Studentships
Thanks to the generosity of its many benefactors, the College is able to offer a wide range of studentship awards. If you wish to discuss donating towards new or existing student support initiatives, please contact the Development Office at development@darwin.cam.ac.uk.
Landon-Sender PhD Studentship in the Arts and Humanities, 2027-28
For 2027/28 entry, Darwin is offering one new Landon-Sender Scholarship PhD Studentship in the Arts and Humanities. The studentship is open to a new Home-fees PhD student of outstanding academic promise who has nominated Darwin as their first choice College. The studentship covers the University tuition fee and an annual stipend for maintenance (for a single person only) for three years. Applicants who indicate that they are applying for funding and whose applications are received by the University’s funding deadline (according to the Postgraduate Funding deadline set for their chosen course) will be considered for this award, which is allocated on the basis of academic merit. Applications for this award is made via the University’s standard postgraduate application process.
Pamela Raspe Trinity-Cambridge Research Studentship in the Arts and Humanities, 2027-28
For 2027/28 entry, Darwin is offering one new Pamela Raspe Trinity-Cambridge Research Studentship in the Arts and Humanities. The studentship is open to a new Home-fees PhD student of outstanding academic promise who has nominated Darwin as their first choice College. The studentship covers the University tuition fee and an annual stipend for maintenance (for a single person only) for three and a half years. Applicants who indicate that they are applying for funding and whose applications are received by the University’s funding deadline (according to the Postgraduate Funding deadline set for their chosen course) will be considered for this award, which is allocated on the basis of academic merit. Applications for this award is made via the University’s standard postgraduate application process.
Robin Carrell/C.H. Lee BBSRC Studentship in the Biological Sciences, 2027-28
For 2027/28 entry, Darwin is offering one new Robin Carrell/C.H Lee BBSRC PhD Studentship in the Biological Sciences. The studentship is open to a PhD student, ideally from South-East Asia or Australasia, of outstanding academic promise who has nominated Darwin as their first choice College. The studentship covers the University tuition fee and an annual stipend for maintenance (for a single person only) for four years. Applicants who indicate that they are applying for funding and whose applications are received by the University’s funding deadline (according to the Graduate Funding deadline) will be considered for this award, which is allocated on the basis of a University-wide competition.
DH Mellor Cambridge Trust Philosophy PhD Studentship 2027-28
Darwin College offers annually, by competition, one fully funded (fees and stipend) PhD Philosophy studentship to a student commencing graduate work in the Faculty of Philosophy. Other things being equal, preference will be given to UK students. The award is for students to study at Darwin College. Applications are welcome from students applying to Darwin, or from students who, if applying to other Colleges, are prepared to apply to transfer to Darwin. No special application forms are necessary, and all those eligible will be considered from information contained in their original application to the University. The tenure of the award is three years.
DH Mellor Cambridge Trust Philosophy MPhil Studentships 2027-28
Darwin College offers annually, by competition, two DH Mellor Masters Philosophy studentships of up to £12,000 to students commencing graduate work in the Faculty of Philosophy. The awards are for students to study at Darwin College. Applications are welcome from students applying to Darwin, or from students who, if applying to other Colleges, are prepared to apply to transfer to Darwin. No special application forms are necessary, and all those eligible will be considered from information contained in their original application to the University. The tenure of the award is for one year, but holders may be considered in subsequent years.
Professor DH (Hugh) Mellor was a Fellow of Darwin College who died in 2020 and who, with great generosity, bequeathed his estate to the College for the endowment of this studentship fund.
Geoffrey Fisk Studentship at Darwin College
Darwin College offers annually, by competition, one or more Geoffrey Fisk Studentships to students studying the medical sciences broadly defined with an emphasis where and when possible on orthopaedics. Applications are welcome from students nominating Darwin, or from students who, if applying to other Colleges, are prepared to transfer to Darwin. The tenure of the award is for one year, but holders may be considered in subsequent years. Written applications to the Dean (djn33@cam.ac.uk) should include a personal statement and CV. Applications must be submitted by 31 March.
Joseph Needham Foundation for Science and Civilisation Studentships at Darwin College
Darwin College offers Joseph Needham Studentships which provide all approved fees and maintenance for Hong Kong citizens studying for the PhD, or MPhil leading to PhD, in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Applicants should apply in writing by email in the first instance directly to the Dean of the College as the studentship is not always available djn33@cam.ac.uk.
Professor William Weiner Cambridge Trust LLM Studentship 2027-28
Darwin College offers annually, by competition, one William Weiner Cambridge Trust LLM Studentship of up to £7,000. The award is for a student to study at Darwin College. Applications are welcome from students nominating Darwin, or from students who, if applying to other Colleges, are prepared to apply to transfer to Darwin. No special application forms are necessary, and all those eligible will be considered from information contained in their original application to the University. The tenure of the award is one year.
Cambridge Opportunity Masters at Darwin College Studentships
Darwin College is delighted to be part of this programme established by the Cambridge Trust to support UK/Home Masters students from low-income households with experience of educational disadvantage. A small proportion of the awards (Get In Masters Studentships) are reserved to address under-representation of students from Black, British Bangladeshi or British Pakistani, backgrounds. Click here for more information.
Rowan Williams Cambridge Studentship(s)
Darwin College is delighted to be part of this programme established by the Cambridge Trust to support students who face severe barriers in coming to study in Cambridge. Named after the former Chairman of Cambridge Trust, the Rowan Williams Cambridge Studentship is a full-cost award available to graduate students, covering tuition fees and maintenance, which will, in some instances, also assist with students’ upfront expenses such as travel, visa costs and the immigration health surcharge. To be eligible, applicants need to: hold a conditional offer of admission to the University of Cambridge; be from an area of instability or zone of conflict; be, or have been, at risk of discrimination, persecution, suffering, violence or other abuse of their human rights. Applicants do not need to have Refugee status. Postgraduate applicants should apply by the Graduate Funding deadline for their chosen course of study, and be offered conditional admission to the University of Cambridge; tick the box to apply for funding, and fill in the Cambridge Trust section of the online form stating how they meet the eligibility criteria, as part of their application for admission through the University’s Applicant Portal. Please follow this link for further details.
César Milstein Studentship, 2027/28
Darwin College is delighted to work with the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology who offer Argentine (and other South American) students four-year fully-funded PhD studentships in the LMB’s Protein and Nucleic Acid Chemistry Division, where César Milstein carried out most of his research. Further details here. César and Celia Milstein had a long association with Darwin College and the Milstein Scholars continue that tradition by becoming members of Darwin.
Darwin Vargas Studentship, 2027/28
Darwin College offers a Vargas Studentship which provides all approved fees and maintenance for three years. Only Venezuelan citizens studying for the PhD, or MPhil leading to PhD, in medicine (or related subjects) are eligible. Applicants should apply in writing by email in the first instance directly to the Dean of the College as the studentship is not always available djn33@cam.ac.uk.
University Funding
Details of the various awards, studentships, hardship funds and other student support funds can be found in the online directory of awards and funds administered by the University (including departments, faculties, colleges, central offices and other internal sponsors). To search the database, go to Cambridge Funding Search.
David Ellar PhD Studentship in the Biological Sciences
Darwin offers David Ellar and BBSRC PhD Studentships in Biological Sciences. The studentship is open to a Home PhD student of outstanding academic promise who has nominated Darwin as their first choice College. The studentship covers the University tuition fee and an annual stipend for maintenance (for a single person only) for four years. Applicants who indicate that they are applying for funding and whose applications are received by the University’s funding deadline (according to the Graduate Funding deadline) will be considered for this award, which is allocated on the basis of a University-wide competition. There will be no new award in 2027/28.
Michael Blank Trinity-Cambridge Research Studentships
Darwin offers Michael Blank Trinity-Cambridge Research Studentship in the Biological Sciences. These studentships are open to new Home-fees PhD students of outstanding academic promise who have nominated Darwin as their first choice College. The studentships cover the University tuition fee and an annual stipend for maintenance (for a single person only) for 3.5 years. Applicants who indicate that they are applying for funding and whose applications are received by the University’s funding deadline (according to the Graduate Funding deadline set for your chosen course) will be considered for these awards, which are allocated on the basis of academic merit. Applications for these awards are made via the University’s standard postgraduate application process. Further details here. There will be no new award in 2027/28.
