingdom and Ireland who are highly ranked by the Cambridge department to which they apply.
The scholarship is awarded primarily on the basis of:
- academic ability;
- research potential;
- examination results; and
- references.
Cambridge explicitly states that the applicant’s financial situation does not affect selection for this particular scholarship.
This distinction is important because the Cambridge Trust manages many different scholarships, some of which have separate financial-need or partner-specific criteria.
Cambridge Trust vs Cambridge International Scholarship
The terms Cambridge Trust Scholarship and Cambridge International Scholarship are often used interchangeably by scholarship websites, but they are not exactly the same thing.
Cambridge Trust
The Cambridge Trust is the scholarship organisation.
It administers many different funding programmes for:
- undergraduate students;
- Master’s students;
- PhD students;
- specific nationalities;
- particular academic fields;
- partner-funded programmes.
The Trust’s 2027/28 scholarship search includes both full-cost and part-cost opportunities.
Cambridge International Scholarship
The Cambridge Trust International Scholarship is one specific scholarship within that larger portfolio.
The 2027/28 version is specifically listed for:
PhD applicants with overseas fee status from all countries except the UK and Ireland.
Therefore, a Master’s applicant may still be eligible for other Cambridge Trust scholarships, but not for this specific Cambridge International Scholarship.
Applicants can explore the broader Cambridge Trust portfolio through the official Cambridge Trust scholarship search.
Cambridge International Scholarship Benefits
The current 2027/28 award provides several major funding components.
International University Tuition Fees
The scholarship covers the recipient’s international University tuition fee for the funded PhD.
This is significant because overseas PhD tuition at Cambridge can differ substantially from Home fees and varies by subject.
The scholarship is intended to remove the recipient’s international tuition liability during the funded period.
Maintenance Support
Recipients also receive annual maintenance funding sufficient for a single person, according to the Cambridge Trust’s official scholarship description.
Cambridge does not currently publish a single fixed 2027/28 maintenance figure on the specific scholarship page.
For that reason, applicants should be cautious with third-party articles quoting older values such as £19,237 as if that were the confirmed 2027/28 Cambridge International Scholarship stipend.
The official current wording is that annual maintenance is provided at the Trust’s applicable level for a single person.
Student Visa Cost
The updated 2027/28 Cambridge funding listing explicitly includes:
Student visa cost
as one of the purposes of the award.
This is worth noting because some older descriptions of the Cambridge International Scholarship mention tuition, living costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge but omit the visa cost.
UK Immigration Health Surcharge
The award also includes the:
Student Immigration Health Surcharge
for eligible international recipients.
This is the immigration healthcare charge normally associated with a UK Student visa.
Additional Benefits
The current funding database also lists various additional benefits.
Applicants should check the terms of their individual award rather than assuming that every possible research, travel, family or relocation expense is automatically included.
Up to Six Additional Months for Writing Up
One particularly useful benefit is rarely explained in competitor articles.
The normal scholarship duration is the course length, but Cambridge states that the Trust may, on application, provide:
up to a further six months of maintenance funding
to support the final writing-up period of the PhD.
This extension is not automatic.
Scholars need to apply for it, and the Trust determines whether additional writing-up support will be provided.
How Many Cambridge International Scholarships Are Available in 2027/28?
Cambridge’s current 2027/28 funding listing states:
Approximately 60 scholarships
are expected to be awarded.
This is an important update.
Some articles still mention approximately 63 scholarships, but that was the number listed for the 2026/27 cycle.
For a 2027/28 guide, the current figure to use is therefore:
approximately 60 Cambridge International Scholarships.
Cambridge International Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
Applicants need to satisfy both the scholarship criteria and the admission requirements for their chosen Cambridge PhD.
PhD Applicants Only
The current Cambridge International Scholarship is listed at:
PhD level.
It is not the main Cambridge Trust Master’s scholarship.
Master’s candidates should search the wider Cambridge Trust database for other awards.
Nationality Requirement
Applicants may come from:
all countries except the United Kingdom and Ireland.
This makes the programme broadly international.
Eligible applicants can therefore potentially come from countries including:
- Pakistan;
- India;
- Bangladesh;
- Nepal;
- Sri Lanka;
- Nigeria;
- Ghana;
- Kenya;
- South Africa;
- China;
- Indonesia;
- Malaysia;
- Saudi Arabia;
- UAE;
- United States;
- Canada;
- European countries outside the UK and Ireland;
- and many others.
The applicant must also have the relevant Overseas fee status.
Prospective Applicants
The award is listed for prospective applicants.
Cambridge Trust guidance also explains that it generally does not fund students who are already part-way through a Cambridge course, unless they are progressing to a higher degree after graduation.
International students hoping for Cambridge Trust funding should therefore apply for funding during the admissions cycle rather than planning to find full funding after beginning the PhD.
Full-Time and Part-Time PhD Applicants
An unusual advantage of the current 2027/28 listing is that it includes both:
- Full Time
- Part Time
as eligible study modes.
This is important because many third-party scholarship articles describe the Cambridge International Scholarship as full-time only.
Cambridge Trust’s broader postgraduate policy confirms that it considers part-time applicants where the University offers the relevant course.
Applicants should still verify that their specific PhD is offered part-time.
Eligible Courses and Subjects
The Cambridge International Scholarship is broadly available across the University’s PhD portfolio.
The current funding database lists:
112 eligible courses
for the 2027/28 award.
Cambridge describes the scholarship as tenable in any subject excluding premium-rate courses.
That means it is more accurate to say:
The Cambridge International Scholarship supports a very broad range of Cambridge PhD subjects, subject to the current eligible-course list and exclusion of premium-rate courses.
rather than simply claiming that every Cambridge programme qualifies.
Applicants should check the live Cambridge Postgraduate Course Directory before applying.
Search Cambridge postgraduate courses
Premium-Rate Courses Are Excluded
Cambridge Trust guidance states that it does not normally support premium-rate programmes such as:
- MBA;
- Master of Finance;
- Executive MBA;
- Global Executive MBA;
- and certain other high-cost professional programmes.
For the Cambridge International Scholarship specifically, Cambridge’s current funding entry states that premium-rate courses are excluded.
Because this scholarship itself is a PhD award, the practical effect is that applicants should rely on the official 112-course eligibility list rather than assuming every programme in the University is included.
Cambridge International Scholarship Selection Criteria
This is an academic and research-focused competition.
Academic Ability
Applicants need an outstanding academic record.
Cambridge says the scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic ability, among other criteria.
A candidate should therefore present:
- strong previous degree results;
- relevant advanced coursework;
- evidence of research preparation;
- academic awards where applicable.
Research Potential
Research potential is one of the central selection criteria.
This can be demonstrated through:
- research dissertations;
- Master’s thesis work;
- publications;
- conference presentations;
- laboratory or field experience;
- independent projects;
- research employment;
- strong PhD proposal.
The exact evidence will depend on the discipline.
Examination Results
Cambridge explicitly includes examination results among the scholarship-selection factors.
Strong grades therefore remain important even for applicants with substantial research experience.
References
References are also directly considered during scholarship selection.
Most Cambridge postgraduate applicants need two referees.
Applicants for Gates Cambridge need an additional third reference, but Cambridge International Scholarship candidates do not need a separate scholarship-specific reference.
Departmental Ranking
Applicants must also be:
highly ranked by their prospective Cambridge Department.
This is an important part of the process that many scholarship guides understate.
The scholarship is not awarded solely through a central open competition based on a separate scholarship form.
The practical pathway is approximately:
PhD application → departmental academic assessment → funding ranking → Cambridge Trust consideration → scholarship decision
Cambridge’s postgraduate funding guidance confirms that departments first assess course applications and then consider those applications for funding before relevant cases are passed to funding providers.
Does Financial Need Affect Selection?
For this particular scholarship:
No.
The official Cambridge International Scholarship listing explicitly states that the applicant’s financial situation does not affect selection.
Selection instead focuses on academic ability, research potential, examination results and references.
This is different from some other Cambridge Trust awards, which may consider financial need.
Is There a Minimum GPA?
Cambridge does not publish one universal Cambridge International Scholarship GPA cutoff.
Instead, applicants first need to satisfy the academic entry requirements of their specific PhD course and then compete on academic quality and research potential.
Therefore, applicants should avoid third-party claims such as:
“You need exactly 3.7/4.0 for the Cambridge International Scholarship.”
unless that requirement comes from the chosen course.
The correct approach is to check the individual Cambridge PhD entry requirements.
Is There an Age Limit?
The specific Cambridge International Scholarship listing does not publish a general upper age limit.
Cambridge Trust’s broader policy also states that applicants are not treated less favourably on the grounds of age.
Academic eligibility and research competitiveness matter more than age for this award.
Is There a Separate Cambridge International Scholarship Application?
No separate application is required.
The Cambridge Trust’s official scholarship page states clearly:
No separate application is required for the Cambridge International Scholarship.
Applicants apply for admission to Cambridge and must submit that application by the relevant course funding deadline.
The current 2027/28 funding database also states:
Additional questions in the Applicant Portal: No.
This is an important difference from Gates Cambridge.
How to Apply for Cambridge International Scholarship 2027/28
The application process is integrated into Cambridge postgraduate admissions.
Step 1: Choose an Eligible Cambridge PhD
Search Cambridge’s Postgraduate Course Directory and identify a PhD aligned with your academic and research background.
Check:
- entry requirements;
- research areas;
- funding deadline;
- application deadline;
- English-language requirement;
- supervisor instructions;
- supporting documents.
Cambridge Postgraduate Course Directory
Step 2: Check the Funding Deadline
Do not look only at the general application closing date.
Cambridge explicitly says the funding deadline can be earlier than the ordinary course application deadline.
For 2027/28 entry, the two main University funding deadlines are:
- 8 December 2026
- 6 January 2027
depending on the course.
Step 3: Prepare Your PhD Application
The documents required depend on the selected course.
Cambridge states that applicants may need:
- academic transcripts;
- CV/resume;
- two references;
- research proposal;
- personal statement;
- English-language evidence where required;
- samples of written work for certain subjects;
- other department-specific documents.
Step 4: Complete the Funding Section
In the Applicant Portal, applicants who want Cambridge funding must answer:
“Yes – I wish to apply for funding.”
Cambridge Trust also states that applicants cannot be considered for Trust funding if they fail to indicate that they want funding.
This is therefore a critical step.
Step 5: Submit Before the Funding Deadline
Your complete admissions application must be submitted by the relevant course funding deadline.
Cambridge states that for funding consideration the complete application, including required references, must be received by 23:59 UK time on the relevant deadline.
Step 6: Departmental Assessment
The Department assesses:
- admission suitability;
- academic strength;
- research potential;
- funding competitiveness.
Strong applicants can then be ranked for University funding.
Step 7: Cambridge Trust Consideration
Applicants who satisfy the criteria and are strongly ranked can be considered by the Cambridge Trust for the International Scholarship and other awards for which they qualify.
There is no additional Cambridge International Scholarship essay or separate central scholarship application.
Required Documents
Because there is no separate scholarship form, the documents primarily come from the PhD admission application.
Academic Transcripts
Applicants generally need official academic transcripts showing previous university study and results.
If documents are not in English, Cambridge requires full translations prepared by a registered translator.
CV or Résumé
A CV must be uploaded through the Applicant Portal.
For a competitive PhD scholarship application, it should clearly present relevant:
- academic qualifications;
- research projects;
- thesis work;
- publications;
- presentations;
- employment;
- technical skills;
- awards.
Research Proposal
Most Cambridge research courses require a research proposal.
Cambridge says a proposal should:
- identify the research topic;
- explain how it extends existing literature;
- establish why the question matters;
- demonstrate feasibility within the available time and resources.
The exact length and format depend on the course.
References
Most applicants need two referees.
Cambridge advises applicants to nominate referees who have supervised their work and can provide credible assessments of their academic and research potential.
For recent graduates, two academic referees are generally expected.
References must be submitted by the relevant deadline.
Personal Statement
Some courses request a personal statement or statement of interest covering relevant skills, experience, academic achievement and motivation.
Written Work
Some humanities and social-science PhDs may ask for samples of academic work.
The exact requirements are shown on the individual course page.
What Do Cambridge Referees Need to Discuss?
Cambridge’s current referee guidance is unusually detailed.
Academic referees are asked to assess:
- academic performance relative to peers;
- originality;
- creativity;
- independence of thought;
- suitability for the proposed course;
- relevant academic and research abilities.
The written reference should normally be:
- in English;
- between 500 and 1,000 words;
- signed and dated;
- uploaded through the Referee Portal.
Because references are explicitly part of Cambridge International Scholarship selection, applicants should choose referees who can provide detailed examples rather than generic recommendations.
Do You Need a Supervisor Before Applying?
There is no single scholarship-wide supervisor rule.
Supervisor requirements depend on the Cambridge PhD.
For example, some Cambridge courses advise applicants to identify or contact a suitable supervisor, while others explicitly say applicants should not contact potential supervisors before applying or that supervisors are assigned later.
The Cambridge Trust itself does not arrange supervisors and directs applicants to their department for guidance.
Therefore, applicants should check the “How to Apply” section of their exact PhD course rather than following generic scholarship-site advice.
Is IELTS Required?
There is no universal IELTS score specifically for the Cambridge International Scholarship.
Applicants must meet the English-language requirement of the selected PhD programme.
Cambridge says international applicants may need to demonstrate English proficiency, although for many courses language-test results do not have to be submitted until after an offer is made.
The appropriate test, minimum score and exemption rules depend on the course.
It is therefore inaccurate to advertise the Cambridge International Scholarship as universally:
“without IELTS.”
Cambridge International Scholarship Deadline 2027
There is no one universal scholarship deadline.
The official funding listing says:
Application deadline: same as the funding deadline for the course.
For the 2027/28 admissions cycle, Cambridge lists the main University funding deadlines as:
| Funding round | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Main funding deadline 1 | 8 December 2026 |
| Main funding deadline 2 | 6 January 2027 |
Example: December 8 Deadline
Some PhD programmes use:
8 December 2026
as their 2027/28 funding deadline.
For example, Cambridge’s PhD in Pathology currently lists December 8, 2026 as the course funding deadline.
Example: January 6 Deadline
Other programmes use:
6 January 2027.
For example, the PhD in English lists January 6, 2027 as its funding deadline.
Applicants must therefore check their own programme rather than relying on a generic scholarship article quoting one date.
Course Deadline vs Funding Deadline
These are not always the same.
A PhD course may continue accepting ordinary admission applications after its scholarship funding deadline.
If you want the Cambridge International Scholarship, you need to submit by the earlier funding deadline.
Cambridge explicitly states that applicants seeking funding must check both the course deadline and funding deadline and use whichever applies earlier.
This distinction is one of the most important parts of the application process.
When Will Cambridge International Scholarship Results Be Announced?
The Cambridge Trust’s 2027/28 awarding period runs from:
mid-February through the end of July.
Most scholarship offers are made relatively early, particularly during:
February and March.
Some partner-funded awards involve additional procedures and may be decided between:
April and June.
The Trust also reallocates scholarships that are declined.
This means eligible candidates can remain under consideration for a reallocated award until the:
end of July.
If an applicant has not heard from the Cambridge Trust by the end of July, the Trust says they should assume the funding application was unsuccessful.
Unsuccessful candidates are not normally individually notified or given feedback.
Do You Need an Admission Offer Before Winning the Scholarship?
Ultimately, yes.
Cambridge Trust guidance says it can only consider applicants who:
- applied by the relevant funding deadline;
- indicated that they wanted funding; and
- have a conditional offer of admission.
Applicants do not need to wait for an admission offer before applying for funding.
The funding request is submitted as part of the admissions application, while admission and funding decisions are processed separately.
Cambridge International Scholarship vs Gates Cambridge
These two scholarships are often confused because both fund study at the University of Cambridge.
They are separate programmes.
| Feature | Cambridge International Scholarship | Gates Cambridge |
|---|---|---|
| Main study level | PhD | Eligible postgraduate degrees |
| Nationality | All countries except UK and Ireland | Applicants from outside the UK |
| Approximate awards | 60 for 2027/28 | Around 75 annually |
| Main selection emphasis | Academic ability and research potential | Academic excellence, course fit, improving lives and leadership |
| Additional scholarship questions | No | Yes |
| Extra scholarship reference | No | Yes |
| Financial need | Does not affect selection | Not a central selection criterion |
| Tuition | International fees covered | Full-cost scholarship |
| Maintenance | Included | Included |
| Visa/IHS | Included in current award listing | Covered under Gates package |
| Deadline | Course funding deadline | Gates-specific funding deadlines |
Cambridge’s own postgraduate reference guidance demonstrates another difference: ordinary Cambridge postgraduate applications normally require two referees, while Gates Cambridge applicants need a third referee specifically for Gates.
For the complete Gates route, see Scholarships Central’s Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027/28 guide.
Can You Apply for Both Gates Cambridge and Cambridge International Scholarship?
Potentially, an eligible PhD applicant can be considered across Cambridge funding routes where they meet the relevant criteria.
However, Gates Cambridge has its own additional application requirements and deadlines.
The Cambridge International Scholarship itself requires no extra scholarship questions.
Applicants should complete any Gates-specific sections required in the Applicant Portal if they want Gates consideration, while also indicating that they wish to be considered for University funding more broadly.
Cambridge International Scholarship for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants can potentially qualify because the current Cambridge International Scholarship is open to applicants from all countries except the UK and Ireland, subject to Overseas fee status and PhD eligibility.
A competitive Pakistani applicant should focus on:
- strong Bachelor’s and/or Master’s performance;
- a well-developed research proposal;
- clear fit with the target Cambridge department;
- strong academic references;
- demonstrated research potential;
- meeting the course’s funding deadline.
There is no separate Pakistan quota listed for the general Cambridge International Scholarship.
Pakistani students should therefore treat it as a global academic competition.
Cambridge International Scholarship for Indian Students
Indian applicants are also eligible under the general nationality rule, provided they satisfy the relevant Cambridge PhD admission and overseas-fee requirements.
As with other countries, there is no separate general India application form for the Cambridge International Scholarship.
The application is made through Cambridge postgraduate admissions.
Can Current Cambridge Students Apply?
The Cambridge Trust generally does not support students who are already part-way through a Cambridge course.
An exception can apply where a student is completing one degree and applying to begin a higher degree afterwards.
Applicants should therefore secure funding at the point of application rather than expect to obtain this scholarship midway through a PhD.
Can You Hold the Scholarship at Any Cambridge College?
Yes.
The Cambridge International Scholarship is tenable at:
any College of the University of Cambridge.
The Cambridge Trust does not control normal College selection.
Postgraduate applicants can generally state College preferences or allow Cambridge to allocate them according to University procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Cambridge International Scholarship 2027/28 open?
The 2027/28 postgraduate admissions and funding cycle is active, and the current Cambridge funding database already lists the 2027/28 Cambridge Trust International Scholarship.
How many Cambridge International Scholarships are available?
Cambridge currently lists approximately 60 awards for 2027/28.
Is the Cambridge International Scholarship fully funded?
The current award covers international University fees, maintenance, student visa cost and the Immigration Health Surcharge, with various additional benefits also listed.
How much is the stipend?
The Cambridge Trust currently describes the maintenance award as annual support sufficient for a single person rather than publishing one fixed 2027/28 figure on the scholarship page.
Does it cover tuition fees?
Yes. International University tuition fees are included.
Does it cover the UK visa fee?
Yes. The current 2027/28 funding listing includes the student visa cost.
Does it cover the Immigration Health Surcharge?
Yes.
Can Master’s students apply?
Not for this specific Cambridge International Scholarship.
It is currently listed for PhD applicants. Master’s students may be eligible for other Cambridge Trust awards.
Can part-time PhD students apply?
Yes. The current 2027/28 listing includes both full-time and part-time study modes.
Which countries are eligible?
Applicants from all countries except the United Kingdom and Ireland can potentially qualify, subject to the other requirements.
Is there an age limit?
The specific scholarship listing does not publish a universal age limit.
Is there a GPA requirement?
There is no single scholarship-wide numerical GPA cutoff. Applicants need to meet the academic requirements of their PhD programme and rank highly on academic ability and research potential.
Is financial need considered?
The specific Cambridge International Scholarship page states that financial circumstances do not affect selection.
Do I need a separate scholarship application?
No.
Do I need a separate scholarship essay?
The 2027/28 funding database lists no additional Applicant Portal questions for this scholarship.
How many references are required?
Most Cambridge postgraduate applicants need two referees. Individual courses may have specific requirements.
Do I need a supervisor before applying?
It depends on the PhD course. Some departments encourage supervisor contact, while others assign supervisors later or explicitly discourage advance contact.
Is IELTS compulsory?
Not necessarily IELTS specifically. Applicants must meet the English requirement of their selected Cambridge PhD programme.
What is the Cambridge International Scholarship deadline?
The deadline is the funding deadline of the chosen course. The two main Cambridge University funding deadlines for 2027/28 are 8 December 2026 and 6 January 2027.
When are scholarship results announced?
The Trust’s award period runs from mid-February through the end of July, with many awards made during February and March.
What if I do not hear from Cambridge by July?
The Trust says applicants who have not been contacted by the end of July should assume that their funding application was unsuccessful.
Can the scholarship be extended?
The Trust may provide up to six additional months of maintenance funding for writing up, subject to application and approval.
Official Cambridge International Scholarship Links
Applicants should use Cambridge’s own pages for final verification before submitting.
Official Cambridge International Scholarship 2027/28 Listing
This is the most important current source. It confirms the 2027/28 cycle, approximately 60 awards, funding package, eligibility, study mode and deadline rules.
Cambridge Trust International Scholarship 2027/28 — official funding listing
Official Cambridge Trust Scholarship Page
This page explains the scholarship’s value and confirms that no separate application is required.
Cambridge Trust International Scholarship — official Trust page
Cambridge Trust Postgraduate Application Guidance
Use this for the Trust’s eligibility, funding-selection and application process.
Cambridge Trust postgraduate applicants guide
Cambridge Postgraduate Funding Guide
Use this to check the current University funding deadlines and Cambridge funding process.
University of Cambridge postgraduate funding guide
Cambridge Postgraduate Course Directory
Applicants should use the directory to check the exact PhD admission and funding deadline.
Cambridge postgraduate courses
Supporting Documents
Official Cambridge supporting-document guidance
Reference Requirements
Official Cambridge referee guidance
Related Scholarships on Scholarships Central
Students looking for other major PhD funding opportunities can also explore:
- Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027/28
- PhD Scholarships
- Fully Funded Scholarships
- PhD Scholarships Still Open 2026
- All Scholarships on Scholarships Central
Final Thoughts
The Cambridge International Scholarship 2027/28 is one of the strongest Cambridge funding routes for international PhD applicants because the current package includes international tuition fees, maintenance, the student visa cost and Immigration Health Surcharge. Cambridge currently expects to offer approximately 60 awards across a broad range of eligible PhD programmes.
Applicants should focus on the quality of the PhD application itself rather than searching for a separate scholarship form. Academic ability, research potential, examination results, references and the applicant’s departmental ranking are central to selection. Financial circumstances do not affect selection for this particular award.
The most important practical point is the deadline. There is no universal Cambridge International Scholarship deadline. Applicants must submit their complete PhD application by the funding deadline for their chosen course. For 2027/28, Cambridge’s two main University funding deadlines are 8 December 2026 and 6 January 2027.
Applicants should therefore identify their course early, check its exact funding deadline, prepare strong references and research documents, select “Yes – I wish to apply for funding” in the Applicant Portal, and submit everything before the relevant funding cutoff.