The Mosley, Worts and Frere travel funds are available to undergraduate and postgraduate students to encourage travel outside of the UK in pursuit of study or research. Please note that some postgraduates may have recourse for funding via their funding sponsors. Students may also be able to apply to their College or Department for further funding for travel, please check this with them directly
Funds overview
Successful students are required to submit a risk assessment (signed by their Director of Studies/Academic Supervisor/Department) in order to receive their award. The application form is the same for all 3 funds, so you need only apply once to be considered for all funds.
Please note, if your application is successful, a contribution towards your travel will be made from the funds. This may not be the full amount requested in your application.
Mary Euphrasia Mosley Fund
The Mary Euphrasia Mosley Fund grants awards for travel to Commonwealth countries and dependent territories (excluding the United Kingdom) for the purposes of study or research. Successful PhD students may receive awards of up to £1000 and successful undergraduate students on other degree pathways may receive awards of up to £600.
Sir Bartle Frere’s Memorial Fund
The Bartle Frere’s Memorial Fund grants awards for study or research in any branch of knowledge relating to a Commonwealth country (excluding the United Kingdom and countries of the Indian sub-continent). Successful PhD students may receive awards of up to £1000 and successful students on other degree pathways may receive awards of up to £600. Preference is given to undergraduate students, however applications from postgraduate students will be considered.
Worts Travelling Scholars Fund
The Worts Travelling Scholars Fund grants awards for investigations and research in countries outside of Great Britain, for the purpose of geographical discovery or antiquarian or scientific research. Successful PhD students may receive awards of up to £1000 and successful students on other degree pathways may receive awards of up to £600. Preference is given to undergraduate students, however applications from postgraduate students will be considered.
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.
Please read the below criteria to determine your eligibility for the funds:
Travel awards will not be provided for:
- Funding the travel of partners, friends or family members
- 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 related to an MPhil course
- 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 2025
- 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 studies
- 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 strongly recommend discussing your application and travel plans with them.
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Applications must be submitted by 21 March 2025 by students. Supporting statements from Academic Supervisors or Directors of Studies need to be submitted by 28 March 2025 in order for applications to be considered.
- Read carefully through the Funds overview section and Eligibility Criteria to see if you are eligible to apply.
- Discuss your application and your travel plans with your Academic Supervisor or Director of Studies.
- Find and prepare evidence that you will be a current student at the time of your trip, 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).
- The online application form needs to be completed in one sitting. You may wish to view a PDF practice application 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.
- Complete the Application Form online.
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 its 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 the exact details of 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, 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 the Form found here
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 before 1st December 2026.
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?
If there are any changes to your travel plans, please contact the Student Funding and Fee Policy Team at student.prizes@admin.cam.ac.uk 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.
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 other students involved in the same project.
Where do I find an ethical review form and risk assessment form?
Please find a risk assessment form here. For guidance regarding which form to complete, please see this 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.
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 and 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, however, that preference is given to first-time applicants.
What is the total amount that can be awarded?
The amount that can be awarded 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 21 March 2025 by students. Supporting statements from Academic Supervisors or Directors of Studies need to be submitted by 28 March 2025 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 2026.
Where do I find proof of my current student status?
Proof that you are a current student at time of travel can be provided from a CAMSIS screenshot that shows your course's end 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.