Opportunities
There is a galaxy of opportunities to be found. Scholarships, prizes, funding, competitions, curious internships and more. Here’s a curated library; but many more are out there waiting for you to discover them!
University
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Laidlaw Scholars Programme
TheLaidlaw Foundation Leadership & Research Programme at Cambridge University is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of leaders. Undergraduates can apply in their first year of study.
→ Undergraduates (First Year)
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Fox Fellowships
The Fox International Fellowship is a graduate student exchange program between Yale University, USA and Cambridge. Selection in Cambridge is managed by Sidney Sussex College.
→ Postgraduates (PhD)
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Trinity Hall Prize in Student Journalism
The Trinity Hall Prize in Student Journalism recognises excellence in journalism among students at the University of Cambridge. It is open to all Cambridge undergraduates and postgraduates in all fields of study.
→ Undergraduates & Postgraduates
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Hawks' & Ospreys Sport Awards
Get financial support for your sporting participation. Applications are asses on the basis of sporting attainment and financial need.
→ Undergraduates & Postgraduates
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Rose Book Collecting Prize
£500 on offer to student book-collectors. The University Library is offering students the chance to win a cash prize by building and writing about their own book collection.
→ Undergraduates & Postgraduates
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Jane Martin Poetry Prize
A national poetry competition with £1000 prize money.
→ Undergraduates & Postgraduates
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Cambridge Philosophical Society
Society for scientists founded in 1815. Membership is open to graduates of Cambridge and other universities who at the time of application are resident in or near Cambridge. Members are also known as Fellows, and become eligible for travel grants and research funding.
→ Postgraduates
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William Dusinberre Prize
Girton College has established the William Dusinberre Prize to support and recognise student research and engagement with the legacies and practices of enslavement.
→ Undergraduates & Postgraduates
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Gordon Duff Essay Prize
The Gordon Duff Prize is awarded annually for an essay on a subject relating to the science or arts of books and manuscripts. It is open to all University of Cambridge members, students, staff and alumni. There is an award of £500.
→ Undergraduates & Postgraduates
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George Bridgetower Essay Prize
An annual essay prize to stimulate intellectual discourse on themes related to the work of the Black Advisory Hub and provides an opportunity for students to make original contributions to conversations about Black student experiences at Cambridge.
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CSAR PhD Student Awards
CSAR PhD Student Awards of £1,000 each, are intended to recognise outstanding research with real world application and to assist students to pursue their research or careers. Open to students in any discipline.
→ Postgraduates (PhD)
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Seatonian Poetry Prize
Since 1750, this annual poetry prize is for the best English poem on a sacred subject and comes with a cash prize of about £3000. Open to anyone with MA or MA Status (postgraduates).
→ Postgraduates
External
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British School at Rome
An interdisciplinary community producing world-class research and practice in the heart of Rome. Inspired by this remarkable city, staff and fellows collaborate across art, architecture, archaeology and the humanities, drawing on deep networks, skills and knowledge to contribute to the intellectual and creative cultures of the UK, Italy and the wider world. Lots of different funding awards available.
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Iliad AI Fellowships & Intensives
Iliad develops AI safety as a theoretical and experimental science through research, training and fieldbuilding. They offer a number of programmes.
→ Postgraduates
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Cumberland Lodge Fellowship
The Cumberland Lodge Fellowship is a unique two-year programme for emerging changemakers. They offer 10 places each year for doctoral students and early career professionals ready to tackle social division and build more inclusive communities.
→ Postgraduates (PhD)
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Global Ideas Competition
Compete in our Global Ideas Competition and qualify for an all-expenses-covered participation as a Leader of Tomorrow in the world’s premier opportunity for cross-generational debates: The St. Gallen Symposium.
→ Postgraduates
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Global Leadership Challenge
The Global Leadership Challenge (GLC) aims to help emerging leaders to grow in the wisdom and character required for responsible leadership that makes a difference in the world — leadership that doesn’t simply seek to fulfil personal ambition but furthers societies’ sustainable development.
→ Postgraduates
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Stuart Hall Essay Prize
The Stuart Hall Essay Prize, run by the Stuart Hall Foundation, supports a new generation of writers. The prize is open to a range of stylistic approaches; academic, journalistic, creative, biographical or other modes of writing are welcomed, inviting entries from academics, journalists, students and other kinds of writers.
Vacations
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Gladstone Memorial Trust Travel Grants
Annual Deadline: February
The awards are intended to give undergraduate students at Oxford or Cambridge an opportunity to travel abroad and extend their knowledge of foreign countries.
✪ External
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Mosley, Worts & Frere Travel Funds
Applications Open: December
The Mosley, Worts and Frere travel funds (the Travel Awards) are available to undergraduate and postgraduate students to encourage travel outside of the UK in pursuit of study or research.
✪ University
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H.E. Durham Fund
Annual Deadline: May
Administered by King’s College, the H E Durham Fund give small grants to undergraduates for the purpose of advancing, improving, or disseminating knowledge of human or animal life in health or in disease.
✪ University (King’s College)
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Devon Cambridge Long Vacation Grants
The Devon Cambridge Society awards grants to current undergraduates from Devon or Cornwall for projects undertaken during the long vacation.
✪ University
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ARC UK
Annual Deadline: March
Placements for volunteer tour guides to Europe’s churches and cathedrals.
✪ External
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Ditchley Park Internships
Applications Open: April
Internships for undergraduate and graduate students to experience the Ditchley model of leadership, engage in career development, learn new skills and participate in our network, as well as gaining exposure to new people and ideas.
✪ External
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Spectator Internship
The Spectator magazine runs an annual internship with a double-blind application (They don’t ask for a CV or name) but ask for completion of tasks. You’ll come in for a week of your choosing in the summer. It’s a useful window into journalism and gives us the chance to meet new talent.
✪ External
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Fast Stream Civil Service Internship
The Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme (SIP) gives people from lower socio-economic backgrounds the opportunity to see what a career in the Civil Service is like. It puts talented undergraduates on a work placement in a government department. As a successful applicant, you’ll get an insight into the broad range of opportunities available across the Civil Service.
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Spotify Internship
Each year, Spotify offers a range of opportunities across their business, product and technical teams in multiple locations around the world.
✪ External
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Wellcome Trust Internship
The Trust supports research into life, health and wellbeing, and we’re taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate and health. They host 8-week Summer internships for current undergraduates.
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Application Consultations
You can make an appointment with the Careers Service to go over your postgraduate or scholarship application.
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CV Checker
Upload a CV or cover letter for instant review, advice and suggestions for improvements
Further Study
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Get Started Guide
Read the Get Started Guide: Postgraduate Scholarship Applications with tips for finding and applying for funding. If you have questions, send us an email!
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Herchel Smith Scholarships to Harvard, USA
Special funding available only for Emmanuel students and recent graduates to undertake a year of study at Harvard, USA.
✪ Emmanuel
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Varsity Trust Scholarships
The Trust awards scholarships to make substantial contributions to the cost of tuition fees for one-year postgraduate courses in journalism at approved institutions (both in the UK or overseas) to Cambridge students.
✪ University
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Henry, Procter and Choate Fellowships
University aministered scholarships for study at American Ivy League Universities. Henry Fellowships (Harvard & Yale), Procter (Princeton) and Choate (Harvard).
✪ University
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Schwarzman Scholarships to Tsinghua, China
A prestigious one-year, fully funded master’s program in global affairs at Tsinghua University, China.
✪ External
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Northcote Scholarships to Australia
Fully funded postgraduate studies at an Australian university for up to three years.
✪ External
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Swiss Excellence Scholarships
Each year the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 other countries.
✪ External
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Kennedy Memorial Scholarships for Harvard & MIT, USA
The Kennedy Scholarship is an academic award for study at at Harvard and MIT, USA.
✪ External
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Frank Know Fellowship to Harvard, USA
The Frank Knox Memorial Fellowship program provides funding for students from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to conduct graduate study at Harvard University.
✪ External
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Knight-Hennessy Scholarship to Stanford, USA
A fully-endowed, multidisciplinary leadership development program for graduate students at Stanford University.
✪ External
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MEXT Scholarship to Japan
Annual scholarship awarded by Japanese Government to anyone who wishes to continue their studies in Japan. Grantees can pursue a postgraduate degree in any field as long as it is related to their area of expertise or previous study.
✪ External
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Rhodes Scholarships to Oxford
If you’re not a British citizen then you can apply for a Rhodes Scholarship for postgraduate study at Oxford University.
✪ External
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Gates Cambridge Scholarships
If you’re not a British citizen and want to continue your studies in Cambridge, you can apply for a Gates Cambridge scholarship towards a postgraduate course, including current Maters students seeking to undertake PhDs.
✪ University
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Application Consultations
You can make an appointment with the Careers Service to go over your postgraduate or scholarship application.
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CV Checker
Upload a CV or cover letter for instant review, advice and suggestions for improvements
Upcoming
Apply: Cambridge Zero Public Engagement & Media Fellowship
Apply: Cambridge Zero Public Engagement Media Fellowship. Deadline: 24 March.
Apply: ThinkLab Research the Future of How We Work Online
Apply: ThinkLab Research the Future of How We Work Online Deadline 6 March
Apply: 23 Things International - Researcher Development Online Course
Apply: 23 Things International - Researcher Development Online Course Register: 26 February
Get Certified
You can now get your co-curricular learning and experience recognised with a Mildmay Award for personal and professional development.