Cambridge Commonwealth Trust

The Trust supports postgraduate study, primarily PhD and Masters, as well as limited undergraduate programmes, across all subjects and colleges at the University of Cambridge. Funding covers full or partial costs including tuition, college fees, living expenses, and sometimes travel. The Trust works in partnership with schemes such as the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and field-specific awards like the David and Susan Hibbitt Scholarship for Engineering. Geographically, the Trust focuses on students from Commonwealth countries, developing nations, and other non-UK citizens, with particular emphasis on countries such as China, India, the United States, and emerging economies.

The Trust funds individual students, not organisations. Eligible applicants must be non-UK citizens who have been admitted to a course at the University of Cambridge, excluding most professional degrees such as the MBA. Priority is given to students from Commonwealth and developing nations, with academic merit and financial need as key criteria. Most awards are considered automatically through the university's admissions process, so no separate application is required. The Trust values inclusion and aims to support students regardless of socioeconomic background.

The Trust does not accept applications from organisations or charities. It does not fund projects, capital costs, or any study outside the University of Cambridge. Professional degrees such as the MBA are generally excluded. The Trust also does not consider students who have not been admitted to a Cambridge course.

The Trust does not accept unsolicited applications; students are considered automatically through the Cambridge admissions process. Funding is provided for the duration of the course, covering full or partial costs. The Trust leverages philanthropy and works in partnership with other scholarship schemes to support its awards. It conducts transparent reviews every five years and uses strategic co-funding to address diversity gaps.