Finance

Personal Finance

Personal Funding

There are many personal grants available from both from Pembroke, specifically for undergraduates here and available to all students here, and the University. These options should be pursued directly through College or University, rather than through the JPC. Below is a fairly comprehensive list of grants and financial support available to undergraduates at Pembroke.

If you’re not sure if funding applies to you – for example, if you’re not sure whether your sport is at a high enough level, ask Becky Coombs (becky.coombs@pem.cam.ac.uk)! She emphasises that applications are looked at on a case-by-case basis and that you can talk to her directly or put in an application if you’re not certain. Finally, if you have any questions or issues concerning your financial situation you should always speak to your tutor – they will be able to help.

General Academic Grants

• Book Grant – £75 per year towards course books which ALL undergraduates are eligible for.
• Vacation Study Grant – covers up to 75% of rent outside of term time for those remaining in Cambridge for academic reasons. To apply for this funding, fill out the form that Becky Coombs sneds via email (towards the end of term).
• Architecture Expenses – up to £300 for Architecture students to cover the expenses of some course materials.
• International Disabled Students’ Fund – Allows international students to access academic-related disability support.

Means-Tested Bursaries

Means-tested bursaries are often given automatically, provided your financial situation has been assessed by Goverment Student Finance (the first two listed here fall into this category). However, others require you to apply prior to the start of your degree. In both cases make sure you have checked out the details well in advance of your arrival in Cambridge.

• Cambridge Bursary Scheme – The University of Cambridge offers bursaries to Home/EU Undergraduate Students to help them meet the the cost of their Cambridge education
• Pembroke Enhanced Bursaries – college bursaries intended to top up the Cambridge Bursary Scheme and support those in the next (household) income bracket
• Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trust – offers a number of scholarships which must be applied for by the relevant deadline

Hardship And Other Support Funds

• Hardship Awards – All students, irrespective of their fee status, are eligible for one-off hardship awards from the College if they find themselves in genuine hardship. Students in severe financial need should, as a first step, talk to their tutor in confidence.
• University Support Including Hardship Funding – There are a large number of university funds and charities to help students. College will advertise these during the year as they receive notification. Two funds to highlight from here are Crane’s Charity which provides assistance with medical costs and The University Childcare Support Fund.

Travel Funding

• Vacation Travel For Strictly Academic Purposes – College is able to assist undergraduates with essential expenses for work related to their study, e.g. traveling to archives or collections for dissertation work, and in some cases will consider making a contribution to required course activites that are partly funded through departments and faculties.
• General Travel Awards – The college has a limited sum of money available for educationally beneficial travel that is not covered by other grants or funds.

Internships And Vacation Work

• Funding For Research In Labs – support for students undertaking unpaid (or modestly paid in some cases) holiday work in labs. Usually, 75% of your room costs or equivalent can be covered.
• 1966 Mill Lane Award – A group of alumni who matriculated in 1966 wish to offer one or more awards of up to £2,000 to Pembroke undergraduates to enable them to ‘fulfil their full potential’ whilst studying at Pembroke. Applicants would probably, but not necessarily, be in receipt of the means-tested part of the student loan. An award of up to £1000 is available to candidates undertaking an internship or other “broadening experience”, which is unpaid, low-paid or requires travelling expenses.
• Oscar Moore Award – support for unpaid or low-paid internships in the fields of publishing, journalism or writing.

Extra-Curricular Awards

• 1966 Mill Lane Award – The second half of the 1966 Mill Lane Award, as further £1000, supports recipients’ extra-curricular interests.
• Pembroke Engineering Curriculum Enrichment Fund – up to £200 to allow engineering students to undertake extra-curricular engineering-related activities
• Support For High-Level Sport – support for students competing at a University level with additional Blue and Half-Blue awards.
• Support For Music – members of the college choir and performing musicians may receive funding towards music lessons. Additionally, college maybe able to help with exceptional costs of high-level musical performance.
• Peter Cook Fund – The Pembroke Players can nominate students for support with a drama at a high-level such as the Edinburgh Festival or a Players’ foreign tour.
• Language Lessons – The college will contribute 50% of the cost of a language course for non-linguists provided by the University language centre.

Gender Expression Fund

The JPC can reimburse you £40+ for gender-affirming products. Details are on the LGBT+ welfare page.