The University of Central Asia Cambridge Scholarship Programme (Academic Year 2027-2028)
Date
12 November 2026
Time
The University of Central Asia (UCA) in partnership with the Cambridge Trust is pleased to announce prestigious scholarship opportunities for master’s and doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. The initiative is a part of UCA’s ongoing Central Asian Faculty Development Programme (CAFDP) designed to promote scholarship among the Central Asian postgraduate community and equip regional talent for careers in academia and particularly at UCA.
Programme Overview
The UCA-Cambridge Scholarship is available to outstanding candidates from UCA’s founding states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan (applicants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan will also be considered; however, priority will be given to applicants from the founding states). It supports applicants in a wide range of subjects relevant to UCA's strategic goals.
UCA is Central Asia’s sole regional university with fully residential campuses in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan and Khorog, Tajikistan, with further plans for a campus in Tekeli, Kazakhstan. UCA’s Graduate School of Development, based predominantly in Bishkek, with smaller offices in Dushanbe and Khorog, leads the University’s research and development initiatives. The partnership between UCA and the Cambridge Trust builds on the quality and standing of both UCA and the University of Cambridge, to enhance the academic quality of UCA’s and Central Asia’s future faculty and research community.
While the scholarship remains open to both master’s and doctoral applicants, priority will be given to strong PhD candidates, reflecting UCA’s current focus on doctoral development.
To date, the scholarship has supported 1 Postdoctoral, 8 PhD, and 5 master’s researchers, each making significant contributions to their respective fields and advancing the mission of fostering academic excellence and innovation within the Central Asian region. Scholarship holders are also expected to gain teaching experience and pedagogical training during their doctoral studies, where appropriate.
Key Deadlines
- Information session (Online): Thursday, 15 October 2026 at 4 pm (GMT+6) Join Zoom Meeting
- UCA application deadline: Thursday, 12 November 2026 (midnight, GMT+6)
- University of Cambridge application deadline: 3 December, 2026 / 5 January, 2027 (depending on the programme).
Fields of Study
The scholarship is available for graduate and postgraduate studies in subjects that align with UCA’s research and education interests and expertise at the School of Arts & Sciences and the Graduate School of Development.
Eligible fields include Earth, Climate and Environmental Sciences, Computer and Data Sciences, Media and Communications, Development Economics, Climate Economics and Public Policy, Public Health and Health Economics, Cultural Heritage and Society. Other fields may be considered based on UCA’s needs. Where appropriate, preference will be given to research topics engaging with theoretical or applied work especially pertinent to the Central Asian region.
For doctoral scholarship holders, it is expected that the research undertaken will also have direct relevance to Central Asia and that fieldwork would therefore normally be expected to be undertaken in Central Asia during the 2nd or 3rd year of the doctoral programme.
Note: MBA, EMBA, MFin and BusD degrees are not covered by this scholarship.
Scholarship Value
The UCA-Cambridge scholarship will cover:
- University tuition fee (paid directly to Cambridge).
- Annual stipend in accordance with the applicable scholarship terms and funding arrangements.
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
- Visa costs, subject to the applicable scholarship terms and any stated limits.
Additional support from UCA:
- Annual research allowance (PhD only) subject to applicable UCA policies and funding availability.
- Travel expenses to and from the UK at the start and conclusion of the studies in accordance with UCA’s applicable travel and reimbursement policies.
Note: Please note the scholarship does not provide any support or funding for any dependents or family members.
Conditions
CAFDP scholars are expected to remain engaged with UCA during their studies and to contribute to the University following completion of their programme, through teaching, research, or other agreed activities. Any post-graduation engagement, including employment or a service agreement, will be subject to UCA’s needs, available opportunities, and applicable recruitment and approval processes, and does not constitute a guarantee of employment.
Scholarship recipients will be assigned to a UCA mentor throughout their studies at Cambridge, in addition to their Cambridge mentor/supervisor. This will support their continued engagement with UCA and subsequent reintegration following completion of their studies.
UCA’s Eligibility Criteria
All applicants are required to meet the following eligibility criteria that includes:
- Citizens of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan (Applicants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan will also be considered however priority will be given to applicants from the founding states).
- Higher education degree with excellent academic records from a recognised university.
- Interest in master’s or PhD programme in departments reflecting UCA fields of interest, outlined above.
- Interest in a career within academia, including research and teaching.
- Demonstrated competency in chosen discipline.
- Demonstrated commitment to contributing to UCA following the completion of the CAFDP programme.
- Excellent English language skills: IELTS score of 7.5 (with a minimum of 7.0 in each individual component) or TOEFL score of 110 (with 25 in each element).
Application Process
To submit your application, please send all required documents in English as a single PDF file to cafdp@ucentralasia.org. Please name the file: Surname_FirstName_Cambridge_2027.pdf.
- CAFDP Application form
- Curriculum Vitae/Resume (3 pages maximum).
- Personal statement outlining your short and long-term career goals, field of study and research interests, reasons for applying to CAFDP, and what makes you a good candidate for CAFDP at Cambridge (3 pages maximum).
- A short research proposal (3 pages maximum) if the course chosen is entirely or predominantly research-based or equal taught/research based.
- A copy of your passport.
- Academic Transcripts and Diplomas.
- CAFDP Applicant Privacy Notice.
Applications will be reviewed by the UCA selection committee and shortlisted applications will be invited to submit a full online application to the University of Cambridge, by December 3, 2026/January 5, 2027 depending on the chosen programme (please refer to the Postgraduate Course Directory).
All candidates are therefore encouraged to familiarise themselves with the online admission application form in parallel to submitting their application to UCA.
Shortlisting or selection by UCA does not guarantee admission to the University of Cambridge or the award of any scholarship or funding that is subject to separate University of Cambridge or Cambridge Trust requirements.
Contact Information
For further information, please contact: cafdp@ucentralasia.org. Early enquiries are welcome.
UCA reserves the right to amend the eligibility criteria, deadlines, or application requirements where reasonably necessary, and to reject or not consider applications that are incomplete, late, or do not meet the applicable requirements. Nothing in this announcement constitutes a guarantee of admission, scholarship award, or employment with UCA.
By submitting an application, applicants acknowledge that UCA will collect and process their personal data for the purposes of administering the CAFDP scholarship programme, assessing eligibility and applications, communicating with applicants, and, where applicable, facilitating the University of Cambridge application process. Personal data will be handled in accordance with UCA’s applicable privacy and data-protection policies and applicable law.
Applicants should review UCA’s Privacy Notice for Applicants before submitting their application.
UCA-Cambridge Scholarship Programme Frequently Asked Questions
1. General Information
A: No. There is no specific age restriction. Both recent graduates and mid-career professionals are welcome to apply, as long as you meet the programme's requirements.
A: Applicants who already hold a postgraduate degree may apply if their proposed study area is relevant to UCA’s priorities.
A: Yes. The scholarship supports both master’s and PhD studies, including integrated MPhil-to-PhD programmes, with priority given to PhD applicants. Applicants are encouraged to focus on one programme to submit a strong application.
2. Priority Areas and Programme Alignment
A: Priority is given to fields identified in the current scholarship announcement and to studies that align with UCA’s academic and research priorities. Applicants are encouraged to explore UCA’s schools and research units on its website.
A: Applications outside the listed priority areas may also be considered, depending on UCA’s institutional needs and priorities.
A: MBA, EMBA, MFin and BusD degrees are not covered by this scholarship.
3. Language Proficiency and Standardised Tests
A: IELTS or TOEFL results are not required at the initial UCA application stage. Applicants must ultimately meet the English-language requirements of their chosen Cambridge programme.
A: Applicants may include a Medium of Instruction letter with their UCA application. Cambridge determines whether previous English-medium study is sufficient or whether a language test is required.
A: If Cambridge requires an English-language test, applicants must submit their results by the deadline specified by Cambridge.
4. Application Process
A: The process has two stages: first, applicants submit their complete application to UCA for review and shortlisting; second, those shortlisted by UCA are invited to apply formally to the University of Cambridge under this scholarship.
A: You may apply independently to Cambridge, but an independent Cambridge application does not qualify you for funding through the UCA–Cambridge Scholarship Programme. Applicants seeking this scholarship must follow UCA’s selection process first.
A: PhD applicants are encouraged to identify and contact potential supervisors early. Master's applicants should check the specific requirements of their chosen Cambridge programme.
A: Yes, resubmission is allowed, and previous applicants are encouraged to strengthen their applications for the next call.
3. Financial Coverage and Conditions
A: The scholarship covers the full university tuition fee (paid directly to Cambridge), an annual stipend for living expenses, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), and visa costs.
In addition, UCA provides a research allowance for PhD students and covers travel expenses to and from the UK at the beginning and end of the study period.
A: No. The scholarship supports individual fellows only.
A: It covers the standard duration of the academic programme — typically one year for master’s and three to four years for PhDs.
6. Post-Study Employment and Commitment
A: Scholarship recipients are expected to return and contribute to UCA following completion of their studies. This may involve teaching, research, or other professional activities, depending on UCA’s needs and available opportunities. The nature and terms of this commitment will be discussed with successful candidates.
7. Additional and Practical Information
A: Yes. Selected fellows will receive guidance from UCA and mentorship throughout their studies to support academic success and reintegration.
A: UCA will acknowledge receipt of your application by email. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all required documents are submitted by the deadline.
A: You can visit UCA’s website for more details. If you have additional questions, you can email cafdp@ucentralasia.org for assistance.
A: Applicants are encouraged to review Cambridge online portal for the requirements of their chosen programme, including supporting documents and application deadlines. Cambridge may request additional information during the admissions process. Please note that Cambridge's admission requirements and deadlines are separate from UCA's scholarship application process.