The College has a number of prizes, awards and grants which have been generously donated by people who have a connection with the College.  Some are open to most students, whereas others are funds to help students in particular subjects.  Some of these are competitive, whereas others are grants given as of right to qualifying students. Full details of each of these follow on this page.

Other prizes are awarded by the College Council on the basis of Tripos examination results etc, and do not require an application

College Prizes:

André Fu Prize for Digital Design

A prize of £1000 shall be awarded annually and the awarders shall, if they think it proper, divide the grants between candidates of equal merit, or make no award. The Prize is generously supported by André Fu, an alumnus of the College, via the André Fu Arts Foundation Limited.

The André Fu Prize for Digital Design will support innovation and excellence in digital design. The term “digital design” is intended to include any project that combines digital technology and creative design. Awards will be determined based on the merit of the submission, defined as the extent to which it demonstrates innovation and excellence.  

The Prize is open to any resident undergraduate member of Robinson College and applications are encouraged from students studying across a diverse range of triposes, including but not limited to Engineering, Architecture, Natural Sciences, Computer Science and Design.

To apply, eligible undergraduates are invited to submit an entry to the Prize, which should comprise a piece of work that demonstrates innovation and excellence in digital design. This work may be a project or piece of work produced as part of their course or developed specifically for the Prize. A text explanation (of 500-1000 words) must be submitted with the work, explaining how it demonstrates such innovation and excellence.

Click here to Apply.  Applications are open during Lent Term.

Fred Boyne Sporting Achievement Prize

In recognition of the long and distinguished service of our first Head Porter, and his unwavering support for all forms of competitive sport among the junior members, past and present members of the College have contributed generously to a Fund to further the cause he has done so much to foster.
While exceptional costs associated with training or competition in any sport in which the University competes may qualify for support, consideration will be given in the first instance for kit and other equipment for which the Student Activities Fund does not cater.  In order to apply, please complete the application form giving details of your proposed use of funds and please attach details of your expected or accrued costs.  
Applications from Undergraduates and Postgraduates are welcome, Awards will be made no later than the end of Easter Term. Click Here to Apply.  Applications are open during Lent Term.

Irène Némirovsky Memorial Travel Grant

The award will be made to the student who submits the best research proposal, specifically for a project involving travel to France in order to undertake or complete a study of any aspect of French cultural, historical, social, political or scientific life. Priority will be given to a study of the impact or influence of a Jewish person, Jewish people or Jewish culture in France.  The award is open to all undergraduate and postgraduate members of the College other than those undergraduates studying French.  

£300 will be awarded to the successful applicant.

A research proposal together with brief covering letter should be sent along with the application form. Applications are open during Lent Term. Click Here to Apply

Symons MCR Conference Fund

The Symons MCR Conference Fund, funded by the generosity of the late Professor T H B Symons, a former visiting scholar to the College.
The College expects to be able to award grants totalling £2,800 each year.  Subject to that, the number and value of the grants will be determined by the Awarders.  Individual awards are unlikely to be more than £1000.
Any member of the Robinson College MCR, or group of Robinson MCR students, may apply for a grant to help support the cost of attending or organising a conference focused on a particular area of Robinson postgraduate student research.  A grant might be used in conjunction with other funding sources to cover, for example, travel costs associated with a conference.  There are no restrictions on the subject of conferences.  Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to pursue an interdisciplinary or discipline-specific topic of relevance to their current studies and of value to the broader academic community.  In the case of conferences organised by Robinson College MCR members, participants will primarily be scholars already in Cambridge.  It is within the discretion of the Awarders whether to make any sums available to support the attendance of eminent speakers in the field from other institutions.
Eligible applicants should submit an application form which includes: (i) an outline of the conference theme, its purpose and how it fits with the applicant’s current course of research (to a maximum of 750 words); and (ii) a budget and notes on other funding sources secured, or other funding sources applied for but yet to be confirmed.  Please also indicate if you are eligible for travel funds from e.g. your doctoral program, and, if so, the size of this travel budget.  An up-to-date CV should also be submitted.  
The Awarders will meet during April to decide which applicant will receive grants.  In the event that money remains available for distribution, the Awarders may invite a second round of applications.  
Awards will be determined on merit, reflecting the principles set out above.  Successful applicants will be required to submit a short, outcomes-focused report on conference activities funded by the grant, as well as an account of income and expenditure.  A copy of this report will be forwarded to the donor’s representatives, together with a copy of the successful application.  An edited version of it may also be published on the College website and in the Robinson Record. Applications are open during Lent Term. 
Click Here to Apply

The Dr Teresa Tiffert Research Innovation Awards

Applications are invited to the Dr Teresa Tiffert Research Innovation Awards.  Applications are limited to any postgraduate member of Robinson College, who is registered for a postgraduate degree and who is engaged in research applicable to Medicine and/or Biosciences.
Two awards of £2,500 per year are available.  Applications will be assessed on the academic merit of the project, although the individual's financial circumstances may also be considered.  Applications should be made in writing outlining the financial need (up to 250 words), description of progress to date (max. 250 words), a proposed plan of work (max. 500 words) and potential impact on the applicant's career (max. 250 words).  The award is subject to satisfactory references from the applicant's supervisor, and we may also seek an assessment from colleagues of the potential work.  Please supply the name of a potential referee when you apply.  Please note that the award may only be used for subsistence and, exceptionally, travel.  No laboratory consumables, equipment or bench fees will be paid.
Awards will be conditional on the successful applicant submitting a short report on their research project once it is completed.  Successful applicants will be invited to present their findings at the biannual SCR/MCR research days.  Click here to apply. Applications are open during Lent Term.

The Peter White American Travel Award

The awards are intended to give two undergraduate students at Robinson College an opportunity to explore the United States and extend their knowledge of foreign countries. Students in their first or second year are eligible to apply, as are third-year students on a four-year course, or medics up to their fifth year of study.

The awards are not intended to support scientific expeditions or projects connected with academic courses of research. Preference will be given to someone who has not been to America before.  Retrospective applications, for travel that has already taken place, cannot be accepted.

The maximum award is £1,500 per applicant.

For a full document setting out how to apply, please email Katharine Cantell (knc23@cam.ac.uk).

The closing date for applications will be 9am on Monday 9th February 2026.

Subject-Specific Grants:

Alana Cutland Research Grant

Applications are invited for the Alana Cutland Research Grants, established in memory of Alana Cutland, a student of the Natural Sciences in this College.
The number and value of the grants shall be determined annually by the Awarders, to a maximum of £1000 per person.
The grants are open to any resident female undergraduate member of Robinson College who is currently following a STEMM Tripos (i.e. Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine, Natural Sciences, Psychological and Behavioural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine) and seeking to undertake a research project over the long vacation. In years when there are no such applications, applications will then be invited from female undergraduate students in arts and humanities subjects for the same purpose.
These research grants are to help with expenses related directly to the academic research project to be undertaken over the long vacation. Such expenses may include those connected with: travel, accommodation and subsistence, bench fees, materials and any other expenses incurred as a result of the project at the discretion of the awarding committee.
Eligible applicants should submit an application form for a grant which should include details of the project, its likely costs, and an explanation of why the project cannot be funded by other means (including details of any bursaries received and any other financial information that might be relevant). Details of any other funds applied for should be provided and the outcome of such applications where possible. An up-to-date CV should also be submitted.  
Awards will be determined by the academic merit of the project; an applicant’s financial situation will also be taken into consideration. Awards are conditional on the successful applicant submitting a short report on her research project once it is completed, which is to be returned to the Tutorial Office. A copy of this report will be forwarded to the donors, together with a copy of the successful application. Click Here to Apply.  Applications are open during Lent Term.

Chaffield Shaw Electives fund

Applications may be made to the Chaffield Shaw Medical Support Fund for financial assistance with costs directly associated with the Year 5 medical elective that is part of the Clinical Medicine course. Please note that assistance is not available from this fund for other electives/projects. 
-    Only Year 5 Medical Students are eligible
-    A detailed elective proposal and budget will be required at the time of application 
It should be noted that preference may be given to students whose elective proposals include a research component. Students are also expected to seek financial assistance from other relevant funding sources and detail any other sources of funding (granted or applied for) in their application. If you have any questions, please contact Dr Doherty to discuss.  Applications are open during the Easter vacation and the Easter Term.  Click Here to Apply

Chaffield Shaw MML

The fund offers grants to first- or second-year MML or HML for projects abroad that bring them into direct contact with the language, culture and society of one of their Tripos languages. Eligible projects may include internships or volunteer work with officially recognized charities, participation in a research project or university/community programme. While English teaching may be included, it must be a minor part of a project primarily focused on foreign language use. Projects should meet one or more of the fund’s three key objectives: (a) intellectual challenge; (b) cultural immersion; and (c) social impact.
Students typically travel in the Easter vacation after the end of Lent term (application deadline: 30 October) or in the Summer vacation (application deadline: 1 January). Priority may be given to students who have not previously received funding. Click here for further details.  Click Here to Apply

Chaffield Shaw Vet EMS

The Chaffield Shaw Veterinary Medicine Support Fund (CSVMSF) is only available to clinical veterinary students. Each student is entitled to claim reimbursement of accommodation and travel expenses incurred undertaking clinical Extramural Studies from the Christmas Vacation of their 4th year onwards. The total sum reclaimable over the duration of the clinical course is £1000. All placements undertaken must be in accordance with the Department of Veterinary Medicine’s EMS requirements. Claims are retrospective and must be supported by relevant receipts.  Applications are open all year round.  Click Here to Apply

Isi Metzstein Fund

Origin and purpose of the Isi Metzstein Fund: The fund was first established through generous donations from alumni and friends of the College with the purpose to provide financial assistance to current students of the Architecture and Design triposes in College as they undertake major, well planned study tasks, particularly the Y3 dissertation.  The applicant should discuss with their DoS
Applicants should provide: a one-page, well considered plan of the study task, including an explanation of the study task, the plan to accomplish it, estimates of the costs to be incurred e.g. travel for field visits, information (books, data), materials, tools and small equipment, etc.  Applications are open during Lent Term. Click Here to Apply