The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a prestigious international postgraduate award established in 2000 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It enables outstanding students from outside the United Kingdom to pursue full-time postgraduate degrees at the University of Cambridge. The scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge, including tuition fees, maintenance allowance, airfare, and additional discretionary funding.

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Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom.
• Apply to pursue one of the following full-time residential degrees at the University of Cambridge:
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
  • Master of Science (MSc), Master of Letters (MLitt), Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
  • Other one-year postgraduate courses (e.g., LLM, MRes, MASt)
• Demonstrate academic excellence, a commitment to improving the lives of others, and leadership potential. Gates Cambridge –

Application Process

The application process involves:

1. Online Application: Submit an application for admission to a course and a College place at the University of Cambridge, along with the Gates Cambridge funding section, via the University’s Graduate Application Portal. Gates Cambridge –
2. Gates Cambridge Statement: Provide a statement (up to 3,000 characters) explaining why you are applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship and how you meet the scholarship’s criteria. Gates Cambridge –
3. References: Arrange for two academic references and one Gates Cambridge reference. The Gates Cambridge reference should be from someone who can assess your suitability for the scholarship based on the criteria. Gates Cambridge –
4. Research Proposal: PhD applicants must submit a research proposal as part of their application for funding. Gates Cambridge –

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by course and are typically set in early December. For the 2025 entry, applications are expected to open in September 2024. It is advisable to check the specific deadlines for your chosen course on the University of Cambridge’s official website.

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Additional Resources

For comprehensive information about the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, including eligibility criteria, application procedures, and selection processes, please visit the official Gates Cambridge Scholarships website.

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Please note that the Gates Cambridge Scholarship is highly competitive, and it is advisable to consult the official website for the most current information and guidance on the application process.

For a visual overview of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, you may find the following video helpful: