For Undergraduates

The Academic Fund will be open for applications once a term, with an additional round early in Michaelmas Term.  Applications to the Academic fund will close in the second half of each term.  

Applications close:

Michaelmas: 11 October, 22 November

Lent: 7 March 2027

Easter:6 June 2027   

• Students should discuss their application with their Director of  Studies  in the first instance.  Your DOS may be able to direct you to other appropriate funds.
• If you do apply to the Academic fund, your DOS will be asked if they support your application.
• You should approach your Faculty or Department and/or other College funds for support and indicate this on your application.
• The Committee may refer applications to other appropriate funds where possible.
• Students should apply online. The application form is available here.
• A maximum of £350 per student per year can be awarded from this Fund.
• Claims should be submitted, with receipts, after expenses have been incurred. Please contact fwo@girton.cam.ac.uk if this will cause financial difficulties for you.
• Students may be asked to write a short statement/ complete a short survey about how the Academic Fund helped them, in order to publicise the fund.

 If you have any questions about the Academic Fund please contact the Financial Welfare Office (fwo@girton.cam.ac.uk).

Applications to cover the following will be considered:

• A contribution to College rent when students stayed out of the residence period for academic reasons, at the discretion of the committee depending on demand and on available funds. This may only be at a percentage of the daily rate. Subsistence is not usually supported.
• A contribution towards non-compulsory field trip expenses, including research trips for dissertations (eg to library/archives). Where applicable for field trips, you should apply to UG Travel Awards first.
• A contribution to support internships with additional costs. Girton’s Academic Support Fund is able to support students with the cost of taking up an internship, where there is a shortfall between the pay received from the employer and essential expenditure for accommodation, travel etc. Please note that the College will not support any costs associated with unpaid internships or unpaid work experience, e.g accommodation, travel and maintenance costs. The College takes the view that unpaid positions create inequality of opportunity for students, which is in conflict with our commitment to a Widening Participation agenda. Internships and work experience opportunities that pay at least national minimum wage ensure that economically less advantaged students can afford to apply for these opportunities without creating financial worry for them and their families. Subsistence is not usually supported.
• A contribution to exceptional dissertation or coursework expenses but not usually for printing.
• A contribution to other academic related work, with a strong case from your Director of Studies. This can include compulsory farm-based practice during vacations for Veterinary Science students, or top up funding for course related travel for a year abroad, where a student is travelling further afield than is usual.
• The maximum UK transport costs that can be claimed is the equivalent of a second class rail fare on a student railcard, where practicable.
• Applications for an additional CULP Language course, subject to DOS confirmation that it is related to the course.

The following will NOT be considered:

• Expenses due to resits or College examinations out of the residence period.
• Compulsory field trips advertised as part of the course.
• Purchase of books/digital recordings.
• Pens, pencils, glue, printing paper, delivery charges.
• Course Fees for MPhil.
• Purchase of IT hardware or software will not normally be considered. Normally recommended software would be available via the College  and/ or department computers, subject to appropriate licensing.

If you are having difficulty meeting expenses such as those above not covered by the Academic Fund, please approach your Tutor or the Financial Welfare Officer to see if other funds are available.

From your fifth year of study onwards you may be eligible to have your tuition fees paid by

• the NHS bursaries in England, 
• Department of Health in Northern Ireland
• NHS Wales Student Awards Services
• SAAS in Scotland for EEA students 

These are non-repayable unlike the Student Finance loan. 

NHS Bursary: 

For English students, you can apply here:  Register for an NHS Bursary account - NHS Bursary - NHSBSA

For other students, you can find more details and links here:

NHS bursary guide 2026 - Save the Student

Further details of the NHS bursary can be found here: Clinical medics and vets | Cambridge students.

and here: The NHS Bursary Scheme new rules (15th edition) for the academic year 2026 to 2027 - GOV.UK

Maintenance:

From Y5 onwards you may also be eligible for an NHS maintenance bursary

• Non means tested bursary £1081
• Means tested bursary up to £2855

This is non-repayable.

You can also apply to Student Finance for a maintenance loan 

but this is reduced in comparison with years 1-4 : up to  £2828 (Y5) £2204 (Y6)

This is a repayable loan. 

Application for student finance - continuing students

Here is a link to more detailed guidance and support documents for your SF application: 

Clinical medics and vets | Cambridge students

Cambridge Bursary:  UK students are eligible  for this as in previous years for incomes below £62,500, provided you have had a household income assessment from Student Finance.

See this table for the CBS bursary+ enhanced award: What you could get | Cambridge students

Residence bursary: for any CBS recipients who live in College accommodation 

Girton maintenance bursary may also be available and is advertised in very early October.

• Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses (TDAE)  (for elective)
• Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)
• Extra Weeks Allowance

NHS Additional allowances:

Further information: Additional allowances | NHSBSA

Extra weeks allowance is £91 per additional week, if your course lasts more than 30 weeks and 3 days excluding holidays  

The Harry Barkley fund was set up to provide a contribution towards the costs of  the 5^th year elective period of training for clinical medical students. It was established from a bequest by Dr Harry Barkley in 1981.

Students who receive either a Harry Barkley or Dinah James Award should send a report about their elective (up to 400 words) by the end of Michaelmas term of their 6^th year.

Students should apply by 23rd March in their 5^th year. Apply here.

Applicants will be asked to provide an outline of the elective proposed, a risk assessment and an estimate of expenses.

Preference will be given to applicants who have a good academic record. Both the academic content of the elective and the financial needs of the applicant will also be considered.

Students are encouraged to attend the Risk Assessment presentation, details to be advised.

Applications to this fund which relate to Tropical Medicine or a related Global Health field will be considered for a Dinah James Award. Apply here.

The Dinah James Award was established by a bequest from Professor Dinah James, Visiting Clothworker’s Fellow, 1975-76.

• This is the NHS Travel and Accommodation expense support:    

Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses (TDAE) | NHSBSA

• You have to first apply for an NHS bursary and be assessed as eligible for the non means tested grant. See this link to check your eligibility: Student Services | NHSBSA
• Apply for reimbursement within 9 months of the last day of your placement, preferably a few weeks earlier than that in case there are delays. 
• This can include accommodation (up to £82.50 per night), travel costs between your accommodation and location of elective, vaccinations etc if your placement is abroad. 

It does not cover flights to your elective’s destination. 

• Here is a short video that explains TDAE:

Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses (TDAE) | NHSBSA

Humanitarian Response Fund to support students affected by conflict | University of Cambridge

This is available to any student from a country on UNICEF's Level 2 or 3 Emergency list, or who has Refugee, Asylum Seeker or Humanitarian Protection status. Students can apply for support with living costs.

See this link also for details of the application procedure and eligibility criteria: Humanitarian Response Fund 

Students are encouraged to take one of the language programmes organised by CULP. Students may request partial reimbursement from their College for the fees, for up to two programmes during their undergraduate and/ or PhD programme. Applicants from Master's Programmes may apply once. 

The current fee is £295 and typically £147.50 can be reimbursed.

Please apply here with your completion certificate and receipt.

Thanks to the generosity of donors to Girton College,  a new fund is being piloted to support First year Undergraduate and First year Postgraduate students to undertake an enrichment activity. The idea of this pilot scheme is to encourage students when they first arrive in Cambridge to get involved in a community, sport, or society, or try something new that is separate from their academic studies, without the deterrence of financial cost. Students can apply for a maximum of £50 in any academic year. If the funds allow, this may be opened up to other year groups after Michaelmas term. 

Apply here 

Applications will be considered on a  'first come first served basis' in the event that the funds run out.  Here are some examples of suitable funding requests:

• Clubs & societies
• Sports club or team memberships
• Drama, dance, or music groups
• Kit or equipment for the above clubs or societies
• Volunteering

Please note that the following are not eligible for these grants:

• Academic workshops
• Field trips
• Conferences
• Travel for academic or research purposes
• Attendance etc at Formal Halls or May Balls
• Membership of political parties  or party political activities
• Language courses 
•  

nb. Applications to both Enrichment Grant & Sports Awards for the same sport may not exceed £300 per year* 

For some of the activities in the last list, here are links to       

• Academic fund  (UG)                                                                                 
• Academic Development fund (PG)                                                              
• Language Programmes fund (UG & PG)       
• Sports awards  (UG & PG)