Institute of Criminology

Course Funding


Kings College

Various sources of funding exist for those wishing to pursue study at the Institute of Criminology. The following is a summary of available awards of which we are aware.


ESRC 1+3 or +3 Studentships

The Institute of Criminology is pleased to be able to offer a small number of Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) 1+3 or +3 studentships. Each of the studentships covers the cost of fees (University composition fee and College fee) for four years, together with a maintenance stipend for each year. Where appropriate, the Institute can apply for an enhanced stipend for anyone wishing to pursue research which is likely to involve advanced quantitative research. The studentship enables each successful applicant to study for the M.Phil. in Criminological Research in the first year, followed by three years of doctoral research leading to the award of a Ph.D.

These studentships are for UK and EU applicants who fulfil conditions of residence and have a first class or upper second class degree or equivalent. Applicants who believe they are eligible should express an interest as early as possible in the admissions process; if you are interested in being considered for future such studentships, please specify this on your application to the M.Phil. or Ph.D. programme.

Informal enquiries about the studentships are welcome and can be made to the Graduate Administrator. Further information regarding the ESRC studentships can be downloaded below in .pdf format.

Enquiries about the studentships for 2013-14 are welcome and can be made to Professor Loraine Gelsthorpe or Professor Alison Liebling.


Institute of Criminology Funding

Details of the two studentships available specifically for graduate students at the Institute are given below. Application forms may be obtained from the Graduate Administrator, and should be returned by 31 May.

Wakefield Scholarships

Wakefield Scholarships are awardable each year to persons intending to pursue a course of advanced study or research at the Institute. Scholarships are awarded from the benefaction of Mrs Priscilla Mitchell (née Wakefield) in memory of her brother, Captain Edward Roger Wakefield, and also in recognition of the historic work of her forebears, Edward Gibbon Wakefield, Daniel Bell Wakefield, William Hayward Wakefield, and Arthur Wakefield in the development of New Zealand, South Australia, and Canada in the nineteenth century.

Wakefield Scholarships are open to any person who was born or educated in Australia, Canada, or New Zealand. If two or more candidates born or educated in Australia are equally well qualified, preference is given to a candidate who was born or educated in South Australia. Scholarships are awarded annually, but Wakefield Scholars are eligible for re-election, provided that the tenure of a Scholarship does not normally exceed three years in all. The annual value of a Scholarship is determined by the Managers of the Wakefield Fund at the time of election, taking into account the financial circumstances of applicants. Awards do not usually exceed the full value of University and College fees.

Manuel Lopez-Ray Scholarship

The Manuel Lopez-Rey Studentship in Criminology is awarded from the Manuel Lopez-Rey Fund, given to the University by Mrs Grace Lopez-Rey in memory of her husband, Professor Manuel Lopez-Rey, a former Visiting Fellow of the Institute.

The Studentship is open to any person who is, or is about to be, registered as a graduate student in criminology at the University. However, the Committee of Management of the Institute (which administers this fund) may give preference to candidates who are citizens of countries in which, in the opinion of the Committee, there is a particular need for the development of the study of Criminology (a phrase currently interpreted by the Committee as referring especially to developing countries). Studentships are normally awarded for one year only. The value of a Studentship is determined by the Committee at the time of the election, taking into account the financial circumstances of the applicant. The Studentship may not be awarded in every academic year.

Piggy Bank

College Funding

Studentships and scholarships are offered by many of the Colleges. Some may be of particular interest to criminology applicants, including The Evan Lewis-Thomas Scholarship at Sidney Sussex College, the Tapp Studentships at Gonville and Caius College, and the Lord Morris of Borth-y-Gest Scholarship at Trinity Hall.


University Funding

Gates Cambridge Scholarships

In 2001, the University received a benefaction from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to establish a scheme of scholarships for international students. The scheme offers a substantial number of full-cost Gates Cambridge Scholarships. Scholars from any country (other than the United Kingdom), of outstanding academic merit and leadership potential, committed to serving their communities, who gain admission to the University of Cambridge to pursue graduate study (either one-year graduate courses or research leading to the Ph.D. degree) are eligible to be considered for these scholarships, many of which will be for students from the United States of America.

All eligible candidates who have formally applied before 1st November for admission as a graduate student to the University of Cambridge, will be invited to submit supplementary information relevant to their candidature for the Gates Scholarships through a personal referee.


Chevening Scholarships

Overseas students may be eligible to apply for Chevening Scholarships, funded by the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The selection criteria and other details for these can be found on the Chevening website. The applicant's organisation will normally be required to contribute a proportion of the funds.


Other Funding for Overseas Students

Overseas students at the Institute have in recent years been supported by various institutions, including the British Council, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, the Fulbright-Hays programme, the Rotary Foundation, the Canada Council, the Laidlow Foundation, the Rhodes Trust, and the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust. Applicants will be informed on receipt of their application whether there are any funds for which they are eligible.


Further Information Regarding Funding

Details of potential sources of awards and grants for graduate students can be found in the University Graduate Studies Prospectus.

A special edition of the Cambridge Reporter is also published every autumn entitled "Awards, Funds, Studentships, and Prizes" that contains information on all of the sources of funding available within the University, colleges and departments.

Applicants may also be interested in consulting the Grants Register (a directory of research awards published every two years by Macmillan Press).


Private loans to UK graduate students

In addition to the other loan schemes on this website, the HSBC Cambridge branch offers loans specifically for one-year Master's courses at Cambridge. Please contact the Cambridge branch of the bank direct for information: retail.branch.cambridge.city.office@hsbc.com.