Brief Description:The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme was established in October 2000 by a donation of US$210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge; this is the largest ever single donation to a UK university.
We offer 90 full-cost scholarships each year 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 selection criteria are:
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
There are about 225 Scholars from 50 countries studying in Cambridge at any one time who pursue the full range of subjects available at the University and are spread across its departments and Colleges.
The aim of the Gates Cambridge programme is to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others.
Eligibility
You can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship if you are:
- a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom
- applying to pursue one of the following full-time residential courses of study at the University of Cambridge:
PhD (three year research-only degree)
MSc or MLitt (two year research-only degree)
One year postgraduate course (e.g. MPhil, LLM, MASt, Diploma, MBA etc.)
For more information on eligibility; check here
Deadline: Gates Cambridge considers candidates in two selection rounds each year:
Round 1: US citizens living in the USA only
Applicants in this round must apply by 10 October 2018 for entry in October 2019.
Round 2: All other eligible applicants (part of the Graduate Funding Competition)
The application deadline in this round is determined by the course you are applying for and is set by the central Graduate Admissions Office. You can find which of the two deadlines below applies to you by checking the Graduate Funding Competition deadline in the course directory. Please also note that if a course deadline is earlier than the relevant funding deadline above (e.g. the LLM in Law), you must apply by the earlier course deadline
For more information on deadlines, check here
Scholarship Worth
A Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge. It also provides additional, discretionary funding. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is one of the most generous international scholarships available. It covers the following costs:
Core components
the University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate*
a maintenance allowance for a single student (£17,500 for 12 months at the 2018-19 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 & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge
Discretionary components
The Trust also considers applications for several types of additional funding on a discretionary basis:
Academic development funding - from £500 to £2,000, dependent on the length of your course, to attend conferences and courses.
Family allowance - up to £10,120 for a first child and up to £4,320 for a second child (2018-19 rate). No funding is provided for a partner.
Fieldwork - you may apply to keep up to your normal maintenance allowance while on fieldwork as part of your PhD (the Trust does not fund other fieldwork costs as these should be funded by the University Composition Fee).
Hardship funding - for unforeseen difficulties
Maternity/Paternity funding - should you require it, you may apply to intermit your studies for up to 6 months and continue to receive your maintenance allowance during this time
Some fourth year funding for PhD Scholars may be provided**
*The University Composition Fee varies for different types of students; applicants should see the Graduate Studies prospectus for full details about precise amounts. Where a student from the European Union has been successful in gaining a fees award from public authorities they must accept this and the Trust will not pay these fees.
** The PhD at Cambridge is a three-year degree and Gates Cambridge Scholars should take on a research project that they and their Supervisor think can be completed within three years. However, if there are unforeseen circumstances which mean you need further funding during all or part of your fourth year, the Trust will consider an application on a discretionary basis. But you should not rely on receiving any fourth year funding when you start your PhD.
Receiving a salary or substantial other scholarship?
If you are receiving a salary from an employer or have another substantial scholarship, the Trust reserves the right to reduce or not pay the standard maintenance allowance. You should let the Trust know ASAP if you are awarded any funding towards your degree at Cambridge.
What is not covered
Most costs are covered by the Scholarship. However, Gates Cambridge does not cover bench fees, the costs of scientific equipment or similar academic resources; nor does it cover additional fees charged by departments for fieldwork, orientation activities, mandatory study trips, courses outside Cambridge or similar. The Trust pays the full University Composition Fee and therefore expects such core course costs to be covered by the academic department at Cambridge.
For more information generally on this opportunity, check here
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