Alongside your tuition fees and living costs like accommodation and food, when you’re applying to university, you’ll also need to consider study-related costs. These will vary depending on your course, but some general costs will apply for all students.
We’ve included some examples of these below. For more details about costs specific to the course you’d like to study, visit the course pages. These costs might include course-specific equipment, field trips, and costs related to placements.
Laptops and digital devices
You’re likely to need to access materials for your course digitally, so we recommend that you bring a laptop with you.
A standard laptop bought fairly recently (in the last 4 years) should be sufficient, ideally with Windows 10 or 11, or Mac OS X 10.15 or higher. We don’t usually recommend a Chromebook or tablet as they don’t support some of the software used in the University. Individual course entries will let you know any course-specific hardware requirements.
If your course requires a device and you think you might need financial assistance, please check our information about financial support in the first instance, and speak to the College you’ve applied to for further advice.
Printing and photocopying
Costs for printing and photocopying should be minimal as most work can be submitted digitally and many departments provide some printing credits free of charge.
If you complete a dissertation as part of your course, this might need to be printed and bound. Your faculty or department will provide guidance on specification you’ll need to meet if a printed copy does need to be submitted. Dissertation printing costs will vary depending on dissertation length and print specification. The Cambridge SU also offers a printing and binding service - you can find more details on their website.
Books and stationery
All the books you’ll be required to read will usually be available at the University Library, or one of the College, department or faculty libraries. If you’d prefer to buy your own copies of certain texts, the costs will vary depending on your course and where you choose to buy them from. Many Colleges offer grants to help with the cost of purchasing books.
Stationery costs will be completely up to you and how you prefer to work. If you do decide to stock up on notepads and pens, lots of companies offer a student discount, so remember to check this before you buy.
Academical dress
For certain events at Cambridge, including matriculation, graduation and formal dinners, you’ll need to wear a gown. The cost for a new gown starts at approximately £40.
There’s no need to buy this before you arrive – you can purchase your gown from one of the two outfitters in Cambridge, and often directly from your College.
If you’re concerned about the cost of a gown, second hand options are available, and you can get in touch with the College you’ve applied to for more information about potential discounts, gown loans or financial support for gowns.
Financial support
There’s a range of financial support available to help you cover the costs of your studies. Visit our financial support pages for more information.