Scholarship
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Offered by Gates Cambridge Trust
Open Applications are open; deadlines vary
Visit Official Scholarship Website
Last verified: September 26, 2026
Quick facts
- Provider
- Gates Cambridge Trust
- Study destination
- United Kingdom
- Level
- Master's, PhD / Doctorate
- Funding
- Fully Funded
- Amount
- GBP 23,152 per year (Maintenance allowance for a single student at the 2026-27 rate)
- Eligible students
- Open to most international students
- Deadline
- Applications are open; deadlines vary
- Application method
- Through the university application
Overview
Gates Cambridge is an international scholarship programme at the University of Cambridge for outstanding postgraduate students with a potential for social leadership and a desire to improve the lives of others. It was established in 2000 with a gift from the Gates Foundation.
Around 70 full-cost scholarships are offered each year, about two-thirds of them for PhD students.
Who Can Apply
Citizens of any country outside the UK applying for a full-time PhD (or part-time PhD pilot), an MLitt or an eligible one-year postgraduate course at Cambridge.
Am I eligible? A quick check
- Open to most international students
- Study in United Kingdom
- Level: Master's, PhD / Doctorate
This is a summary. The official eligibility rules decide who can apply.
Education Level
Eligible Nationalities
Citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom
Open to international students.
Not open to citizens of: United Kingdom.
Eligibility can change between cycles. Confirm your country on the official website.
What Does This Scholarship Cover?
Tuition
- Full tuition fees (covered)
Living costs
- Annual stipend (covered)
Travel
- Airfare (covered)
Visa
- Visa fee (covered)
Research
- Conference support (covered)
Other
- Support for family / dependants (covered)
"Fully funded" here means the published coverage includes full tuition and a living allowance. Costs not listed above may not be covered.
Funding Details
Amount: GBP 23,152 per year (Maintenance allowance for a single student at the 2026-27 rate)
Core components: the University Composition Fee; a maintenance allowance for a single student (GBP 23,152 for 12 months at the 2026-27 rate; up to four years for PhD scholars); one economy single airfare at the beginning and end of the course; inbound visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge. Discretionary funding can include academic development funding (GBP 750 to 4,000), a Dependent Children Allowance and fieldwork maintenance. No funding is provided for a partner.
Application Deadline
- Status
- Open Applications are open; deadlines vary
- Applications open
- September 11, 2026
- Deadline type
- Varies by programme
- Current cycle
- Entry in 2027/8
US citizens resident in the USA: deadline 14 October 2026. All other applicants: 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027 depending on the course (see the Course Directory). Deadlines are 11:59pm UK time.
Deadlines change every cycle. Always confirm the current dates on the official website.
How to Apply
Automatic consideration: Eligible applicants are considered through the university application; there is no separate scholarship form.
- Choose an eligible postgraduate course at Cambridge.
- Apply to the University of Cambridge through its postgraduate application, completing the Gates Cambridge section, by the course funding deadline.
- Departments rank applicants, and shortlisted candidates are reviewed by panels.
Selection Process
Selection criteria: outstanding intellectual ability, reasons for choice of course, a commitment to improving the lives of others, and leadership potential.
Official Links
Last verified: September 26, 2026
Application Abroad is not the scholarship provider and does not accept applications. Apply through the official provider; its website is the final source for eligibility, funding and deadlines.
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