About

Supporting Students

Students 2011

Since 1998, the Woolf Institute and its donors have provided student bursaries in the value of nearly £300,000. We are committed to retaining course fees at an affordable rate and work closely with our partners to achieve this. Yet this effort cannot entirely offset the effect of current economic pressures, which have resulted in increased tuition fees and living expenses. More rigorous immigration regulations (and an increase in the cost of visas and international travel) are also proving prohibitive to some overseas students who wish to study in Cambridge. Even those MSt students who study overseas via e learning are required by the University of Cambridge to come to Cambridge twice during their first year of study.

Student Scholarships and Bursaries

Each year, we have a number of students who are unable to start their courses due to a lack of funding. This situation has increased in the last 2 years, because of the difficult financial situation. In the UK, many students finish their undergraduate degrees in significant debt and the majority of overseas students require some kind of financial support during their studies.

International students in particular have proved to be very motivated and of high calibre. In addition to having a range of interesting backgrounds and skills (many of them are multi-lingual) these students bring a unique perspective on prevailing attitudes in their countries and add a very positive and vibrant dimension to the student community and contribute to the dialogue both within and outside the classroom.

Examples of current students who are in receipt of Woolf Institute scholarships and bursaries.

Student Hardship Fund

We are also seeking funds to raise £100,000 to establish an endowed Student Hardship Fund. Financial circumstances should never prevent gifted students from benefiting from a world-class education. We support students who demonstrate academic excellence as well as financial need, and who show promise of actively applying knowledge and experience when they start serving their communities upon graduation. With a range of academic, professional and cultural backgrounds, the best students bring a diversity of approaches to the field that is critical in making the study of relations between Jews, Christians and Muslims truly multi- and interdisciplinary.

We very much hope that our alumni in particular, so many of whom have themselves benefited from financial support during their time with us, will consider giving a little back to help future generations. Alumni can contact our alumni officer if they are interested in making a donation.