Gates Cambridge Scholarship

Gates Cambridge Scholarships are awarded to outstanding applicants from outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge. Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

• Citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom
• Applying for a full-time residential postgraduate degree at Cambridge (PhD, MLitt, one-year Master's, or MPhil)
• Outstanding intellectual ability
• Commitment to improving the lives of others

• Full tuition (University Composition Fee and College fees)
• Annual maintenance allowance
• Economy return airfare
• Visa and health surcharge costs

• Cambridge graduate admissions application
• Gates Cambridge scholarship statement (part of the Cambridge application)
• Academic transcripts
• Two academic references
• Research proposal (for PhD applicants)
• CV

• Meet the University of Cambridge's English language requirements for your programme

1. 1Submit the Cambridge graduate application by the relevant funding deadline
2. 2The Gates Cambridge statement is integrated into the Cambridge application — no separate application
3. 3Departments and faculties shortlist candidates
4. 4Shortlisted candidates are interviewed by Gates Cambridge committees
5. 5Decisions communicated by late March/April

• Outstanding intellectual ability
• Reasons for choice of course
• A commitment to improving the lives of others
• Leadership potential

• Apply by the earliest Cambridge funding deadline (usually October for US; December for non-US)
• The Gates Cambridge statement is critical — clearly explain how your work will improve others' lives
• PhD applicants should have a well-defined research proposal with supervisor support
• Demonstrating leadership through action, not just titles, is valued

Last verified: April 30, 2026

US-resident applicants have an earlier deadline (typically October). All other applicants apply by the December Cambridge deadline.