Postgraduate Studentships
Trinity Hall Postgraduate Research Studentships
Trinity Hall Postgraduate Research Studentships are highly competitive and are offered in order to attract the world’s best academic talent to postgraduate study. The College offers a number of fully-funded (covering University Composition Fee and student maintenance) or partially-funded Studentships.
All of our Studentships are thanks to the generosity of our benefactors.
As well as the general Trinity Hall Postgraduate Research Studentships, there are also a number of Studentships for a specific purpose, as outlined below (please note that these may not be awarded every year):
Atlantic Fund Studentships
Established in 2012 and to provide full or part funding for graduate research in Economic Geography or International Relations. The studentship is open to qualified graduates of any University and nationality to conduct PhD research or an MPhil in preparation for a PhD.
Nightingale Research Studentships
Established in memory of former College member Michael Nightingale, who studied at Trinity Hall from 1953. They are open to qualified graduates of any university and nationality to conduct doctoral research at Cambridge in the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences or Mental Health, particularly research into the Court of Protection. The studentship may provide full or partial funding.
Rhodes Moorhouse Studentship
Supports a Royal Air Force officer from its Engineering Branch to undertake the MPhil for Sustainable Development within the Department of Engineering. Applications are only open to eligible candidates from RAF who apply through the CAS’ Fellowship application process. Applications are then forwarded to Cambridge University Engineering Department for review. The studentship recognises Lieutenant William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse who was the first airman to receive a Victoria Cross. He attended Trinity Hall in 1908 and joined the Royal Flying Corps at the outbreak of the First World War. On 26th April 1916 whilst serving on No 2 Squadron at Merville, France, he was conducting a low-level bombing attack on a railway junction at Kortijk, Belgium, when his BE2 aircraft came under heavy machine gun fire. Severely wounded by a bullet in his thigh and flying a damaged aircraft, he was again subject to heavy ground fire on crossing the lines, receiving two further wounds. Nonetheless, he managed to land safely but then insisted on making his combat report before reporting to the Casualty Clearing Station. He died of his wounds the next day and was posthumously awarded the VC.
Brockhouse & Underwood Studentships for Engineering
Established to provide full or partial funding for one graduate student undertaking research in Engineering; either PhD, MPhil or MRes. The Studentships are open to UK, EU and overseas applicants.
Mann Studentship for the Sciences
Established to provide full or partial funding for one postgraduate student undertaking research in the sciences or mathematics; either PhD, MPhil or MRes. The studentship is open to UK, EU and overseas applicants.
Iain Drayton Studentship for Asian & Middle Eastern Studies
Established thanks to the generosity of alumnus Iain Drayton (TH 1991), this studentship is to support a student undertaking a degree in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (with a preference for Japanese Studies). The studentship is open to Home, EU and overseas applicants and will offer full or partial funding depending on the fee status of the successful candidate.
The Trinity Hall & CJBS Social Innovation Studentship
Candidates to the MSt in Social Innovation who apply to programme and select Trinity Hall as their first College choice will also be considered for an award of their fees (£8,400 payable in 2024/25 and £8,400 payable in 2025/26). This award has been made available by Trinity Hall in partnership with Cambridge Judge Business School. Candidates must have received an offer to join the programme in October 2023 and membership at Trinity Hall before they can be considered for the scholarship.
To apply for this funding applicants will be required to submit an application directly to Cambridge Judge Business School.
Please note that the eligibility, conditions, and application process for the Trinity Hall Postgraduate Research Studentships do not apply.
Eligibility/Conditions
Postgraduate Research Studentships including Nightingale, Mann and Rhodes Moorhouse:
To be considered in the first round of awards applicants must have met the criteria below by 11 March 2024. Applications received after this date may be considered if funding is still available.
- applicants must have indicated in their postgraduate application that they wish to apply for Cambridge Scholarships.
- applicants must have been offered Trinity Hall membership
Atlantic, Brockhouse and Underwood and Iain Drayton Studentship:
To be considered in the first round of awards applicants must have met the criteria below by 11 March 2024. Applications received after this date may be considered if funding is still available.
- applicants must have indicated in their postgraduate application that they wish to apply for Cambridge Scholarships.
- applicants must have been offered Trinity Hall membership, or be willing to transfer to the College for the 2024-25 academic year
Please note that Trinity Hall Postgraduate Research Studentships are only tenable at Trinity Hall, and therefore membership of the College must be confirmed and all criteria met before funding is released.
Applicants will be considered for all studentships for which they are eligible.
Further information is available in the FAQs. If you have any additional queries please contact Clare Kerr, Postgraduate Administrator, Trinity Hall, Cambridge, CB2 1TJ.
Notification of Decisions
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application between April and June.
Other Awards and Grants for Current Students
The College has a fund that is used to contribute towards the costs incurred when current postgraduate students undertake independent research related activity. This can include expenses related to primary research, or related to presentation of work at a conference. You may also use this fund to apply for funds towards University Language courses.
Over the course of their degree, the maximum grant per student is £450 for a Masters student, £1,500 for a PhD student and £1500 for a medic or vet elective although it is possible that, depending on the budget in any given year, this amount may be adjusted.
Postgraduate Funding at the University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge Postgraduate study webpages contains information about funding and contain a helpful funding search facility. Anyone who applies for a postgraduate course at Cambridge can also apply to be considered for funding to help cover their fees and costs.
