Deadline: October 14, 2026 (US citizens) & December 8, 2026 or January 6, 2027 (Other applicants)

The Gates Cambridge mission is to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others.

Each year Gates Cambridge offers around 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 awards available in the US round and 55 available in the International round.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

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 courses at the University of Cambridge:
  • PhD (full-time or part-time*)
  • MLitt (full-time)
  • one-year postgraduate course (full-time), with some exceptions
• If you are currently studying at Cambridge and wish to apply for a new postgraduate course you can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
• Current Gates Cambridge Scholars may also apply for a second scholarship if they are applying for a new degree.

BENEFITS

• The University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate*
• A maintenance allowance for a single student (£22,050 for 12 months at the 2025-26 rate; 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

The Trust also considers applications for several types of additional funding on a discretionary basis:

• Academic development funding – from up to £750 to up to £4,000, dependent on the length of your course, to attend conferences and courses.
• Dependent Children Allowance – up to £12,793 per annum for one child and up to £18,244 per annum 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.

APPLICATION

1. Applicants submit their application for admission and funding (Gates Cambridge and any other funding) via the University’s Graduate Application Portal.
2. To be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you must complete the admission to a course and a College place section and the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section. Gates Cambridge has access to the full application for admission and funding when reviewing applications.
3. In the funding application form, they ask four questions that each relate to a point on the Gates Cambridge Selection Criteria. Full details of the criteria can be found at: Criteria for Cambridge University Funding | Gates Cambridge.

Find more information on the OFFICIAL WEBSITE