Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2025
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The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a prestigious, highly competitive scholarship program that provides full funding for postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge. The program is open to students from any country outside of the United Kingdom who are applying to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge.
Since its establishment in 2000, the scholarship has funded education for more than 2,000 international students, and the count continues every year. Around 80 scholarships are awarded annually, of which 25 are for US students and 55 for students from other countries (except the UK).
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
|
Offered By |
University of Cambridge, with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation |
|
Amount Granted |
Fully funded: covers University Composition Fee, maintenance allowance (£20,000 for 12 months), travel, visa, and other discretionary costs |
|
Type of Scholarship |
Merit-based international postgraduate scholarship |
|
Level of Program |
Full-time Master's (except MBA and MFin) and PhD programs |
|
Application Deadline |
Early December 2025 (for US applicants); Early January 2026 (for all other applicants) |
|
International Students |
Yes, open to citizens of all countries outside the UK |
|
Official URL |
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship offers a range of benefits to support scholars during their studies:
1. Maintenance Allowance: Provides a maintenance allowance of £18,744 for 12 months (pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months) for a single student.
2. Duration for PhD Scholars: For PhD scholars, the scholarship is available for up to 4 years.
3. Travel Costs: Covers one economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course.
4. Visa and Health Costs: Includes coverage for inbound visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge.
5. University Composition Fee: Covers the University Composition Fee, which varies based on the type of student. Applicants should refer to the Graduate Studies prospectus for detailed information.
The Trust also considers applications for additional funding, which includes:
Academic Development Funding: Ranges from £500 to £2,000 depending on the length of the course, for attending conferences and courses.
Dependent Children Allowance: Provides up to £10,944 for one child and up to £15,612 for two or more children. Note that the Trust does not fund a partner.
Fieldwork Funding: Allows PhD students to maintain their regular maintenance allowance while conducting fieldwork (excluding other fieldwork expenses, which should be covered by the University Composition Fee).
Maternity/Paternity Funding: Supports scholars to take a break from their studies for up to six months while still receiving their maintenance allowance.
Hardship Funding: Assists scholars in overcoming unforeseen financial difficulties.
To be considered for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship India, applicants must meet the following criteria:
1. Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom.
2. Eligible Courses: Must be applying for one of the following courses at the University of Cambridge:
Full-time or part-time PhD*
Full-time MLitt
Full-time one-year postgraduate course, with some exceptions (check the website for details)
3. Current Cambridge Students: Those currently studying at Cambridge can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship for a new postgraduate course but not for funding the remainder of an ongoing course.
4. Ineligible Courses: The Gates Cambridge Scholarship does not cover:
Any undergraduate degree, such as BA or BA affiliated
Business Doctorate (BusD)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Finance (MFin)
MASt courses
PGCE
MB, BChir Clinical Studies
MD Doctor of Medicine degree (6 years, part-time, Home students only)
Graduate Course in Medicine
Part-time degrees other than the PhD
For those who do not meet the criteria for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, general funding is available at Cambridge. More information can be found on the University of Cambridge's student funding website. Scholarship type Merit based Benefits Worth ₹ 213,638 Country
Multiple Countries
Course Level Masters Scholarship type Merit based Benefits Worth ₹ 43,729,900 Country
United Kingdom
Course Level Phd Scholarship type Merit based Benefits Worth ₹ 3,279,742 Country
United Kingdom
Course Level Masters,Phd Scholarship type Merit based Benefits Worth ₹ 4,272,777 Country
Multiple Countries
Course Level Phd
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To apply for the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship India, follow these steps:
1. Submit the Application: Apply for admission and funding through the university’s Application Portal.
2. Complete the Gates Cambridge Section: Fill out the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section in the application form.
3. Personal Statement: Answer the section explaining why you should be considered for the scholarship in up to 500 words.
4. References: Provide two academic references and one personal reference. The third reference should attest to the applicant's exceptional qualities.
The Gates Cambridge scholarship selection process consists of two stages:
1. Departmental nomination:
Applicants who meet all four of the scholarship’s criteria to a high level are nominated by academic departments in Cambridge. This ensures that those nominated are academically outstanding and demonstrate evidence of meeting the selection criteria. Only a small number of applicants are nominated and then invited to interview.
2. Interview:
All applicants nominated by academic departments are invited to a short interview to assess how they meet all four Gates Cambridge criteria.
If you are called to interview, you will receive full details about the format and arrangements. If you are not invited to an interview, it means you have not been nominated by a department.
To get your questions and queries answered, you can contact the trust using the below-mentioned details:
Address: Gates Cambridge Trust, Ground Floor, The Warehouse, 33 Bridge Street, Cambridge, CB2 1UW, United Kingdom
Email: info@gatescambridge.org
The minimum GPA for Gates Cambridge Scholarship is 3.5 out of 4.0, according to the criteria set by prestigious colleges and universities.
There is no age limit to apply for Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
The departments select the most eligible students based on academic merit and extracurricular involvement. Students have to prove their eligibility over other applicants to get nominated for the scholarship.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship is not available for part-time or distance learning programs.
Here are some points to keep in mind while writing an essay for Gates Cambridge Scholarship:
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