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Institute of Criminology

 
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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
  • Institute of Criminology Funding
  • Other Potential Funding Resources

University Funding

For information on how to apply for the studentships and scholarships below, please read the funding pages of the Postgraduate Admissions Office 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, but we encourage you to indicate that you would like to be considered for these competitions. In general, Criminology students are successful in most of the funding competitions, and, in a typical year, we will host students who have been awarded funding from all of the major funding bodies such as the ESRC DTP, Gates Cambridge and the Cambridge Trust.


ESRC DTP (Doctoral Training Partnership)

The Institute is pleased to participate in the ESRC DTP (Doctoral Training Partnership) at the University of Cambridge.  A range of studentships are available across the social sciences at Cambridge.  If you are interested in how society works and how it can handle global challenges, a DTP studentship will give you a world-class training programme, with access to leading international scholars both at Cambridge and other DTPs, and a wide community of fellow social scientists.

You can find out more about ESRC DTP studentships here

Please contact the to discuss your interest in applying for a DTP studentship.


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, and students from the USA will be considered first.

Full details and application deadlines can be found on the Postgraduate Admissions website or on the Gates Cambridge website.

2024-2025 Application year

USA applicants deadline

Wednesday 11 October 2023 (12 noon in local US time zone)

Other non UK applicants deadline

Thursday 4 January 2024


Cambridge Trust

Full details of Cambridge Commonwealth, European & International Trust awards and application deadlines can be found in the Postgraduate Admissions website or on the Cambridge Trust website.


Institute of Criminology Funding

Wakefield Scholarship

Criteria / Eligibilty
  • Wakefield Fund and Scholarships are for persons intending to pursue a course of advanced study or research at the Institute.
  • They are open to any person who was born or educated in Australia, New Zealand or Canada. 
  • 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.

Award Details

  • Scholarships are awarded annually, for one year, allocated equally across the MSt, MPhil and PhD courses.
  • Applications received after the course application deadlines will not be considered. [Please note: MSt applications are only considered in the first meeting of the Fund Managers in January / February. MSt applications received after the January closing date will not be considered at the second Fund Managers meeting after the March closing date.]
  • The annual value of a Scholarship is determined by the Managers of the Wakefield Fund at the time of election, and it takes into account the financial circumstances of applicants. Awards do not usually exceed the full value of University and College fees.
  • Previous scholarship recipients are not automatically considered or awarded funding for subsequent years of study. To be considered for a second or third year of funding (three years is the maximum duration of funding), a new application form needs to be completed and submitted each year, by the deadlines advertised below. 

Please note that there are two deadlines:

MSt Course - Application deadline

Thursday 11 January 2024

MPhil / PhD Course - Application deadline   

Sunday 31 March 2024

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


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.

Criteria / Eligibilty
  • 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 Fund Managers may give preference to candidates who are citizens of countries in which, in the opinion of the Fund Managers, there is a particular need for the development of the study of criminology.
Award Details
  • A studentship is tenable for one year in the first instance.
  • In exceptional circumstances it maybe renewed by the Managers for a second or third year. If a previous recepient of the studentship wishes to be considered for another round of awards, they must submit a new application form each year by the deadline advertised below.
  • The value of a Studentship is determined by the Fund Managers at the time of the election, taking into account the financial circumstances of the applicant.
  • The Studentship may not be available in every academic year.
  • Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

Application deadline 

Sunday 31 March 2024

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


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.  

Criteria / Eligibility

Jerry Lee Doctoral Studentship applicants will need to meet the following criteria

  • Plan to undertake a part-time PhD in Experimental Criminology, and have received an offer of place * to start a part-time PhD degree at the Institute of Criminology in the following academic year.
  • Be currently employed - most likely in a criminal justice agency. [Studentships will be awarded to applicants who can deliver a high-quality experiment in the context of their employment, for example a randomised controlled trial, where the employer will allow and accommodate study for a PhD.]
  • Are eligible to pay Home Fees.

* The majority of the Jerry Lee Doctoral Studentships will be awarded shortly after the application deadline for the next academic year.

Therefore, we strongly encourage applicants planning to apply to start their studies in either the Lent (January) or Easter Terms (April), submit their PhD application as soon as they can. 

If all of the studentships are not awarded in the first round (May/June), the Institute will re-open the application window later on in the year. Details will be posted here

Award Details

The Studentship will cover £5,619 per annum towards Home Fees, up to a maximum of five years’ study

Application Deadline Wednesday 5 June 2024

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


Experimental Criminology Doctoral Bursary

The Jerry Lee Centre for Experimental Criminology, one of the Institute of Criminology’s six research centres, is dedicated solely to the advancement of experimental criminology.  We are pleased to offer a one-off bursary to support a part-time PhD student in experimental criminology.

Criteria / Eligibility

Applicants will need to meet the following criteria:

  • Plan to undertake a part-time PhD in Experimental Criminology, and have received an offer of place * to start a part-time PhD degree at the Institute of Criminology in the following academic year.
  • Be currently employed - most likely in a criminal justice agency. [The Bursary will be awarded to an applicant who can deliver a high-quality experiment in the context of their employment, for example a randomised controlled trial, where the employer will allow and accommodate study for a PhD.]Are eligible to pay Home Fees.

The Bursary will be awarded shortly after the application deadline for the next academic year. Therefore, we strongly encourage applicants planning to apply to start their studies in either the Lent (January) or Easter Terms (April), submit their PhD application as soon as they can. If the Bursary is not awarded in the first round (May/June), the Institute will re-open the application window later on in the year. Details will be posted here.

Award Details

The Bursary of £10,000 will be paid in 5 instalments of £2,000 per annum.

Application Deadline

Wednesday 5 June 2024

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 deadline

Friday 11 January (for study in 2024)

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 deadline

Thursday 30 November 2023 (for study in 2024)

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.


 

Funding Application Deadlines

Departmental Funding

  • Jerry Lee Doctoral Studentships: Wednesday 5 June 2024.
  • Wakefield Scholarship: MSt applicants: Thursday 11 January 2024.  MPhil / PhD applicants:  Sunday 31 March 2024
  • Manuel López-Rey Studentship: Sunday 31 March 2024.
  • Timpson Bursary: TBC

University Funding

  • Cambridge Gates (USA citizens / people resident in the USA): Wednesday 11 October 2023
  • Cambridge Gates (Non UK applicants): Thursday 4 January 2024
  • Cambridge Trusts / ESRC: Thursday 4 January 2024