The Gates Cambridge Scholarship pays the full cost of a postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge for students from outside the United Kingdom. Around 70 scholarships are offered each year, in any subject the University offers at postgraduate level. If you are a strong student with a clear plan to help others, this is one of the most generous scholarships in the world.
There is no separate Gates Cambridge form. You apply through the University’s Graduate Application Portal and complete the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section. Your department first decides whether to nominate you, and only nominated applicants are judged by Gates panels.
| Detail | Information |
| Scholarship | Gates Cambridge Scholarship |
| University | University of Cambridge, United Kingdom |
| Level | PhD, MLitt and one-year postgraduate courses |
| Who can apply | Citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom |
| Number of awards | Around 70 each year |
| Deadline | 8 December or 6 January, depending on your course |
| Funding | Full cost of study, including fees and living costs |
What the scholarship pays for
A Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge. It pays the University Composition Fee at the right rate, and a maintenance allowance of £23,152 for 12 months, at the rate stated on the official page. For PhD scholars the award can run for up to four years, and it is paid pro rata for shorter courses.
It also pays for one economy airfare at the start of your course and one at the end, plus your inbound visa costs and the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge. Extra help may include academic development funding of up to £4,000, and a Dependent Children Allowance of up to £12,793 a year for one child. The scholarship does not pay bench fees or scientific equipment costs.
Who can apply, and who cannot
You can apply if you are a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom. You must be applying for a PhD, either full-time or part-time, an MLitt full-time, or a one-year full-time postgraduate course. Part-time PhD places are part of a pilot scheme.
Some courses are not considered at all, including any undergraduate degree, MASt courses, part-time degrees other than the PhD, the MBA, the Master of Finance, the Business Doctorate, the PGCE, the MD degree, and the Graduate Course in Medicine. Do not apply if you are a UK citizen or if your course is on this list.
Current Cambridge students can apply for a new postgraduate course, and current Scholars can apply for a second scholarship for a new degree. But you cannot apply for funding for a course you have already started.
The four things selectors look for
Gates Cambridge judges every applicant on four points: outstanding intellectual ability, reasons for your choice of course, a commitment to improving the lives of others, and leadership potential. Around 250 Scholars study in Cambridge at any one time, with more than 1,700 alumni from 116 countries.
How to apply
Start early, because references and documents all share the same deadline:
- Choose your course in the University Course Directory and note its Course Funding Deadline.
- Apply through the University’s Graduate Application Portal, completing the admission, College place and funding sections.
- Complete the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section, including the four selection questions.
- If you are a PhD applicant, submit a research proposal as part of your application for funding.
- Arrange two academic references and one Gates Cambridge reference, and make sure all three are sent by the deadline.
- Submit your full application by 11:59pm UK time on your course deadline date.
Your deadline depends on your course. Most international applicants must apply by the Course Funding Deadline in the Course Directory, which is either 8 December or 6 January. The earlier round for US citizens living in the United States closed on 14 October, and US citizens living outside the United States apply in the international round.
Your Gates Cambridge referee must explain how you meet the four criteria and rank you against a group of people they know, so brief them well and never ask a friend or a family member. They can write up to 4,000 characters, and a late reference can end your chances.
Make your four answers stand out
The funding form asks four questions, each tied to one of the selection criteria. Two are about 200 words each: your academic excellence, and why you want this exact course at Cambridge. The other two are about 300 words each: examples of how you have worked to improve the lives of others, and examples of your leadership. Use real examples with names, places and results, not general claims.
What happens after you apply
Departments rank applicants between December and February, and they nominate a small number of candidates. If you are nominated, Gates Cambridge panels will review your application and interview you. All international-round applicants are told the outcome by 11:59pm UK time on 8 March. Interviews take place on 22 and 23 March, and scholarships are offered by early April. If you are offered a scholarship, you have 72 hours to accept it.
Also compare the Clarendon Scholarship at Oxford and the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship at Oxford when planning your applications.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Can I apply if I am already studying at Cambridge?
A: Yes, if you are applying for a new postgraduate course. For example, if you are studying for an MPhil, you can apply for funding for a PhD. You cannot apply to fund a course you have already started.
Q: Does the scholarship cover my travel and visa costs?
A: Yes. It pays for one economy airfare at the start of your course and one at the end, and it covers your inbound visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge. Travel insurance and extra bags are not covered.
Q: Can I apply for a part-time course?
A: Only a part-time PhD is considered, as part of a pilot scheme. Master’s courses must be taken full-time.
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