Applications are welcomed from suitably qualified applicants for the Fully Funded Gates Cambridge Scholarship Program for international students who desire to pursue a postgraduate degree in any discipline at the University of Cambridge for the 2025-2026 academic session.
Each year, Gates Cambridge offers approximately 80 full-cost scholarships to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK. The Scholarship seeks to provide exceptional scholars with financial and non-financial support at one of the world’s leading universities and facilitate community building at and beyond Cambridge.
Scholarship Summary
- Host Institution(s): University of Cambridge, UK
- Scholarship Sponsor(s): Gates Foundation and University of Cambridge
- Scholarship Type: Fully Funded
- Number of Awards: Several
- Nationality: International students
- Scholarship Worth: Not specified
- Study Level: Postgraduate
About the Gates Cambridge Scholarship Program
The Gates Cambridge Trust was established in October 2000 by a historic donation of US$210m from the Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge. The Trust manages all aspects of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship program.
It has a Board of ten distinguished Trustees (two of whom are appointed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the remainder by the University) who meet twice a year to decide on the overall strategic direction of the program.
The Provost (CEO) is supported by a Director of Finance a Program Director and a small administrative team who manage all operational aspects of the Trust’s activities.
Gates Cambridge Scholarships 2025-2026 | Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Â Be a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom
- Must demonstrate excellent academic and research abilities.
- Must have obtained relevant degrees from recognized institutions of higher learning.
- Must be applying to pursue one of the following courses at the University of Cambridge: PhD (full-time or part-time), MLitt (full-time), One year postgraduate course (full-time), with some exceptions.
- applying to pursue one of the following courses at the University of Cambridge:
- MLitt (full-time)
- PhD (full-time or part-time)
- One-year postgraduate course (full-time), with some exceptions
Scholarship Benefits of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship program
- One economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course.
- The University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate.
- Inbound visa costs & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge.
- Dependent children allowance
- Maternity/Paternity funding
- Fieldwork funding
- Academic development funding (up to £2,000).
- Hardship funding
Core components of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship Program
- one economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course
- inbound visa costs & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge
- a maintenance allowance for a single student (£21,000 for 12 months at the 2024-25 rate; pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months) – for PhD scholars, the award is for up to 4 years
Discretionary Components of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship Program
The Trust also considers applications for several types of additional funding on a discretionary basis:
- Hardship funding – for unforeseen difficulties facing the scholar
- Dependent Children Allowance – up to £11,604 for one child and up to £16,548 for two or more children (2023-24 rate). No funding is provided for a partner.
- 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
- Academic development funding – from up to £500 to up to £2,000, dependent on the length of your course, 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 (the Trust does not fund other fieldwork costs as these should be funded by the University Composition Fee).
Selection Criteria
The selection criteria are:
- reasons for choice of course
- leadership potential
- outstanding intellectual ability
- a commitment to improving the lives of others
Application Procedures for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship Program
How-to-Apply: Interested applicants for the Gates Cambridge Scholarships are to apply for admission and funding (Gates Cambridge and other funding) via the University’s Graduate Application Portal.
About the Gates Cambridge reference
You should ask someone of appropriate standing who can answer the question with authority and who understands the criteria and highly competitive nature of the Gates Cambridge program and academic standards at the University of Cambridge.
Some points to consider are:
- It is useful when referees use specific examples of how you meet the Scholarship’s criteria;
- You must ensure both your academic and Gates Cambridge referees submit their references by the specified deadline
- The Gates Cambridge referee must be fully briefed about the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, especially its selection criteria, so they can write the most appropriate reference for you;
- You will need to ensure your Gates Cambridge referee understands the need to keep the reference focused on the Gates Cambridge criteria (and not, for example, rehash a standard or previous reference).
- To be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you must complete the section to apply for admission to a course and a College place and the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section.
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