Gates Cambridge Scholarships are prestigious, highly competitive full-cost scholarships. They are awarded to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge.
The programme aims to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others.
While at Cambridge, Scholars pursue full range of subjects available at the University and are spread through its departments and Colleges.
Our Alumni are pursuing further study or employment across many sectors of society. Despite the relative youth of the programme, Gates Cambridge Alumni are increasingly taking on leadership roles and applying their knowledge and skills to improve the lives of others.
Selection criteria
- outstanding intellectual ability
- leadership potential
- a commitment to improving the lives of others
- a good fit between the applicant's qualifications and aspirations and the postgraduate programme at Cambridge for which they are applying
Scholarship value
A Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge.
Core components
- the University Composition Fee and College fees at the appropriate rate
- a maintenance allowance for a single student (£13,900 for 12 months at the 2014-15 rate; pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months)
- one economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course
- inbound visa costs
Discretionary components
The Trust also considers applications for several types of additional funding on a discretionary basis:
- Family allowance - up to £9,630 for a first child and up to £4,110 for a second child. No funding is provided for a partner.
- Academic development funding - up to £500 a year to attend Conferences and Courses.
- Fieldwork - you may apply to keep up to your normal maintenance allowance while on fieldwork as part of your PhD.
- Some fourth year funding for PhD Scholars may be provided - but the termly maintenance allowance reduces per term for up to a year
- Hardship funding - if there are unforeseen difficulties
Applications for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship for October 2015 entry are now open. The deadlines will be:
- Round 1 (US citizens based in the USA) -15 October 2014
- Round 2 (all other eligible candidates) - 2 December 2014
