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Postgraduate scholarships

Every year, Newnham offers scholarships for students about to register for an MPhil or PhD. The scholarships available for entry in October 2026 are listed below.

A view of Newnham from the Dorothy Garrod building roof as the sun sets

Applications

To be eligible for a Newnham scholarship you must be an applicant for a new postgraduate course. Students who have already begun their course are not eligible unless they are applying for a new course (e.g. an MPhil student applying for a PhD). 

Applicants must indicate that they wish to be considered for funding when applying for their course through the Postgraduate Applicant Portal (by ticking the box ‘Yes – I wish to apply for funding’ in the funding section of the portal). They must also apply by the funding deadline for their course.

There is no need to complete a separate application form for a Newnham scholarship but it will be necessary to 'opt in' to some of the scholarships on the Applicant Portal. The details for each scholarship below indicate whether it is advisable to select Newnham as a first or second choice College on the Applicant Portal. 

Scholarships are awarded between April and July.

The HS Chau Foundation Scholarship (full STEM PhD scholarship)

This scholarship is provided by the HS Chau Foundation to support academically outstanding international female PhD students studying STEM subjects at Newnham to contribute to society by producing intellectually rigorous research which makes a positive difference to the academic community and beyond.

  • Three scholarships available for October 2026 entry
  • For a PhD in any STEM subject
  • For female students of any nationality with International fee status
  • Covers full University Composition Fee and maintenance costs at the UKRI stipend rate (£20,780 in 205-26)
  • 3.5 years
  • There is no need to select Newnham as a first or second preference on the Applicant Portal as long as applicants accept a transfer to Newnham to take up the scholarship. However, if the field of applications is particularly competitive, preference will be given to applicants who select Newnham as their first or second choice College.
Newnham PhD Scholarship in History (full scholarship)
  • One scholarship available for October 2026 entry
  • For a PhD in History
  • For a female UK student with Home fee status
  • Covers full University Composition Fee and maintenance costs at the UKRI stipend rate (£20,780 in 2025-26)
  • 3 years
  • There is no need to select Newnham as a first or second preference on the Applicant Portal but applicants will need to accept a transfer to Newnham to take up the scholarship
  • Provided by the College’s Marjorie Moore and Krystyna Chabros Funds
Newnham Liverpool PhD Scholarship (full scholarship)
  • One scholarship available for October 2026 entry
  • For a PhD in any subject
  • For a female student with Home fee status with a home address within 10 miles of the former Liverpool Exchange (postcode L2 2BS)
  • Covers full University Composition Fee and maintenance costs at the UKRI stipend rate (£20,780 in 205-26)
  • 3.5 years
  • There is no need to select Newnham as a first or second preference on the Applicant Portal but applicants will need to accept a transfer to Newnham to take up the scholarship
  • Provided by the College’s Liverpool Clough Fund
City University Hong Kong Research Masters Scholarship Programme at Newnham College (full scholarship)

City University of Hong Kong (CityU HK) and Newnham College have established a new partnership to support exceptional Masters degree students from CityU HK applying to study at the University of Cambridge.

Starting in the 2025-26 academic year, two full scholarships will be awarded annually over the next five years to outstanding graduates from CityU HK commencing a full-time research Masters course at Newnham College in any discipline.

Each scholarship will cover tuition fees and maintenance for the duration of the course.

About the Scholarships
CityU HK enjoys a close partnership with the Departments in the University of Cambridge on student exchange and academic collaboration. 

Details on how to apply for the scholarship for 2026-27 will be added to this website in September 2025.

Newnham & Department of Pure Mathematics & Mathematical Statistics MASt Scholarship (£18,000)
  • One £18,000 scholarship available for October 2026 entry
  • For a MASt in Pure Mathematics or a MASt in Statistical Mathematics
  • For a female student of any nationality with Home or International fee status
  • Contributes £18,000 towards the overall costs of the MASt (fees and/or maintenance)
  • There is no need to select Newnham as a first or second preference on the Applicant Portal but applicants will need to accept a transfer to Newnham to take up the scholarship
  • Applicants must email the DPMMS and Newnham’s Tutorial & Academic Office at the time of application to register their interest in the scholarship.
  • Provided by the Department of Pure Mathematics & Mathematical Statistics (£9,000) and the College’s Sheila Edmonds Fund (£9,000)
Newnham MPhil Scholarship in Engineering (£10,000)
  • Three £10,000 scholarships available for October 2026 entry
  • For any MPhil in the Department of Engineering provided that the focus is on mechanical engineering
  • For female students of any nationality with Home fee status
  • Contributes £10,000 towards the overall costs of the MPhil (fees and/or maintenance)
  • There is no need to select Newnham as a first or second preference on the Applicant Portal but applicants will need to accept a transfer to Newnham to take up the scholarship
  • Provided by the College’s Steers Mardinian Fund
Cambridge Australia Studentship

Thanks to the generous endowment of Professor Jan Anderson Cambridge Australia Scholarships are now offering a dedicated Newnham Studentship to a female Australian graduate intending to study for a PhD degree at Cambridge.

For details on how to apply, please contact the Cambridge Australia Scholarships.