Closing date:

• For US Citizens: (open in early September 2025) Wednesday 16 October 2025 (Time 12:00, noon in local US time zone)
• For International Students: Dependent on your course – either 3 December 2025 or 7 January 2026 (see Course Directory)

Student type: International students  

Level of study: Masters, PhD

Study area: Any

Scholarship value:

• full cost of studying at Cambridge
• The University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate
• A maintenance allowance for a single student (£21,000 for 12 months at the 2024-25 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
• Academic development funding – from up to £500 to up to £2,000, dependent on the length of your course, to attend conferences and courses.
• Dependent Children Allowance – up to £11,604 for one child and up to £16,548 for two or more children (2023-24 rate). 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

Description: 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.

Each year Gates Cambridge offers c.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:

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(NOT consider):Any Undergraduate degree, such as BA (undergraduate) or BA affiliated (a second BA)

MASt courses

Master of Business (MBA)

Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) and Global EMBA

Master of Finance (MFin)

Executive Master of Accounting

Business Doctorate (BusD)

PGCE

MBBChir Clinical Studies

MD Doctor of Medicine degree (6 years, part-time, Home students only)

Graduate Course in Medicine (A101)

Part-time degrees other than the PhD

Non-degree courses

• If you are currently studying at Cambridge and wish to apply for a new postgraduate course you can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
• Academic excellence.
• A commitment to improving the lives of others.
• A capacity for leadership.

How to apply:  apply online 

More info: https://www.gatescambridge.org/