Fees, Funding and Finance

The 'Fees, Funding and Finance' section relates to students starting their undergraduate courses at Cambridge in October 2011.

Information about 2012 entrants will be put up on this website in a few months' time. If you are wondering how student finance will work from the academic year 2012 and onwards, then there are a number of good explanatory websites you can use, including:

From 2012 all of Cambridge's undergraduate courses will cost £9000 per year. Every first-time undergraduate student will be able to get government loans to cover their tuition fees and maintenance costs. Students from lower-income backgrounds will also be eligible for government (non-repayable) grants and the (non-repayable) Cambridge Bursary.

More Cambridge-specific information can be found on the Cambridge Undergraduate Admissions website (this will be updated as details are finalised for 2012 entry). If you have any more questions, then please do not hesitate to contact the CUSU Access Officer.

Fees

Living Costs

Bursaries and Grants

Going to any university costs money and getting your head around what you have to pay, when you have to pay, and where the money comes from can seem daunting. You may have also heard about the recent changes to the tuition fee and student loans system, which can seem quite confusing. The Government's Future Students website provides a great explanation to prospective students about how the student fees system will work from September 2012.

The following pages break down all of the costs of being at Cambridge, so you know exactly what's involved.

Fees and Funding

How much will I have to pay?

Cambridge charges tuition fees (also known as top-up fees) in line with nearly all other universities in the country. These fees are £3,290 per year for all undergraduate courses in 2008-9. The important thing to realise is that you don't have to pay these whilst you are a student, but that you can take out a loan which is repaid in small, barely noticeable instalments once you are earning over £15,000. It's cliched, but it really is an investment in your future, and you're likely to see a massive financial return in increased earnings, as well as experiencing the best three years of your life.

You will not have to pay any fees before or during your course.

Fees for EU students are the same as for home students. However, EU students will not have their fees paid for them by their LEA in the same way that UK students do. If you are an EU student and need advice about paying your fees, get in touch with the education department of your government. The European Team at the DfES can also give you more information.

If you are from outside the EU you will be classified as an overseas student. Fees for overseas students are higher and details can be found on the University website.

What costs do I have to pay for?

On top of your tuition fees, you'll have to pay for your rent, your food and your social activities. There is more about all of these costs in the Living Costs section of this website. Like the tuition fees, you can take out a government loan to cover these costs. This loan is partially income assessed, which means that how much of the last 25% of the loan you cna get is dependent upon your household income. Whether this will wholly cover your living costs depends very much upon your lifestyle, and many students decide to work in the holidays to give themselves extra cash. You can calculate the loans and bursaries available to you from the University of Cambridge bursary.

When will I pay?

You don't have to pay anything up-front. You can take out a student loan to cover your costs, which will be paid back once you start earning over £15,000 a year. Once you hit this point, you will start paying back the money in small amounts depending upon your income, which will be deducted from your wages alongside tax. The repayments are minimal compared to your earnings, and it honestly won't feel like a massive shock.

What will my parents have to pay?

Everyone is able to take a loan to cover their tuition fees, so your parents won't need to pay them.

Depending upon your parents' earnings, they may need or want to contribute some money to your living costs, as the maintenance loan is partially income-assessed. If you currently receive a full EMA, or family income is less than £25,000, your parents won't be asked to contribute anything, and you'll be able to take the full loan amount, as well as a Cambridge Bursary of £3,150.

For students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland:

If your parents earn above £50,020, you will only be eligible for 75% of the maintenance loan, which is non-income assessed. If they earn between £25,000 and £50,020, you will be able to take a percentage of the last 25% (the income assessed part) of the loan, as well as a partial Cambridge Bursary.

For students in Scotland:

If your parents earn above £60,000, you will only be eligible for roughly 20% of the maintenance loan, which is non-income assessed. If they earn between £25,000 and £60,000, you will be able to take a percentage of the last 80% (the income assessed part) of the loan, as well as a partial Cambridge Bursary.

Will I be eligible for bursaries and financial assistance?

As well as the government maintenance loan, there is a maintenance grant. Unlike the loan, you don't have to repay this. The maintenance grant is dependent upon your family income, and is up to £2,835 per year.

Cambridge prides itself on having one of the best bursary packages in the country. A bursary is a gift of money that you will not be asked to repay, to help you during your time as a student. These bursaries are income assessed, and if you qualify for the full government loan, you will also receive assistance from the Cambridge Bursaries (see above).

There is more information on bursaries and financial help in the Bursaries and Grants section of this website.

What happens if I run out of money?

Cambridge has a policy that no student should ever feel pressured to leave their course for financial reasons. If you find yourself in trouble, there will be someone to help you out. Cambridge has a very good hardship fund, which can give out money on a case-by-case basis. If, for any reason, you encounter unforeseen financial difficulties, you will not be left to handle it on your own.

What is a 'residual household income'?

Your 'residual household income' is the combined wages of the adults who live in your house. This could be your parents, a single parent, or a parent and their partner. There is more information about the different classifications and who is deemed to be responsible on the government webpages.