Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Offered by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation / University of Cambridge
About this scholarship
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship, funded by a landmark donation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is one of the most competitive postgraduate awards in the world, supporting outstanding students from outside the UK to pursue a full-time degree at the University of Cambridge. It covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge: the University Composition Fee, a generous maintenance allowance for a single student (£22,050 for 12 months at the 2025–26 rate, pro rata for shorter courses), one economy airfare at the start and end of the course, inbound visa costs, and the Immigration Health Surcharge; additional discretionary funding can support family, fieldwork, and academic development. Around 80 scholarships are awarded each year — roughly 25 in the US round (for US citizens resident in the United States) and 55 in the International round — with about two-thirds going to PhD candidates. Applicants apply through the University's Graduate Application Portal at the same time as applying for admission, completing the Gates Cambridge section and arranging a reference on the scholarship's criteria. Selection rewards intellectual ability, a strong fit with the chosen Cambridge course, leadership, and a commitment to improving the lives of others.
Eligibility
- Be a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom
- Apply for a full-time, residential postgraduate course at Cambridge (PhD, MPhil, etc.)
- Submit the Cambridge application (with the Gates Cambridge section) by the relevant deadline
- US citizens resident in the US apply in the October US round; others in the International round
- Provide a strong academic record and a reference addressing the Gates Cambridge criteria
Always verify amounts and deadlines on the official site; they change each cycle.
Last verified by us: 2026-06-01.