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

Each year Gates Cambridge offers around 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—see below.

Gates Cambridge is continuing to pilot a scheme that allows applicants to apply for funding for a part-time doctoral degree (PhD).

If you are currently studying at Cambridge and wish to apply for a new postgraduate course, you can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. For example, if you are currently studying for an MPhil you can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship to pursue a PhD.

Current Gates Cambridge Scholars may also apply for a second scholarship if they are applying for a new degree.

All current Cambridge students will be considered in the second, international round. However, if you have already started a course (for example, you are currently partway through a PhD), you cannot apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship to fund the remainder of it.

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

To be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you must complete the admission to a course and a College place section and the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section. Gates Cambridge has access to the full application for admission and funding when reviewing applications.

BENEFIT:

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 £500 to up to £2,000, dependent on the length of your course, to attend conferences and courses.

Dependent Children Allowance—up to £12,184 per annum for one child and up to £17,375 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