If you are planning to study in the UK with financial support, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship is one of the best opportunities available for international students. This scholarship provides fully funded programs at UK universities across a wide range of fields. In this article, we have explained everything you need to know about the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, including its benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a detailed step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027 is offered for master’s and PhD studies. This scholarship provides a £21,000 stipend per annum, health insurance, academic development funding up to £2,000, and family allowance up to £16,548.
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship Program was established in October 2000 with a donation of US$210 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge, the biggest single donation ever made to a UK university.
Each year, Gates Cambridge offers c. 80 full-cost scholarships to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. Approximately two-thirds of these awards will be offered to PhD students, with approximately 25 in the US round and 55 in the international round.
Scholarship Summary
- Level of Study: Master’s, PhD
- Institution(s): University of Cambridge
- Study Destination: UK
- Opportunity Focus Areas: All the available courses at the University of Cambridge except the courses listed below
- Program Period: Two years for a master’s and three years for a PhD
Courses that are NOT eligible for Gates Cambridge Scholarships:
- Any Undergraduate degree, such as BA (undergraduate) or BA affiliated (a second BA)
- MASt courses
- Part-time degrees other than the PhD
- Professional development courses and non-standard degrees such as, Master of Business (MBA), Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) and Global EMBA, Master of Finance (MFin), Executive Master of Accounting, Business Doctorate (BusD), Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE), MBBChir Clinical Studies, MD Doctor of Medicine degree (6 years, part-time, Home students only), Graduate Course in Medicine (A101), and Master of Conservation of Easel Painting
Gates Cambridge Scholarship Application Deadline
The application deadlines for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship are October 16, 2026, for US citizens and either December 3, 2026, or January 7, 2026 (see Course Directory), for all other international applicants.
Scholarship Coverage
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship provides the recipient with the following benefits:
- The University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate.
- A maintenance allowance for a single student (£21,000 for 12 months; pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months) – for PhD scholars, the award is for up to 4 years.
- One economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course.
- Inbound visa costs & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge.
- Academic development funding – from up to £500 to up to £2,000, dependent on the length of your course, to attend conferences and courses.
- Dependent Children Allowance – up to £11,604 for one child and up to £16,548 for two or more children. 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).
- 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.
- Hardship funding – for unforeseen difficulties facing the scholar.
Eligibility Criteria for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship
To qualify for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, a candidate must fulfill all of the following requirements:
- Required Language: English
- Eligible Countries: A citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom
- Academic excellence.
- You should be able to make a strong case for a particular postgraduate degree at Cambridge.
- A commitment to improving the lives of others.
- A leadership capacity.
- Applicants must be from countries outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree.
How to Apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship?
Please follow the application instructions below to apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship:
- Apply for admission to a course and a college place and the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section.
- Build up an account on the website.
- Fill in your personal information
- Submit these documents:
- Gates Cambridge Statement: In no more than 3000 characters (approximately 500 words), please explain why you are applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship and how you meet the four main criteria.
- CV/Resume
- Research proposal (PhD applicants only)
- Gates reference: In addition to two academic references for admission, Gates Cambridge applicants submit a reference about their fit with the scholarship.
- Answer the application questions.
- Submit the application
Website
To know more about the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, please visit the official website: