2027 Gates Cambridge Scholarship in UK

Each year Gates Cambridge offers 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.

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme was established in October 2000 by an historic donation of US$210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge. The first class of scholars came into residence in October 2001. Since then, the Trust has awarded over 2,000 scholarships to scholars from more than 100 countries.

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

The program aims to achieve this mission by selecting outstanding scholars, providing them with financial and non-financial support at one of the world’s leading universities and facilitating community building at and beyond Cambridge.

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 

A Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge. It also provides additional discretionary funding.

Core components

• 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 University Composition Fee varies for different types of students; applicants should see the Graduate Studies prospectus for full details about precise amounts.

Where a student has been successful in gaining a fee award from public authorities (such as the UKRI) they should accept this award and the Trust will not pay their fee or may share their fee and maintenance costs.

Discretionary components

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

• Outstanding Academic excellence: transcripts, references, experience and the potential to succeed on the chosen course

• Reasons for choice of course

• A commitment to improving the lives of others

• A capacity for leadership

To apply for the 2027 Gates Cambridge Scholarship;

• 1

  Applicants submit their application for admission and funding (Gates Cambridge and other funding) via the University’s Graduate Application Portal.

• 2

  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.

• 3

  In the admission section, you are applying to a specific graduate course and a College place. You will provide all of the usual details about yourself, your academic background, plans, and suitability for the proposed course.

• 4

  In the funding section, you can apply for a range of funding offered by the University and associated bodies, including the Gates Cambridge Scholarships, which has its sub-section.

• 5

  Gates Cambridge has access to the full application for admission and funding when reviewing applications.

• 6

  Review and selection of successful applicants will be done by panels, and shortlisted candidates will be contacted.