I am a student at another University of Cambridge college, how do I apply for the Benefactors’ Scholarship?
If you are applying to start a postgraduate course in October, email our Postgraduate Office for details of our funding competition policy before nominating St John’s as a preference college on your University application form.
How much do you receive in a Benefactors’ Scholarship?
For 2025-2026, the maximum value of the Benefactors’ Scholarship will consist of a maintenance grant of £20,700 per annum and the approved University Composition fee.
You may also be eligible to apply for:
You may also be invited to attend formal College events such as the Admission of Scholars and the Foundation Dinner during Michaelmas Term.
How long is the scholarship for?
A PhD normally lasts three years and an MPhil or MASt takes one year, subject to satisfactory academic progress.
If you are applying for an MPhil and plan to do a PhD afterwards, the scholarship will last one year but you may apply for a further three years of funding by entering a subsequent Benefactors’ competition. If successful, the award will be subject to you achieving the distinguished performance standard in your MPhil.
If you are starting a MASt, intending to continue to a PhD, you may apply for a further three years of scholarship funding by entering a subsequent Benefactors’ competition. If successful, the award will be subject to you achieving a Distinction in your MASt.
How do I apply for a Benefactors’ Scholarship?
You do not need to apply separately for the Benefactors’ Scholarship if you are an eligible offer-holder from outside the University of Cambridge or if you are already a student at St John’s due to start your postgraduate course in October. If your University application has been received at St John’s before 1 March you will qualify for consideration.
Applicants are required to apply for all other research awards for which they are eligible. The value of any scholarship awarded will be reduced appropriately to take account of payments from other sources.
Arrangements are different for members of other Cambridge colleges who are successful in the competition (see below). Election is conditional upon admission by the University's Postgraduate Admissions Office.
Note that University funding deadlines can be different to course deadlines so you must check both application deadlines in the Postgraduate Course Directory.
How do I apply for the Benefactors’ Scholarship as a current PhD / Certificate of Postgraduate Studies(CPGS) student at St John’s?
To apply for the scholarship for the second and/or third year of your PhD, you must request a competition application form, available via email from the Postgraduate Administrator at St John’s College.
The deadline for completed forms is 1 March. Note the value of any scholarship awarded will be reduced appropriately to take account of payments from other sources. If you have already been awarded a full grant from other funding bodies before 1 March, you are not eligible to enter the competition.
How do I apply for a Benefactors’ Scholarship as a student of another Cambridge college?
Email the Postgraduate Office for details of our funding competition policy before nominating your preference colleges on your University application form.
Postgraduate students of other Cambridge colleges who have commenced a PhD or CPGS prior to the academic year are not eligible for consideration for St John’s College funding.
The College can only offer a transfer place to a member of another Cambridge college if they are successful in one of our funding competitions and St John’s is going to fully fund their new course.
Members of other Cambridge colleges who have already secured full funding are not eligible to apply for our funding competitions. Additionally, if an applicant who is offered a Benefactors’ Scholarship later receives substantial funding from another source, our offer of the scholarship and a place at St John’s will no longer apply.
