Gates Cambridge International Scholarship Requirements and Online Application
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a fully-funded postgraduate award offered by the Gates Cambridge Trust at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
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It aims to support outstanding scholars from countries outside the UK who will pursue full-time postgraduate degrees and demonstrate a commitment to improving the lives of others.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship Eligibility requirements
Applicants must meet all of the following:
- Be a citizen of a country outside the United Kingdom.
- Be applying to pursue one of the following full-time residential postgraduate degrees at Cambridge: PhD (full-time or, in pilot cases, part-time), MLitt, one-year postgraduate course (as eligible) – not undergraduate, not MBA, not most professional clinical degrees.
- Show academic excellence (top academic records, strong transcripts and references).
- Show a strong reason for choice of course at Cambridge, and how the course fits future plans.
- Demonstrate a commitment to improving the lives of others (social purpose).
- Demonstrate leadership potential (past leadership experience, capacity to lead in future).
Gates Cambridge Scholarship Application process
- Apply for admission to your chosen postgraduate course at the University of Cambridge, and simultaneously apply for a college place where required.
- Complete the funding section for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship within your application portal – answer specific Gates Cambridge questions (e.g., on academic excellence, choice of course, life-improvement commitment, leadership).
- Provide required documents: certified transcripts, CV, research proposal (for PhD applicants), references including a special ‘Gates Cambridge reference’ in addition to standard academic references.
- Submit your full application by the applicable deadline (see below). Departments then rank candidates, the Trust conducts interviews and selects Scholars.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship Closing date
For the 2026/27 entry:
- Applications open on 10 September 2026.
- Deadline for non-US applicants (International round) is either 2 December 2026 or 7 January 2026 depending on your course.
- Applicants from the U.S. (US-round) has an earlier deadline (15 October 2026) but this does not apply to South African applicants.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship Contact details
- Website: www.gatescambridge.org
- Email enquiries: info@gatescambridge.org
- For South African applicants: ensure you meet the criteria and apply via Cambridge’s Graduate Applicant Portal selecting “Gates Cambridge” in the funding section.
FAQs
1. + Who is eligible to apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship? +
Any citizen of a country outside the United Kingdom who is applying for a full-time postgraduate degree (PhD/MLitt/eligible one-year MSc/MPhil) at the University of Cambridge and meets the academic, leadership and life-improvement criteria.
2. + Can a South African applicant apply for this scholarship? +
Yes. South African citizens (non-UK) are eligible. They must apply via the University of Cambridge Graduate Application Portal and select “Gates Cambridge” in the funding section.
3. + Does the scholarship cover all costs of studying at Cambridge? +
Yes. It covers tuition fees, maintenance allowance for the course duration, and return economy airfare. Additional discretionary funding may also be available.
4. + What is the closing date for the 2026/27 round? +
Applications open on 10 September 2026. For most international applicants (outside the U.S.) the deadline is either 2 December 2026 or 7 January 2026 depending on your course.
5. + What fields of study are eligible? +
Any subject offered by the University of Cambridge is eligible, except for courses excluded by the Trust (MBA, most clinical medical degrees, EMBA, etc.).
6. + What criteria does the Trust use to select scholars? +
Four main criteria: academic excellence; reasons for choice of course; commitment to improving the lives of others; leadership potential.
7. + Do I need to contact a supervisor before applying? +
For PhD applicants it is strongly recommended to identify a potential supervisor and develop a research proposal as part of your application.
8. + Can applicants already studying at Cambridge apply? +
Yes, if you are currently studying at Cambridge but moving to a new course you may apply; however you cannot apply to fund the remainder of an existing course.
9. + What happens after I submit the application? +
Your application will be considered by your chosen department which nominates outstanding candidates; then the Gates Cambridge Trust conducts shortlisting and interviews; offers are made in early spring.
10. + Is there a service obligation after completing the scholarship? +
No formal “service return” obligation is stated by the Trust; however scholars are expected to continue contributing to their fields and to improving lives. The community ethos encourages leadership and social impact.
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