Various sources of funding exist for those wishing to pursue study at the Institute of Criminology. The following is a summary of some studentships, scholarships and awards available to prospective students

University Funding

For information on how to apply for the studentships and scholarships below, please read the funding pages of the 'Postgraduate Study' website. This website provides comprehensive information about how to apply for funding, and a search tool which allows you to search for the competitions you are eligible for.

There are several centrally administered funding opportunities which exist for postgraduate students. It is important to understand that the competition for full studentships is intense, however, we encourage you to indicate that you would like to be considered for these competitions.

ESRC DTP (Doctoral Training Partnership)

The Institute participates in the ESRC DTP (Doctoral Training Partnership) at the University of Cambridge.  They offer studentships across the social sciences at Cambridge, primarily to PhD applicants but also to MPhil applicants. The Institute nominates a small number of suitable applicants each year to be considered for this funding.

Gates Cambridge Scholarships

Gates Cambridge Scholarships are designed to support students of outstanding academic merit and leadership potential from every country of the world except the UK. Preference will be given to those judged particularly committed to serving their communities There are two selection rounds each year. Applicants who are US citizens resident in the USA will be considered in the first round. All other eligible applicants will be considered in the second round. Full details and application deadlines can be found on the Postgraduate Admissions website or on the Gates Cambridge website.

2025-2026

Cambridge Trust

The Cambridge Trust works with partners worldwide to provide a variety of scholarship schemes. The Trust has been offering scholarships at Cambridge for over 30 years. In this time it has awarded more than 20,000 scholarships to students from around the world. The Cambridge Trust awards around 500 scholarships a year to support the most outstanding students. It also supports more than 1200 current students each year. The Trust awards students at both PhD and Master's level, in all subjects, at any of the 31 Colleges. If you are interested in being considered for this funding you will be asked to indicate this on your application form.

For more information, please visit the Cambridge Trust website.

Institute of Criminology Funding

Wakefield Scholarship

• Wakefield Scholarship - Application Form
• Wakefield Scholarship - Referee Form

References need to be sent to graduate.administrator@crim.cam.ac.uk by the application deadline.

Manuel López-Rey Studentship

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

• Lopez-Rey - Application Form
• Lopez-Rey - Referee Form

References need to be sent to graduate.administrator@crim.cam.ac.uk by the application deadline.

Jerry Lee Doctoral Studentships

Since 2006, the Jerry Lee Foundation has supported the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, in creating a Centre dedicated solely to the advancement of experimental criminology.  It has also pledged to fund a programme of doctoral studentships at the Institute of Criminology.  

• Jerry Lee Doctoral Studentship - Application Form
• Jerry Lee Doctoral Studentship - Referee Form
• Jerry Lee Doctoral Studentship - Employee Form

Please send your application form and references to: graduate.administrator@crim.cam.ac.uk

MSt in Applied Criminology, Penology and Management

Most course participants apply for funding from their service or organisation. Some students provide their own funding, at least in part.
Funding available from the Institute and University that we are aware of is detailed on this page. Unfortunately, much of this funding is not available to MSt students.

However, overseas students may like to note that they may be eligible to apply for Chevening Scholarships, funded by the UK 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.

There is some provision for Professional Student Loans and further details can be found at: Professional and Career Development Loan

2024-2025: Timpson Bursaries

Timpson Bursary – Third Sector: For those working in the third sector in criminal justice.

We are pleased to announce that we will again be offering a 50% fee bursary for the Masters in the Applied Criminology, Penology and Management programme in 2024 for people working in the third sector relating to criminal justice. The bursary is awarded from the benefaction of Mr James Timpson, an ardent supporter of those with lived experience of the penal system and those that work in the third sector to support them. Mr Timpson is passionate about employing ex-offenders and works closely with HMPPS to improve the lives of his employees by creating an empowering workplace culture.

Prospective students for the MSt in the Applied Criminology, Penology and Management, will need to be working in the third sector in the area of criminal justice (third sector is defined as non-governmental and non-profit making organisations including charities, voluntary and community groups, cooperatives, etc. ) and satisfy the application criteria for the course. The Timpson Bursary will be awarded for the duration of the MSt course and will cover 50% of the fees for each year (total £11,000 over two years). Application deadline for the bursary for study in 2024 is 11 Jan 24.  

• The Timpson Bursary is open to any person working in the third sector in criminal justice. 
• It will be awarded for the duration of the MSt course and will cover 50% of the fees for each year (total £11,000 over two years).
• Please see details on the Postgraduate Funding Search. 

Application form: PDF or Word.

Please send your application forms, and references to sgc@crim.cam.ac.uk

Please note that an application for the Timpson Bursary is separate to your application for entry onto the course; you must also apply for admission onto the course through the normal processes. 

Timpson Bursary – Lived Experience.

We are pleased to announce the creation of a new bursary for the Masters in the Applied Criminology, Penology and Management programme for 2024. The Bursary is awarded from the benefaction of Mr James Timpson, an ardent supporter of those with lived experience of imprisonment and those that work in the third sector to support them. Mr Timpson is passionate about employing ex-offenders and works closely with the prison service in the UK to improve the lives of his employees by creating an empowering workplace culture. Mr Timpson is offering a bursary to prospective students with lived experience of the penal system.

Prospective students for the MSt in the Applied Criminology, Penology and Management, will need to be working in the field of criminal justice and satisfy the application criteria for the course. The Timpson Bursary will be awarded for the duration of the MSt course and will cover 50% of the fees for each year (total £11,000** over two years). Application deadline for the bursary for study in 2024 is the 30 Nov 23.  

Having a criminal conviction does not, of itself, prevent people from studying at Cambridge. However, the University has safeguarding duties towards all its students and staff and there may be occasions where these have to be placed ahead of other considerations. During the application process, in certain circumstances, you must provide full details of your criminal conviction.  This enables the University to assess the risk posed to individuals and the wider University community, identifying where this risk is unacceptable or where specific actions or support are needed to mitigate the risk to an acceptable level. We encourage prospective students to apply as early as possible to allow time for any required assessments. More details of the assessment process and requirements can be found here: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/postgraduate-applicants-previous-criminal-convictions

 Please see details on the Postgraduate Funding Search. 

Application form: PDF or Word.

Please your application forms, and references to sgc@crim.cam.ac.uk

Please note that an application for the Timpson Bursary is separate to your application for entry onto the course; you must also apply for admission onto the course through the normal processes.

MSt in Applied Criminology and Police Management

Most course participants apply for funding from their service or organisation. Some students provide their own funding, at least in part.  Unfortunately, much of the funding from the Institute and University is not available to MSt students

Overseas students may be eligible to apply for Chevening Scholarships funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The selection criteria and other details for these can be found on their website. The applicant's organisation will normally be required to contribute a proportion of the funds. MSt applicants from Canada, New Zealand and Australia are eligible to apply for a Wakefield Scholarship to contribute towards their fee's.

Other potential funding sources

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. You will need to look at the organizational websites for information.

Loans

For more information about the kinds of loans available to home and overseas students, please check the information on the Postgraduate Admissions website.