Gates Cambridge Scholarship

• The scholarship includes a maintenance allowance for a single student, which is £18,744 for 12 months (pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months).
• For PhD scholars, the award is for up to 4 years.
• The scholarship covers one economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course.
• The scholarship also covers inbound visa costs and the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge.
• The University Composition Fee varies for different types of students and applicants should see the Graduate Studies prospectus for full details.

The Trust also evaluates applications for various forms of additional funding at its own discretion, including:

• Academic development funding, which can range from £500 to £2,000 based on the length of the applicant's course, for attending conferences and courses.
• Dependent Children Allowance, which offers up to £10,944 for one child and up to £15,612 for two or more children. However, the Trust does not provide funding for a partner.
• Fieldwork funding, which allows PhD students to retain their regular maintenance allowance while on fieldwork (excluding other fieldwork expenses that should be covered by the University Composition Fee).
• Maternity/Paternity funding, which enables scholars to take a break from their studies for up to six months while still receiving their maintenance allowance.
• Hardship funding, which helps scholars overcome unforeseen difficulties.

• The applicant must be a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom.
• 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 website for details)

• Current Cambridge students can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship for a new postgraduate course, but not for funding the remainder of an ongoing course.
• Gates Cambridge Scholarship does not consider:
  • Any undergraduate degree, such as BA or BA affiliated
  • Business Doctorate (BusD)
  • Master of Business (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.
• General funding at Cambridge is available for those who may not be eligible for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. More information is available on the University of Cambridge's student funding website.

• Submit the application for admission and funding on the university’s Application Portal.
• Complete the Gates Cambridge part of the funding in the application form. 
• Answer the section asking why you should be considered for the scholarship within 500 words. 
• Two academic references plus a personal reference is mandatory. The third reference must prove the applicant is exceptional.

Apply here for Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The Gates Cambridge scholarship selection process consists of two stages:

Departmental nomination

1. 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.

Interview

1. 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 interview, it means you have not been nominated by a department.

Gates Cambridge Trust, Ground Floor, The Warehouse, 33 Bridge Street
Cambridge, CB2 1UW, United Kingdom

Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer: The information published on this page is taken from the official website of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Refer to the original site for queries and concerns.

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: 

• Use simple sentences
• Make the essay personal with anecdotes relevant to the scholarship
• Keep the word count around 500
• Stress extracurricular activities involving leadership. Remember, the scholarship aims to produce a network of future leaders
• Demonstrate your commitment to serve society once you graduate
• Showcase academic and other achievements in the past
• Share your career vision and future goals

Explore for essay samples, and you may choose one template aligning with your writing style.