The Gates Cambridge Trust was established in 2000 when the Gates Foundation donated US$210 million to the University of Cambridge. This is the largest gift ever given to a UK university. The Trust is responsible for managing all aspects of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship program, and is overseen by a Board of 10 distinguished Trustees who meet twice a year to discuss the program’s strategic direction…
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The Gates Cambridge Scholarship Program Details:
In October 2000, the University of Cambridge received a monumental donation of $210 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This generous gift established the Gates Cambridge Scholarship program, which has since awarded over 2,000 scholarships to students from more than 100 countries. The first group of scholars arrived in October 2001 and have continued to make valuable contributions to their fields of study.
Every year, the University of Cambridge through Gates Cambridge presents almost 80 full-fee scholarships to deserving international applicants who aspire to pursue postgraduate studies in any discipline provided by the university. The scholarship is primarily awarded to PhD candidates, with approximately 25 available grants in the US round and 55 grants obtainable in the international round.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
In order to be eligible for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, you must be:
- a citizen of any nation other than the United Kingdom
- applying to study in one of the following programs at Cambridge University:
- PhD (full-time or part-time)
- MLitt (full-time)
- One year postgraduate course (full-time)
Value of Award
A Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge. It also provides additional, discretionary funding.
- the university composition fee, calculated appropriately
- a maintenance payment for one student ($18,744 for 12 months at the rate of 2022–23; prorated for courses lasting less than 12 months); for PhD scholars, the grant is for up to four years.
- at the start and finish of the course, one economy single flight
- Costs of immigration health surcharge and inbound visas.
Discretionary components
The Trust also considers applications for several types of additional funding on a discretionary basis:
- Depending on the length of your programme, you may be eligible for academic development grants ranging from £500 to £2,000 to help you attend conferences and courses.
- Dependent Children Allowance: up to £15,612 for two or more children and £10,944 for one child (2022–23 rate). No funding is allocated for a partner.
- Fieldwork – As part of your PhD, you may request to receive up to your usual maintenance allowance while out in the field. The Trust does not cover extra fieldwork expenses because the University Composition Fee should cover such.
- In the event that you need to take a break from your studies for maternity or paternity reasons, you can seek to do so while still receiving your maintenance allowance for up to six months.
- Hardship funding—for unforeseen challenges the student might encounter
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, we consider the following factors:
- Academic distinction: You must demonstrate academic excellence through your transcripts, references, experience, and potential to succeed in your chosen course. The academic departments at the University of Cambridge recommend only the most academically outstanding candidates for this scholarship.
- Choice of course: You need to make a persuasive argument for why Cambridge is the best place to pursue your specific postgraduate degree. Research MPhil applicants and PhD candidates should contact a potential supervisor with whom they will work to create a research project. You must prove that you have the academic training, practical knowledge, and skills required to complete the course. MPhil candidates and other applicants must also explain how taking the proposed course will advance their career goals. It is important to conduct thorough research and provide strong evidence to support your choice of course.
- Commitment to improving the lives of others: The Gates Cambridge Scholars program seeks candidates who are committed to improving the lives of others. You should demonstrate your past, present, and future dedication to the societies in which you will live and work.
- Leadership potential: Successful candidates should demonstrate their potential for leadership through their prior leadership experience and how their leadership abilities may impact their future professional endeavors.
How to Apply :
Candidates can apply for admission and financial aid (including Gates Cambridge and other funds) through the graduate application portal provided by the university. Gates Cambridge has full access to the admission and grant application when reviewing applicants. To begin the application process, click on “APPLY NOW“. For complete information on the application process, including selection criteria and instructions for completing specific tasks, please visit www.gatescambridge.org
Application Deadline
You can apply for admission to the academic year 2024-25 starting from September 2023. Gates Cambridge organizes two selection rounds annually, and you can find complete information below.
If you’re unsure about which round to apply for, please send an email to [email protected] with your details.
Even if you’re not eligible for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, you may still qualify for other funding provided by the University of Cambridge. For more information, visit www.student-funding.cam.ac.uk.