Fees and funding

Fees and Funding: MPhil in African Studies

Understanding the financial commitments of postgraduate study is an essential part of preparing your application.

The MPhil in African Studies is an intensive, nine-month, full-time master's course. Please note that because this course requires a full-time commitment, it is not possible to enrol on this course part-time or to work full-time while studying.

Breakdown of Course Costs

Your total expenses will generally fall into three distinct categories. You must ensure you have adequate financial provision to cover each of these areas before taking up your place.

1. University Composition Fee (Tuition and College Membership)

This is the core fee that covers your teaching, supervision, and university services. For most postgraduate courses at Cambridge, this single fee is integrated and covers both your academic tuition and your college membership. Cambridge sets different fee structures based on whether you are classified as a home student or an international student.

• Home students are generally those who are UK citizens living in the UK, or individuals with settled status who meet specific UK residency criteria.
• International students are those applying from outside the UK who do not qualify for home fee status.

To check the precise, up-to-date fees for your specific category and academic year, please use the official Postgraduate Admissions Finance Page.

2. Living Expenses (Maintenance Costs)

This is the estimated amount the university deems sufficient to cover your accommodation, food, personal expenses, and basic household bills (such as heating, electricity, and internet) during your nine months in Cambridge.

• This figure is adjusted annually by the university to reflect changing living costs.
• International students should also budget an additional sum for expenses not included in the standard university estimate, such as initial settling-in costs (e.g., warm clothing and bedding) and international travel to and from the UK.

3. Additional Fieldwork and Research Costs

If your MPhil dissertation requires primary research or travel, you may incur extra expenses.

• Departmental Support: The Centre of African Studies offers small, limited research grants to help offset these costs (such as the UAC of Nigeria Travel Fund).
• Self-Funding: Because departmental funds are highly competitive and cannot cover full research trips, the bulk of your fieldwork travel and accommodation must usually be paid for using your own private funds or separate college grants. Please budget for this before you begin your course.

Funding and Scholarship Opportunities

The University of Cambridge offers a wide range of highly competitive, full and partial scholarships for postgraduate students. Application deadlines for the major funding rounds generally open in September and close on 8 December 2026 for entry the following October.

To search for awards you might be eligible for, we highly recommend using the Postgraduate Funding Search, the university’s official online funding directory.

Key Funding and Scholarship Schemes

To be considered for central university funding, you must apply by the specific funding deadlines listed on the Postgraduate Admissions website. For most central awards, simply tick the box on your online application form stating that you wish to be considered for funding.

• University and Trust Funding: Ticking the application box automatically enters you for awards managed by the Cambridge Trust, including the Cambridge Trust Masters Studentships (for international fee-status students) and the Newton College Master's Studentships (NCMS) (for UK fee-status students).
• The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: A fully funded scheme for talented, economically marginalised Master's applicants from African countries. Note: A separate statement is required within your main application.
• Philomathia Scholarships: Two full scholarships specific to the MPhil in African Studies, awarded to permanent residents of an African country who completed their first degree at an African university (based at Trinity Hall).
• Gates Cambridge Scholarships: Prestigious, full-cost awards for outstanding applicants from any country outside the UK.

For a comprehensive list of all available awards and specific eligibility criteria, please use the university’s official Postgraduate Funding Search Tool. 

Applying Without Funding

If you have private funding or external sponsorship and do not wish to be considered for university scholarships, the final general application deadline is 25 February 2027. However, because places on the MPhil are strictly capped, we still advise you to apply as early as possible.