This page details financial support available once you start your course at Peterhouse. If you require financial assistance in covering the costs of admissions assessments  or other application costs please follow this webpage or contact admissions@pet.cam.ac.uk for more information. 

It is well known that some students are managing on limited funds. At times this can affect students' ability to work, their health and general welfare. The College offers funding to support study, travel, language learning, and sport; recognises academic achievement with College prizes; and has a number of music awards. The University publishes guidance about estimated living costs in Cambridge. 

Undergraduate Funding

There are many sources of financial assistance available to Peterhouse undergraduates. Please follow the hyperlinks for more information.

Student Finance (UK students only) - information on tuition fee and maintenance loans.

Cambridge Bursary Scheme (UK students only) - students eligible for a UK student loan may also be eligible for an annual, non-repayable bursary of up to £3,500, depending on household income. The bursary is free financial support of up to £3500 a year for full-time undergraduate students, to help with your Cambridge fees or living costs. The payment is non-refundable, you do not need to pay it back. It doesn't matter what you are studying or which College you are at. Higher amounts are available for medical students in their clinical years, independent students including care leavers and students who were eligible for free school meals. Provided your eligibility does not change, you could receive it for every year of your course, whatever its length. This also applies to students who are taking longer to complete their course due to disability or medical reasons. The Cambridge Bursary is in addition to any loan for maintenance or tuition fees which you receive from the UK government. There's no sperate application for the Cambridge Bursary. If you're eligible, you are automatically considered when you apply for a student loan through your regional funding body. 

Other external bursaries are also listed.

Peterhouse Overseas Scholarships (students from outside the UK only)

Peterhouse will be offering up to two full-cost scholarships for candidates applying in October 2023 with overseas fee status from countries not covered by the Jardine Scholarship scheme, including students from the European Union. The scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic merit, with consideration for the level of financial need of the individual student. Partial support for further candidates may also be available.

Cambridge Overseas Trust (students from outside the UK only) - the main source of scholarships for undergraduate overseas wishing to study at Cambridge. These are full or part-cost awards, which may be specific to country, region or subject studied. This includes the Rowan Williams Cambridge Studentship for students from areas of instability or conflict.

Jardine Scholarships (students from China and South East Asia only) - the Jardine Foundation offers students from Cambodia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, full-ride and bond-free scholarships to study at Oxford and Cambridge Universities. The goal is to develop future leaders who will give back to their communities. Scholarships are available for courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and at a number of Oxbridge colleges including Peterhouse.

Since the launch of the Foundation, scholarships have been awarded to over 430 outstanding recipients. Students may apply for all courses offered at their network Colleges.

Grants, College Scholarships and College Prizes (for current Peterhouse students only) - further support and awards are available to students while they are studying at Peterhouse.

Organ Scholarships

If you play the organ, you may be interested in applying to Peterhouse as an Organ Scholar. Our Director of Music, Dr Simon Jackson, is always happy to receive enquiries about joining Peterhouse Chapel Choir or interested in learning more about an Instrumental Award at Cambridge. Please contact him with any questions about the application process or to arrange a visit. The Organ Scholars play a vital role in the musical life of the Chapel. The College has a strong musical tradition and, working in collaboration with the Director of Music, Dr Simon Jackson, and the Dean, the Organ Scholars play an active role in leading and shaping the musical life of the College. Organ Scholars are appointed through the University of Cambridge central competition for Organ Scholarships. Candidates may read any of the subjects offered by the College.

Organ Scholars at Peterhouse are fully involved in all aspects of the music-making in Chapel: duties include rehearsing and training the choir, conducting and accompanying services, and helping to organise tours, concerts and other events. Working with a professional Director of Music, Organ Scholars graduate from Peterhouse with highly-developed musical skills and many go on to pursue successful musical careers.

A wide range of opportunities and benefits are on offer to Organ Scholars at Peterhouse. The scholarships themselves have a financial value and also entitle the holder to free singing, choral conducting and organ lessons with professional teachers. The Organ Scholars are entitled to some of the largest rooms in College, at a subsidised rent, with a piano provided. Choir practices are always followed by Formal Hall at College expense. Choir meals are traditionally convivial occasions and are supplemented by several black tie dinners during the course of the year. The choir goes on regular national and international tours, most recently to Belgium and Iceland, generously subsidised by the College. The choir sings Choral Evensong twice weekly throughout Full Term, on Sundays and Wednesdays. Each service is preceded by a 90 minute rehearsal. In addition to the regular services, there is a variety of other choral services in Chapel, the annual Commemoration of Benefactors service, a termly Sung Eucharist and the Advent Carol Service amongst them. The choir also sings grace in Hall for College Feasts and plays a prominent role in College Concerts. The Chapel organ was built in 1765 by Snetzler, rebuilt in 1895 by Hill and again in 1963 by Mander, and has mechanical action for the Great, Swell and half the Choir divisions.

There is a separate and earlier application process for those applying for Organ Scholarships with a deadline of 1st September. Application forms, audition dates and details of the University-run Organ Scholarships Open Day can be found on the University website.