Geography Scholarship

The Geography Scholarship supports UK students from underrepresented backgrounds study Geography at Cambridge.

Black or mixed Black heritage students with a confirmed place can apply for the Scholarship. Applications usually open in August.

Number of scholarships available

Funded by the Department of Geography, the Scholarship is available to one new undergraduate Geography student.

What the scholarship offers

The Scholarship offers up to £12,000 for each year of study. The Scholarship can be used to cover tuition fees or maintenance costs for the 3 year duration of the course.  

If you are awarded the Scholarship, you can still access a Cambridge Bursary (if you are eligible).

How to apply

Applications for 2025 have now closed. Details about scholarships for 2026 entry will be available here later this year.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the Geography Scholarship, applicants must:

1. Have one of the following categories of ethnicity (which are currently underrepresented in undergraduate Geography programmes across the UK, and at Cambridge): 
   • Black African
   • Black Caribbean
   • Black Other
   • Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
   • Mixed – White and Black African
   • Other mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or Black Other)
2. Have a confirmed place for entry to the University of Cambridge for a first undergraduate Geography degree, and due to commence study in October 2025. (You can check the status of your offer on UCAS Hub.)  
3. Be a UK student and have been assessed for fee status as 'home'. You were advised of your fee status in the offer letter issued to you earlier this year. If you are in doubt, please contact the Cambridge College that has offered you a place.
4. Have applied to Student Finance (England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland) for a tuition fee loan and maintenance loan, and have received confirmation that you have been assessed and will receive financial support. An income assessment must have been conducted and consent given to share the information with the University. Please note that if you are awarded a Geography Scholarship you will be able to reduce the amount of maintenance loan you take out to zero, but you will still need an income assessment from Student Finance to be able to receive the Cambridge Bursary.

Contact us

If you have questions about the Geography Scholarship, email ugscholarships@admin.cam.ac.uk.