Finance

So what does it all cost?

There are many myths about Cambridge, but perhaps the most misleading one is this:

'Cambridge is too expensive – I can’t afford to go there.'

This may be what you’ve heard, but while Cambridge is one of the world’s top universities, studying and living here is no more expensive than at any other university in the UK. In fact, because Cambridge is well-resourced, we are able to subsidise academic facilities, student accommodation and financial support, and it can work out cheaper to study here than at many other institutions. There is no need to think that you will not be able to afford to study at Cambridge University.

The University provides an overview of the costs involved for UK and EU students in coming to Cambridge – in respect of both tuition fees and living expenses – on its website.

Comparable information for international students (those from outside the EU) can be found here.

More specific information on the costs of accommodation and meals at Peterhouse can be found here.

Peterhouse and the University are committed to the principle that no UK student should be deterred from applying to Cambridge because of financial considerations and in consequence extensive financial support is available:

• For UK students from lower income families (as well as students with dependants, single parent students and disabled students) the Government makes available maintenance grants which do not need to be repaid.
• All UK students are entitled to take out student loans to cover their tuition fees and part of their living expenses. Student loans are designed to be repaid gradually, once students have left university, and in proportion to earnings. Fees loans are also available to qualifying EU students.
• In addition, Cambridge has one of the most extensive bursary schemes in the UK, funded jointly by the University and the colleges and based on parental income.  No prior application is needed for this scheme: all UK students are automatically sent application forms at the beginning of each academic year, once they are in residence. The scheme also provides Cambridge European Bursaries to help EU students meet their living costs.  Further information about the Cambridge Bursary Scheme, including a detailed scale of awards, as well as the new National Scholarship Programme, is available here.
• Finally Peterhouse itself has additional funds to assist undergraduates facing unexpected financial hardship during their time at the College offering interest-free loans or grants.

Your Tutor is there to guide you, on a confidential basis, should you experience any financial problems and can assist students in making applications for financial support from the University and/or College as appropriate.

International applicants should note that the College requires assurance (either in the form of a banker’s letter confirming a guarantor’s ability to pay based on annual income, or evidence of the award of an approved scholarship) that they will have adequate funding available to pay the relevant fees and charges for the duration of their course. All international students are required to provide sufficient financial assurances by 1 August in the year in which their course commences.

The financial support available for international students is limited, but information can be found on the University Undergraduate Admissions website.

Students who are resident in certain Asian countries may be eligible to apply for financial support in the form of Jardine Scholarships funded by the Jardine Foundation. Application must be made directly to the Foundation.

The guidance above is given on the basis of the information made available to us and the rules as they currently apply. It is given without any undertaking as to its accuracy on the part of the College and applicants should seek confirmation of their fee status from the relevant body.