Prizes and Scholarships

All students graduating with a First Class degree will receive a prize of £200.  Those who achieve a starred First will also receive a Foundation Prize of £300.

Students who receive a University Prize will be granted a College Academic Achievement Award of £100.

The College also awards a number of named prizes. These are in recognition of the best First Class results achieved in Education, History, Land Economy, Maths and Theology.

All prizes for finalists will be presented at General Admission (graduation day).

Students other than finalists who receive a First Class result will receive a scholarship of £200. Additionally, students who receive a University Prize will be granted a College Academic Achievement Award of £100.

There are named prizes in recognition of the best First Class results achieved in Education and in Part IIA Engineering.

Prizes for continuing students are typically presented at the Foundation Formal each October.

Details of prizes, awards and funding for postgraduate students can be found here.

The College awards a small number of prizes to undergraduate and postgraduate students who have made an outstanding contribution to the life of the College. Such prizes are typically £200 in value and awarded either at General Admission or the Foundation Formal in October.

Student Representation Awards are also made throughout the academic year to students who have demonstrated an active and significant role in University activities such as sport, drama, music and charities. Students who have played a significant part as a captain or organiser of a College sports team or society can also be nominated for an award.  Recipients will be invited to the Principal’s Garden Party in June.

This studentship has been established in memory of the late Bridget Robinson (Homerton, 1969-72) to reward and support Homerton students who have achieved academic or performance excellence in the fields of Maths or Music. 

Criteria and how to apply

One award of £1,500 is available to a student of either Maths or Music at the end of their first year. Selection will be made by the Educational Policy Committee following advice from the Directors of Studies for Maths and Music, on the basis of demonstrable achievement academically or in performance. In the event that two or more candidates demonstrate outstanding achievement, the College reserves the right to request proof of financial need, and may then make the award on this basis. All first year students in Mathematics and Music will be considered. 

About the award

Bridget Robinson gained a Certificate in Education at Homerton in 1972, and went on to teach Mathematics at Glendower School, before gaining a BSc in Mathematics as a mature student at Bedford College. In 2014, Bridget suffered a profound brain injury, but was able to continue a lifelong love of classical and choral music before her death from a terminal illness in 2017. This award has been established by her family.

Jonathan Beswick was a Homerton undergraduate student who died in 1995 during his third year. This prize, which is awarded for an essay on a mathematical topic, was established to remember his enthusiasm and talent for mathematics. The deadline for submission falls in the middle of February each year. Essay titles and instructions can be found below.  The prizewinner will receive £100.

The Changemaker Prize recognises Homerton students who have made a significant difference for social good during their time at College - whether through volunteering, enabling others, starting initiatives, or advocating for change in the systems in which they work. This year two prizes worth £500 each will be awarded to any current Homerton students for activity during their time at Cambridge. Nominations/Applications due October 5th 2023.

At Homerton College, we are delighted to offer the Barbara and Malcolm Pointon Bursary, a fund created to support the academic and personal development of our students. This bursary honours the legacies of Barbara and Malcolm Pointon, who made significant contributions to the College as educators and mentors, inspiring countless students with their passion, dedication, and generosity. Barbara and Malcolm ran the Music Department at Homerton for over two decades. They taught and inspired countless musicians with their academic rigour and teaching practices and were also very active in the student life of the college, with Barbara in particular being instrumental in bringing about changes and improvements to life in the college for women. They were always interested in and supportive of the endeavours of their friends and family and students.

To honour their memory this bursary provides financial assistance to students seeking to enhance their academic performance or personal experience during their time at Homerton. Whether you are pursuing a new skill, developing an existing talent, or exploring an enriching extracurricular activity, this funding is designed to help you achieve your goals.

What the Bursary Offers

The Barbara and Malcolm Pointon Bursary supports a wide range of opportunities. Students may apply for funding to cover the costs of skill development courses, attendance at conferences or workshops, or the purchase of equipment such as musical instruments or other tools necessary for personal or academic growth. The maximum award will be up to £500 per student, per academic year, providing meaningful support tailored to individual needs.

Who Can Apply

This bursary is open to all current full-time students at Homerton College. We welcome applications from students who can demonstrate how the funding will make a positive difference to their academic journey or personal well-being. While all students are encouraged to apply, priority will be given to those who face financial challenges, ensuring that the bursary reaches those who need it most.

How to Apply

Applying for the Barbara and Malcolm Pointon Bursary is straightforward. To get started:

1. Complete the application form, which is available here.
2. Provide a clear description of how the funding will be used and its anticipated impact on your studies or personal growth.
3. Attach any supporting documents, such as invoices, receipts, or course details, and supporting statement from your tutor to help us understand your needs.

The deadline for submissions will be announced in email communications each term, and all applications will be reviewed by the Deputy Senior Tutor and the Finance Tutor, or their representatives. The bursary will be paid out as a reimbursement upon receipt of proof of payment for the activity for which the bursary was awarded.

Why This Bursary Matters

The Barbara and Malcolm Pointon Bursary is more than just financial aid. It is a recognition of your ambition and a tool to help you excel during your time at Homerton. By removing financial barriers, this bursary allows you to focus on what truly matters—your growth, both academically and personally.

We encourage all eligible students to apply and take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to honour the memory of Barbara and Malcolm Pointon. Their dedication to the College and its students serves as a reminder of the profound impact that support and encouragement can have on achieving one’s aspirations.

For more information or assistance with your application, please contact grants@homerton.cam.ac.uk and the Finance Tutor (dk211@homerton.cam.ac.uk). We look forward to supporting you in making the most of your time at Homerton College.

This award is open to offer-holders and current students at Homerton, in any subject. Applications are welcome from those who will have attained the equivalent of ABRSM Grade 7 on the piano.

The value of the scholarship is £300 per annum, with an additional grant for piano/accompaniment lessons. There is also an optional provision for organ lessons of £300 per annum. The scholarship is awarded for one year in the first instance. Among other duties, the Accompanist Scholar accompanies musical performances in College and is the official accompanist to the Homerton Singers, directed by Dr Douglas Coombes MBE.

For further details, click below:

The deadline for applications is has now passed

This award is open to offer-holders and current students at Homerton, in any subject. Applications are welcome from anyone who has an interest in learning orchestral and choral conducting. No prior conducting experience is necessary; instead, an emphasis is placed on potential. The value of the scholarship is £300 per annum, plus additional grants for conducting and instrumental lessons. The scholarship is awarded for one year in the first instance.

The Conducting Scholar is the official conductor of the Homerton Concert Orchestra and Homerton Symphony Orchestra, which currently perform in end-of-term concerts organised by the Homerton College Music Society (HCMS), and is the assistant conductor of the Homerton Singers, the College’s community choir.

For further details, click below:

The deadline for applications is has now passed

Submissions are now open for Homerton College’s 2025 Composing Competition - click here to find out more.

The competition is open to all current students at the University of Cambridge. Candidates are asked to submit a setting of any poem (or section thereof) by Momtaza Mehri, Poet in Residence at Homerton College. The piece should be up to four minutes in length, for SATB choir (with divisi permitted). The work should either be unaccompanied or written with a piano accompaniment.

Candidates should submit their work electronically as a PDF to sh816@homerton.cam.ac.uk, by Thursday 3 April 2025. Please include a short programme note, along with the words of your chosen text. The body of the email should state the candidate’s name, subject, and College affiliation clearly, but no identifying information should be visible on the score or text.

The competition will be judged by Ben Ponniah and Daniel Trocmé-Latter.

The winning entry will be announced in late April 2025, will be awarded a £200 prize and will be performed by the Charter Choir of Homerton College in a concert on Sunday 22 June 2025. One runner-up prize of £50 is also available. Composers should bear in mind the limited rehearsal time that will be available to the choir in the run-up to the performance.

The performance competition takes place each Easter Term, with a cash prize of £200. It is open to all current Homerton students. To enter, record a musical performance and send it in by the closing date. Selected finalists are invited to perform at a special recital, at which a winner is chosen.

The deadline for entering the 2025 performance competition is 12 noon on 28 April, 2025. 

Finalists will be asked to perform in a late-afternoon recital on 15 May 2025, at which the winner will be announced.

Please see the following document for more information on how to apply, and the submission form: