Applications are currently being received for the Gates Cambridge Scholarships for International Students. Created in October 2000 by a donation of US$210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge, this scholarship program is fully funded and available for citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom. Gates Cambridge offers around 70 full-cost scholarships each year to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge.
Approximately two-thirds of these awards will be offered to PhD students, with approximately a third of awards available in the US round and the rest available in the International round. The scholarship is available for a PhD (full-time or part-time), MLitt (full-time), or a one-year postgraduate course (full-time), with some exceptions. To be competitive for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, candidates must show evidence of academic excellence (through their transcripts, references, experience, and the potential to succeed in the chosen course). Academic departments at the University of Cambridge nominate only the most academically outstanding applicants.
Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate a capacity for leadership, which can be expressed in a multitude of ways. Applicants should provide evidence of their leadership experience to date and indicate the ways in which their leadership skills may have an impact on their future careers. The Gates Cambridge mission is to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others. There are approximately 250 scholars studying in Cambridge at any one time, and a community of more than 1,700 Gates Cambridge Scholar alumni from 116 countries.
Program Details
- Host Institution: University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
- Field of study: Available programs at the university (see eligible courses below).
- Number of awards: Around 70. Approximately a third are available in the US round, and the rest are available in the international round.
- Duration: Applicant’s program normal duration. For PhD scholars, the award is for up to 4 years.
- Target group: Open to citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom.
Gates Cambridge Scholarships Benefits
This scholarship is a fully funded program that covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge. Selected candidates will be provided with the following benefits:
- the University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate. The University Composition Fee varies for different types of students; applicants should see the Graduate Studies prospectus for full details about precise amounts
- a maintenance allowance for a single student (£23,152 for 12 months at the 2026-27 rate; pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months): for PhD scholars the award is for up to 4 years
- one economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course
- inbound visa costs & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge.
This foundation scholarship also considers applications for several types of additional funding on a discretionary basis:
- Academic development funding: from up to £750 to up to £4,000, dependent on the length of your course, to attend conferences and courses
- Dependent Children Allowance: up to £12,793 per annum for one child and up to £18,244 per annum for two or more children. No funding is provided for a partner
- Fieldwork: you may apply to keep up to your normal maintenance allowance while on fieldwork as part of your PhD (the Trust does not fund other fieldwork costs, as these should be funded by the University Composition Fee)
- Maternity/Paternity funding: should you require it, you may apply to intermit your studies for up to 6 months and continue to receive your maintenance allowance during this time
- Hardship funding: for unforeseen difficulties facing the scholar.
Note : If you are receiving a salary from an employer or have another substantial scholarship, the Trust reserves the right to reduce or not pay the standard maintenance allowance. You should let the Trust know ASAP if you are awarded any funding towards your degree at Cambridge. Most costs are covered by the Scholarship but Gates Cambridge does not cover bench fees or the costs of scientific equipment or similar academic resources. The Trust expects such core course costs to be covered by the academic department at Cambridge.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship Eligible Courses
You can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship if you are applying to pursue one of the following courses at the University of Cambridge:
- PhD (full-time or part-time)
- MLitt (full-time)
- One-year postgraduate course (full-time), with some exceptions: see below
Courses which Gates Cambridge does NOT consider:
- any undergraduate degree, such as a BA (undergraduate) or BA affiliated (a second BA)
- MASt courses
- part-time degrees other than the PhD
- professional development courses and non-standard degrees such as:
- Master of Business (MBA)
- Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) and Global EMBA
- Master of Finance (MFin)
- Executive Master of Accounting
- Business Doctorate (BusD)
- Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)
- MBBChir Clinical Studies
- MD Doctor of Medicine degree (6 years, part-time, home students only)
- Graduate Course in Medicine (A101)
- Master of Conservation of Easel Painting.
Please click here to find the full list of available courses.
Other Opportunities
Gates Cambridge Scholarships Eligibility
You can apply for this United Kingdom scholarship if you are:
- a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom
- applying to pursue one of the eligible courses of study at the University of Cambridge (see above)
If you are currently studying at Cambridge and wish to apply for a new postgraduate course, you can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. For example, if you are currently studying for an MPhil you can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship to pursue a PhD. Current Gates Cambridge Scholars may also apply for a second scholarship if they are applying for a new degree. All current Cambridge students will be considered in the international round. However, if you have already started a course, you cannot apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship to fund the remainder of it.
Note : Whether or not you are eligible for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, you may be eligible for other funding offered by the University of Cambridge. See student-funding.cam.ac.uk for more details. Gates Cambridge is continuing to pilot a scheme which allows applicants to apply for funding for a part-time doctoral degree.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship assessment criteria:
- Outstanding intellectual ability
- Reasons for choice of course
- Commitment to improving the lives of others
- Leadership potential
Why Should You Apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarships?
Please watch the video below to see if the Gates Cambridge Scholarships is what you’re looking for.
How to Apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarships
Interested applicants in this Europe scholarship should submit their application for admission and funding (Gates Cambridge and other funding) via the university’s Graduate Application Portal. Please click on the apply button below to start. To be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, you must complete the section to apply for admission to a course and a College place and the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section. Gates Cambridge has access to the full application for admission and funding when reviewing applications.
In the admission section, you are applying to a specific graduate course and a college place. You will provide all of the usual details about yourself, your academic background, plans, and suitability for the proposed course. In the funding section, you can apply for a range of funding offered by the University and associated bodies, including the Gates Cambridge Scholarships, which has its own subsection. Those applying for the Gates scholarship will be asked to provide the following:
- Gates Cambridge selection questions: Four questions that each relate to a point on the Gates Cambridge Selection Criteria:
- Please describe how, through your education and past experiences, you have displayed academic excellence. (approx. 200 words, up to 1,400 characters)
- Please explain why you want to study this specific course at the University of Cambridge and how it will facilitate your future plans. (approx. 200 words, up to 1,400 characters)
- Please provide an example, or examples, of how you have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of others. Please explain why this is important to you and how it is relevant to your future plans. (approx. 300 words, up to 2,100 characters)
- Please provide an example, or examples, of how you have demonstrated a capacity for leadership. This could be by initiating a change or bringing others together to achieve a goal. How will this help you make an impact in the future? (approx. 300 words, up to 2,100 characters)
- Research proposal (PhD applicants only): Gates Cambridge requires PhD applicants to submit a research proposal as part of their application for funding. Most PhD applicants will upload a research proposal as part of their application for admission, but where this is not the case, a research proposal is required to apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. If you are applying for a degree other than the PhD, you do not need to submit a research proposal.
- Gates Cambridge reference: In addition to two academic references for admission, Gates Cambridge applicants must arrange for someone to submit a reference setting out how they meet the scholarship’s criteria. The reference is used to help distinguish between candidates who have been nominated by academic departments. Referees are asked how they rate the applicant for the scholarship: exceptional, strong, not strong, or weak.
To know more about how to apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship program, please click on this link.
Application Deadlines for 2027/28 Entry
Applications for entry in the academic year 2027/8 are now open. Gates Cambridge manages two selection rounds each year.
US Citizens Resident in the USA
- Applications open: 11th September 2026
- Application deadline: Wednesday, 14th October 2026 (Full application must be submitted by 11:59pm UK time)
- Departmental ranking: late October to November 2026
- All applicants notified of application outcome: by 11:59pm UK time on Monday, 14th December 2026
- Review and selection by panels: Friday, 22nd, and Saturday, 23rd, January 2027
- Scholarships offered: by early February 2027
- Scholarships accepted: 72 hours after offer
All Other Eligible Applicants (International Round)
- Applications open: 11th September 2026
- Application deadline: Dependent on your course: either Tuesday 8th December 2026 or Wednesday 6th January 2027 (see Course Directory). Full application must be submitted by 11:59pm UK time.
- Departmental ranking: December: February
- All applicants notified of application outcome: by 11:59pm UK time on Monday, 8th March 2027
- Review and selection by panels: Monday, 22nd March, and Tuesday, 23rd March, 2027
- Scholarships offered: by early April 2027
- Scholarships accepted: 72 hours after offer
The deadline for applicants who are both US citizens and residents in the United States is . For all other applicants, the deadline depends on their course. It is either or . For more detail on the Gates Cambridge Scholarships for International Students, please visit the official website.
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I was looking for a masters scholarship and came across the Gates Cambridge University Scholarship. My question is; how do i apply for the scholarship. Thankyou
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