Student Support – Milestones Awards

Thanks to the seven endowed Milestone Awards set up by donors during the College’s 650th anniversary we are able to offer grants to around 40 students each year, across a range of disciplines, to help alleviate financial hardship. This can be unexpected financial hardship, assistance with costs related to academic studies or assist those from low income backgrounds by contributing towards the Cambridge Bursary.

UK and EU undergraduates with a household income of less than £42,620 are likely to be eligible for a Cambridge Bursary of up to £3,500 per year to help meet living costs. Students with a household income of £25,000 per year or less are eligible for the maximum amount of £3,500 per year. Students are assessed by the Student Loans Company as part of their application for student finance from the UK Government. The Bursary does not need to be repaid.

The payment of a Bursary is made from University funds matched by money from Trinity Hall’s Milestone Awards. Payments are made termly into a students’ account to help with their living costs.

Each term a committee meets to award hardship grants to undergraduates who have faced unexpected financial hardship, for example through familial financial difficulties or illness. Hardship grants ensure that students are not forced to discontinue their studies during times of financial difficulty. There is a deadline each term for students to apply and their situation is considered by the committee, with comments from their tutor.

The support funds ensure students can remain on their course in times of unexpected financial difficulty; they allow students to focus on their studies rather than worrying about finances; and they offer additional funding to enable a student to undertake extra research or buy the academic materials they need .

The College spends around £150,000 on student support for undergraduates each year. This is on top of the £2.5 million the College is investing in the education of our students by making-up the shortfall between the cost of their education and the income from fees. Around one third of students benefit from some form of financial support each year.