Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholarships at the University of Cambridge 2027/2028

About this scholarship

Fully funded PhD scholarships at the University of Cambridge for the most academically excellent applicants, of any nationality and in any subject. There is no separate form. You apply for the PhD and tick the funding box.

Funding type

Covers: the University Composition Fee, a maintenance allowance for 3.5 years (GBP 21,360 for 2025-26), a research allowance of GBP 6,000 over the PhD, economy travel to Cambridge at the start and back home at the end, and, for international students, the student visa and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). Extra maintenance for the last 6 months of the writing-up year can be requested. The 2027-28 maintenance rate is not published yet. The number of scholarships is not stated.

Tuition fees

Covered

Living costs

Covered

Travel

Covered

Insurance

Covered

Eligibility requirements

Nationalities

All nationalities

Residence condition

No residence condition

Any nationality A full-time or part-time PhD at the University of Cambridge, including the 1+3 MRes and PhD route Judged academically excellent by the department you apply to You are expected to live in the UK for most of your studies, apart from fieldwork, internships and similar Not normally for people who already hold a PhD or have had a Harding scholarship, though the Advisory Committee can make an exception. You cannot apply to fund a PhD you have already started at Cambridge It cannot be held at Trinity College or St John's College. If you applied to one of them you are still considered, and you move to another College if you are offered the scholarship

Minimum grade

Not stated

Work experience asked for

Not stated

Return condition

Return condition not stated

How to apply

With the admission application

Language requirements and exemptions

Language test not mentioned

Set by the course you apply to at Cambridge. The scholarship page does not state scores.

University admission details

Admission included in application?

There is no separate scholarship form. Apply for the PhD through the Cambridge Applicant Portal, tick the box in the Funding your Study section, and apply by the funding deadline for your course. The deadline is 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027 depending on the course, and the application with references must be complete by 23:59 GMT. The Harding page says 'early December or early January', and the two dates come from the Cambridge funding page. Applications open in September 2026. Departments assess applications from December 2026 to February 2027, selection is in late February 2027, and offers come from late February to early March 2027 and may be later. You normally accept within 7 days. The programme gives no individual advice and no feedback on unsuccessful applications.

Required documents

The PhD application with the documents your course asks for Transcripts and references, which the department uses for its assessment

Application steps

Choose your PhD course and check its funding deadline in the course directory. Apply through the Cambridge Applicant Portal and tick the funding box. Complete the application and references by the funding deadline: 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027. Wait for the department assessment and the selection in late February 2027.

Requirement checklist

Scholarship contacts

Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholars Programme: [email protected]Copy

Universities and contacts