The Travel Funds - Mosley, Worts and Frere

Applicants to the funds must be current, registered students of the university at their time of travel. The travel funds classify current, registered students as students who have not met their course requirements and/or who have not submitted their soft-bound thesis.

All students should respect the customs, religion and local practices of the countries they are visiting. A risk assessment will be necessary for all travel to ensure compliance with these factors and is required to be submitted alongside your application form. Where travellers are conducting data collection, an ethical review will also be required.

Please read through the ‘Funds overview’ section above and the eligibility criteria listed below to ensure your application is suitable. The application form is the same for all 3 funds, so you need only apply once to be considered for all funds.

Criteria to determine your eligibility for the funds

Travel awards will not be provided for:

• funding the travel of partners, friends or family members
• travel home from Cambridge for Overseas students
• travel within the UK
• students on intermission
• students on leave to work away at time of application
• retrospective applications, where the travel has already taken place
• postgraduate students who are in receipt of full funding
• participation in study programmes or language courses
• undertaking voluntary work with established charities
• travel that does not meet the criteria of the funds (e.g. travel within the UK or commuting)
• attending conferences (either to present a paper or attend)
• undertaking a placement or internship
• travelling for a paid internship
• medical electives
• travel that takes place in the summer vacation between 2 degrees
• students who have already received a grant during the same academic year
• applications that are submitted after the deadline of 21 March 2026
• travel that takes place during term time, without prior leave to work away approval
• travel as part of a year abroad- please see the Turing Scheme for funds for this purpose
• travel that takes place after the completion of your course requirements:
  • For undergraduate students: after the last day of Easter Term 2026 - 19 June 2026.
  • For postgraduate (Masters/PhD) students: after final submission.
• travel awards are only available for the purpose of research, and not for things such as a cultural holiday.
• successful applicants who have not provided all of the required documentation.

• Applications must be supported by a statement submitted by your Academic Supervisor or Director of Studies. Prior to submitting your application, we recommend discussing your application and travel plans with them.
• Your email must be included as CRSid email address (crsid@cam.ac.uk)
• Your academic supervisor or DoS email must be in the format crsid@cam.ac.uk and only include one email address
• Applications must be submitted by 20 March 2026 by students. Supporting statements from Academic Supervisors or Directors of Studies need to be submitted by 31 March 2026 for applications to be considered.

1. Read carefully through the Funds overview section and Eligibility Criteria to see if you are eligible to apply.
2. Discuss your application and your travel plans with your Academic Supervisor or Director of Studies.
3. Find and prepare evidence that you will be a current student at the time of your trip and get this ready to upload this online with your application (this evidence could be a CamSIS screenshot that lists your course end date or a course letter).
4. The online application form needs to be completed in one sitting. You may wish to view a PDF Practice Form  before completing the online version. Please note that PDF application forms will not be accepted and all applications must be submitted on the online MS Form. 
5. Complete the Application Form online here- Please note the MS Form opens to accept applications on 1 December 2025 and closes on 20 March 2026.

Once your form is submitted, a copy of your application will be sent to your Academic Supervisor or Director of Studies and they will be required to submit a supporting form.

To maximise the chance of a successful application, consider the following:

• Carefully research your trip, the area and culture and familiarise yourself with anything important to be aware of.
• Speak to your Academic Supervisor or Director of Studies and give them a clear explanation of your trip, its objective and importance.
• Provide on your application a clear, detailed explanation of the objective of your project, what you plan to do, its importance and how it will fulfil the purpose of the fund you are applying for (no more than 250 words).
• Carefully budget for your trip, your travel, subsistence and (if needed) equipment costs and include these costs in your application. State on your application what you would use the award for, if granted.
• Consider how you will fund the rest of your travels and state this in your application. The Travel Awards only make a contribution towards the trip of successful applicants.

Outcomes will be sent out by the end of the Easter term (19 June 2026), via email. If applicants are successful, they will need to submit the following mandatory documents, before funds are released:

• A risk assessment signed by one of the following: your Director of Studies/Academic Supervisor/Tutor/Department Safety Advisor
• If your trip involves data collection, an ethical review signed by one of the following: your DoS/Academic Supervisor/Tutor
• Confirmation of provisional travel dates (proof of this can be provided in the form of travel tickets or travel insurance)
• Proof of Travel insurance
• Confirmation of compliance with University travel regulations (once these have been read, confirmation of this can be provided via email)
• Leave to work away, if you are travelling during term time.

These documents need to be submitted to the Student Funding and Fee Policy Team via a form.

• Students will be assigned one of two submission windows based on their travel dates: For students travelling summer 2026 they will be invited to claim in July, for students travelling MT2026-ET2027 they will be invited to claim in January.
  • For a submission deadline of July 17 2026, the payment date is 21 July 2026.
  • For a submission deadline of January 15 2027, the payment date is 31 January 2027
• Awards must be claimed by the specified payment date. Unclaimed awards will not be honoured.
• Students awarded in 2023-24 and 2024-25 must claim their award by the end of Lent Term 2026. After this date, the award will be forfeited.

Successful applicants are also required to submit a financial report and a brief, written account of their travel to the Student Funding and Fee Policy Team @ student.prizes@admin.cam.ac.uk before 1 December 2027.

When will I receive an outcome?

Outcomes are sent out via email at the end of the Easter Term.

Who do I contact regarding my application?

If you have any queries regarding your application, please contact the Student Funding and Fee Policy Team at student.prizes@admin.cam.ac.uk

I want to change my travel plans. What do I do?

Students may request a change in travel only under the following circumstances:

• The destination country has been designated a UNICEF Level 2 or 3 emergency. 
• The country is listed by the UK Government as "Do Not Travel" or in a Red Zone.
• The research proposal has changed due to unforeseen circumstances. Current L-3 and L-2 Emergencies.
• Travel dates have changed to accommodate other commitments, and the student remains enrolled at the time of travel.

Requests will not be accepted under the following conditions:

• The student will no longer be enrolled at the University at the time of travel.
• The location change is due to personal preference or cost, which should have been considered in the original proposal.

If there are any changes to your travel plans, please complete the following form Request to change travel plans with the relevant details. Please note that any changes to travel will need to be approved by the Chair of the Travel Awards prior to travelling.

You may wish to view a PDF Practice Form before completing the online version. Please note that PDF forms will not be accepted and all change requests must be submitted on the online MS Form.

Which costs can I use my award towards?

Your award can be used towards any costs incurred during your travels.

Someone I am travelling with has been granted a different amount. Why?

For successful applications, the amount awarded is dependent on the strength and detail of the application. Applications are assessed on the quality, individuality and originality of the proposal and the applicant’s previous academic record. Students may, therefore, receive different amounts to others involved in the same project.

Where do I find an ethical review form and risk assessment form?

Please find a risk assessment form. For guidance regarding which form to complete, please see the Rating the Overall Risk of Travel/Work Away page.

If you are conducting data collection on your trip, you will need to complete an ethical review form. If you require an ethical review form, please contact your department.

My department states that an ethical review and/or risk assessment are not required. Why do I need to submit these to claim my award?

The signed risk assessment form is  a mandatory requirement of the fund and we are unable to release any funds until we receive this document. Should your trip involve data collection, a signed ethical review is also mandatory for the release of funds.

Where can I find more information about sustainable travel?

Sustainable Business Travel (SBT)

How do I calculate my carbon footprint?

The recommended carbon footprint calculator is here: Carbon Footprint

How is a decision made?

Applications are assessed on the quality, individuality and originality of the proposal as well as the applicant’s previous academic record.

I want to appeal my decision. What do I do?

For appeals, please contact the Student Funding and Fee Policy Team at student.prizes@admin.cam.ac.uk.

I am not sure which travel fund to apply for. How do I decide?

The online application form is for all 3 funds - you do not need to state in your application which fund you are applying to. Please ensure that you are eligible for at least one of the funds, by reading through the Fund Overview and Eligibility Criteria.

How many times can I apply to the fund?

Students can apply to the fund once per year of academic study. Please note that preference is given to first-time applicants. 

What is the total amount that can be awarded?

This is dependent on the degree course. For students studying towards a PhD, the maximum award is £1,000. For students studying towards any other course, the maximum award is £600.

How many times can I receive an award from the funds?

Students can receive an award from the funds once per year of academic study.

When is the application deadline?

Applications must be submitted by 20 March 2026 by students. Supporting statements from Academic Supervisors or Directors of Studies need to be submitted by 27 March 2026 in order to be considered.

When do I need to submit a financial report and account of my travel?

Following your travel, recipients of the award need to submit a financial report and short written account of their travel to the Student Funding and Fee Policy Team at student.prizes@admin.cam.ac.uk by 1 December 2027.

Where do I find proof of my current student status?

Proof that you will be a current student at time of travel can be provided from a CAMSIS screenshot that shows your course end date.

How will when I know when I can claim my award?

This will be communicated to you in your outcome email.

The submission form for claims will close at 23.55 on the specified date.

How do I claim my award?

If applicants are successful, they will need to submit the following mandatory documents in order to claim their award:

• A risk assessment signed by one of the following: your Director of Studies/Academic Supervisor/Tutor/Department Safety Officer
• If your trip involves data collection, an ethical review signed by one of the following: your Director of Studies/Academic Supervisor/Tutor
• Confirmation of provisional travel dates (proof of this can be provided in the form of travel tickets or travel insurance)
• A copy of your travel insurance
• Confirmation of compliance with University travel regulations (once these have been read, confirmation of this can be provided via email)
• Leave to work away, if you are travelling during term time.

These documents need to be submitted via this MS Form.