Good news for students who want to study in the UK! The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is currently open for applications. In this article, we will explain in detail about this scholarship, its benefits, and how to apply.
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2025-2026 is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is for master’s and doctoral students. The scholarship provides an annual stipend of £21,000, health insurance, academic development funding of up to £2,000 and a family allowance of up to £16,548.
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship Program was established in October 2000 with a US$210 million gift to the University of Cambridge from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
By 2024, Gates Cambridge will award 80 fully funded scholarships to outstanding candidates from outside the UK to study full-time postgraduate degrees at Cambridge. Approximately two-thirds of these scholarships will be offered to PhD students, with around 25 scholarships being awarded in the US round and 55 in the international round.
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Scholarship Overview
Level: PhD, MSc/MLitt, One-year postgraduate course
Institution: University of Cambridge
Destination: United Kingdom
Field of study: All courses available at the University of Cambridge.
Program duration: 2 years for Masters, 3 years for PhD.
Number of Scholarships: 80 full-cost scholarships
Courses not eligible for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship:
- All undergraduate degrees, including BA (Bachelor’s degree) and affiliated BA (second bachelor’s degree).
- Business Doctorate (BusD)
- Business Master’s (MBA)
- Master’s in Finance (MFin)
- PGCE
- Master of Clinical Sciences (MBBChir)
- Medical Doctorate (6 years, part-time)
- Postgraduate Medical Course (A101)
- Part-time Degree
- Non-degree courses
Scholarship Benefits
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship provides scholars with the following benefits:
- University tuition fees (at the appropriate rate)
- Maintenance fees for single students (£21,000 for 12 months at the 2024-25 rate, pro-rata for courses of less than 12 months) – For PhD students, the scholarship is for up to four years.
- One economy class flight at the start and end of your course
- Entry visa costs and immigration health surcharge costs
- Academic promotion funding: Funds to attend conferences and courses, from £500 to £2,000 depending on the length of your course.
- Dependent child allowance: Up to £11,604 for one child, or £16,548 for two or more children (2023-24 rates). Not paid for couples.
- Fieldwork: You can apply for the usual maintenance allowance whilst you carry out fieldwork as part of your PhD (other fieldwork costs will need to be covered by your university writing fees and therefore will not be funded by the Trust).
- Maternity and parental funding: If necessary, you can apply to take a break from your studies for up to six months and continue to receive living expenses during this time.
- Hardship funding: If you face unforeseen academic difficulties.
Eligibility Criteria for Gates Cambridge Scholarships
To be eligible for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Eligibility: Applicants must be from outside the UK and pursuing a full-time postgraduate degree.
- Required Language: English
- Country: Worldwide
- Academic excellence.
- A strong case for a specific Cambridge graduate degree.
- A commitment to improving the lives of others.
- Leadership skills.
How to apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship
To apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, follow the application steps below:
Create an account on the official website of Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
- Apply for admission and a place on the course in the Gates Cambridge University and Funding section.
- Enter your personal details.
Submit the following documents:
- Gates Cambridge Statement: in no more than 3000 characters (approximately 500 words), explaining why you are applying for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship and how you meet the four main criteria.
- CV
- Research Proposal (PhD applicants only)
- Gates Recommendation Letter: Gates Cambridge Scholarship applicants submit two academic recommendation letters for admission, plus a recommendation letter on suitability for the scholarship.
Answer the questions about your application.
Submit your application
Application Timeline
- March-May: Gates Cambridge exam counselling begins
- June-September: Candidates work on their application for each program and write and revise their Gates Cambridge application essays.
- Early October: External application deadline
- End of January: Interviews with finalists
Conclusion
The Gates Scholarship is the largest donation ever made to a UK university. The Gates Foundation, which has always fought against poverty, disease and inequality around the world, donated US$120 million for this full scholarship, a testament to the foundation’s serious commitment to promoting equality. The UK full-tuition international scholarships for international students are a platform for exceptional and talented students to gain admission into the world’s most prestigious universities without worrying about financial conditions.
