The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is one of the world’s most prestigious full-cost awards, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Each year it supports outstanding graduates from countries outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge PhD, most MPhil/MLitt programmes and many one-year postgraduate courses.
Who can apply
- Citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom.
- Applicants must be applying for a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge: typically PhD, MLitt, MPhil or certain one-year postgraduate courses (some courses are excluded — check course eligibility).
Requirements / Eligibility (at a glance)
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Must be a citizen of a country other than the UK. |
| Course type | Eligible for PhD, MLitt, many MPhil and one-year postgraduate courses (some courses excluded — see Trust/course directory). |
| Academic record | Outstanding intellectual ability / top academic performance; strong references |
| Motivation | Clear, compelling reasons for choice of course and why Cambridge is the right place. |
| Departmental nomination | You must apply to a Cambridge course and be nominated by the academic department — departments nominate only the strongest applicants. |
Deadlines (important)
- US applicants (US nationals / residents applying from the USA): 15 October 2025 (check exact time zone on the site).
- All other eligible applicants: Deadlines depend on the course funding deadline commonly 2 December 2025 or 7 January 2026 (check your chosen course page in the University Course Directory to confirm which applies).
Tip: Cambridge uses course-specific funding deadlines (the Course Directory shows whether your course is on the earlier or later funding deadline). Always confirm the exact deadline for your course on the University Course Directory and the Gates Cambridge pages.
What the scholarship offers
- Full-cost funding: tuition fees, a maintenance allowance for living costs, travel costs to and from Cambridge at the beginning and end of the course, and a discretionary allowance to cover any other approved academic or living costs. Around ~80 scholarships are awarded each year with the majority for PhD candidates.
- A global scholars community: mentoring, leadership development, and networking opportunities with other Gates Cambridge Scholars and alumni.
How to apply (brief)
- Choose a course in the University Course Directory and check its funding deadline.
- Submit a University of Cambridge graduate application for admission to your chosen course (including research proposal where applicable).
- Follow Gates Cambridge application instructions — some rounds require additional forms or proposals (the Trust runs separate selection rounds, and some applicants must submit extra material). US applicants should watch the US-round guidance.
- Secure strong academic references and a departmental nomination (departments shortlist the very best applicants for the Scholarship).
Quick checklist before you apply
- Confirm your course is eligible.
- Check which funding deadline applies to your course (2 Dec 2025 / 7 Jan 2026 / or US round 15 Oct 2025).
- Prepare transcripts, two or more academic references, research proposal (for research degrees) and a clear personal statement.
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