Full University Composition Fee plus a maintenance allowance of £23,152 for 12 months (2026-27 rate), pro-rated for shorter courses
Duration
1 year for most Master's courses; up to 4 years for a PhD
Deadline
14 October 2026 for US citizens resident in the US; 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027 for all other applicants, depending on the course
Level
Postgraduate (PhD, MLitt, or one-year postgraduate course)
Acceptance
Approximately 1.3% overall; roughly 5% in the US round and 1.3% in the international round
Difficulty
Extremely Competitive
Quick Summary
For students aiming to study in United Kingdom, Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The award covers Full University Composition Fee plus a maintenance allowance of £23,152 for 12 months (2026-27 rate), pro-rated for shorter courses and is open to postgraduate (phd, mlitt, or one-year postgraduate course) students studying any subject offered at cambridge, excluding mba, emba, mfin, pgce, and mbbchir clinical studies. The scholarship runs for 1 year for most master's courses; up to 4 years for a phd and may be renewed annually based on academic performance. Eligibility is generally based on applicants must be admitted to a full-time postgraduate course at Cambridge as a non-UK citizen; current Cambridge students may apply when moving to a new degree, such as from an MPhil into a PhD, but not to fund a course they have already started. Around 70 scholarships are awarded annually across all nationalities, with no fixed country quota. The application deadline is 14 October 2026 for US citizens resident in the US; 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027 for all other applicants, depending on the course, with an acceptance rate of approximately 1.3% overall; roughly 5% in the US round and 1.3% in the international round. EduAtlasHub tracks updated deadlines, coverage details and eligibility requirements for this scholarship as they change.
✨ Should I Apply for Gates Cambridge Scholarship?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
75%
Eligibility Match
4%
Win Probability
7/10
Difficulty
10/10
Reward Score
30-45 hrs
Time Required
Approximately 1.3%
Competition
🌍 Overview
💰
Award Amount
Full University Composition Fee plus a maintenance allowance of £23,152 for 12 months (2026-27 rate), pro-rated for shorter courses
⏳
Duration
1 year for most Master's courses; up to 4 years for a PhD
📅
Deadline
14 October 2026 for US citizens resident in the US; 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027 for all other applicants, depending on the course
💼
Fields
Any subject offered at Cambridge, excluding MBA, EMBA, MFin, PGCE, and MBBChir Clinical Studies
🏆
Awards/Year
Approximately 70 scholarships per year (about 25 in the US round and 45 in the international round)
🌏
Study Country
United Kingdom
🏛️
Provider
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
📊
Acceptance
Approximately 1.3% overall; roughly 5% in the US round and 1.3% in the international round
Gates Cambridge was established in 2000 through a $210 million donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge, at the time the largest single donation ever made to a UK university. It funds around 70 postgraduate scholars a year, about two-thirds of them PhD students, selected not only on academic ability but on a specific, scored criterion: a demonstrated commitment to improving the lives of others.
👥 Who Should Apply
Applicants must be admitted to a full-time postgraduate course at Cambridge as a non-UK citizen; current Cambridge students may apply when moving to a new degree, such as from an MPhil into a PhD, but not to fund a course they have already started. Around 70 scholarships are awarded annually across all nationalities, with no fixed country quota.
🏛️ Host University
University of Cambridge
💼 Fields of Study
Any subject offered at Cambridge, excluding MBA, EMBA, MFin, PGCE, and MBBChir Clinical Studies
✨ Key Benefits
A Gates Cambridge award clears the full Cambridge course fee and pays a £23,152 annual maintenance allowance that scholars draw on for housing and living costs, with separate provision for airfare, the Immigration Health Surcharge, and discretionary grants for fieldwork, dependants, or family leave. The maintenance allowance is paid for the standard duration of the course — typically one year for a taught Master's and up to four years for a PhD — and is reviewed annually against Cambridge's published cost-of-living figure.
🎯 Target Students
International students (citizens of any country outside the UK) applying to a full-time postgraduate course at Cambridge
Approximately 1.3% overall; roughly 5% in the US round and 1.3% in the international round
Acceptance Rate
Approximately 1.3%
Competition Level
Win Probability
4%
Match Score
75%
Competition
50%
💸 Funding Breakdown
Tuition
Yes, 100% of the University Composition Fee at the applicable rate
Living Stipend
Yes, £23,152 per year (2026-27 rate), pro-rata for courses shorter than 12 months
Total Award
Full University Composition Fee plus a maintenance allowance of £23,152 for 12 months (2026-27 rate), pro-rated for shorter courses
✈️ Travel: Yes, one economy return airfare covering the start and end of the course🏠 Accommodation: Yes, housing costs are met from the maintenance allowance rather than a separate accommodation fund💊 Health Insurance: Yes, the Immigration Health Surcharge is paid for scholars and eligible dependants🔄 Renewable: Yes💳 App Fee: £20 for doctoral courses; £85 for other postgraduate courses (2026-27 Cambridge rates)
🎓 Tuition Coverage
Yes, 100% of the University Composition Fee at the applicable rate
🏠 Living Stipend
Yes, £23,152 per year (2026-27 rate), pro-rata for courses shorter than 12 months
🏡 Accommodation
Yes, housing costs are met from the maintenance allowance rather than a separate accommodation fund
✈️ Travel Allowance
Yes, one economy return airfare covering the start and end of the course
💊 Health Insurance
Yes, the Immigration Health Surcharge is paid for scholars and eligible dependants
🎁 Other Benefits
Discretionary academic development funding of £750-£4,000, a Dependent Children Allowance of up to £12,793 for one child or £18,244 for two or more, plus fieldwork, parental leave, and hardship funding
🔄 Renewable
Yes
📋 Renewal Conditions
Continued funding depends on satisfactory academic progress and remaining in full-time residence at Cambridge
✅ Eligibility Requirements
🌍 Eligible Nationalities
Citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom, applying for a full-time PhD, MLitt, or one-year postgraduate course at Cambridge
🎓 Academic Level
Postgraduate (PhD, MLitt, or one-year postgraduate course)
🗣️ English Requirement
Must meet the English language requirement set by the specific Cambridge department for the course applied to
💼 Work Experience
Not required, though relevant professional or volunteer experience can support the leadership and social-commitment criteria
🏆 Leadership
Leadership potential is one of four scored selection criteria
💰 Financial Need
Not a factor; selection is entirely merit-based
🎯 Target Students
International students (citizens of any country outside the UK) applying to a full-time postgraduate course at Cambridge
📝 Application Requirements
Essay / SOP
Yes, four short selection statements…
Rec Letters
Yes, three references: two academic…
Interview
Shortlisted candidates are ranked by…
Application Fee
£20 for doctoral courses; £85 for other postgraduate courses (2026-27 Cambridge rates)
Documents Required
Academic Transcripts
Passport / National ID
Recommendation Letters
CV / Resume
Personal Statement / Essays
English Proficiency Proof
Interview
📋 Application Process
Treat the 'commitment to improving the lives of others' statement as a scored criterion, not a formality - it needs concrete, specific examples of impact, not general goodwill. Reviewers score this criterion separately from academic merit, so a strong personal statement in other areas cannot compensate for a weak one here.
💡 Insider Tip: Choose your dedicated Gates Cambridge referee deliberately: pick someone who can speak directly to your character and social leadership, separate from the two academic referees already backing your Cambridge admission. Submit the referee request early, since Gates Cambridge referees are contacted directly by the Trust rather than through the standard Cambridge admissions reference system.
🗾️ Application Roadmap
1
Research eligibility and gather requirements
Start Early
2
Collect all required documents
Start Early
3
Request recommendation letters early
4
Write compelling essays and personal statement
⚠ High Risk Stage
5
Submit complete application before deadline
6
Await shortlisting and attend interview if required
⚠ High Risk Stage
📅 Key Dates & Timeline
📅 Opens
11 September 2026
⏰ Deadline
14 October 2026 for US citizens resident in the US; 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027 for all other applicants, depending on the course
🎤 Interview
Shortlisted candidates are ranked by department and reviewed by selection panels, though a formal interview stage is not listed on the official timeline
🎓 Study Starts
October 2027
11 September 2026
Applications Open
Gather documents and begin essays
14 October 2026 for US citizens resident in the US; 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027 for all other applicants, depending on the course
Application Deadline
Submit complete application - no late entries
Shortlisted candidates are ranked by department and reviewed by selection panels, though a formal interview stage is not listed on the official timeline
Shortlisting and Interview
Selected candidates invited for interview
After results
Award Announced
Successful applicants notified
October 2027
Studies Begin
Commence degree at host institution
⚖️ Selection Process
📋 Selection Criteria
Outstanding intellectual ability, reasons for choice of course, a commitment to improving the lives of others, and leadership potential
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Applicants must be admitted to a full-time postgraduate course at Cambridge as a non-UK citizen; current Cambridge students may apply when moving to a new degree, such as from an MPhil into a PhD, but not to fund a course they have already started. Around 70 scholarships are awarded annually across all nationalities, with no fixed country quota.
A Gates Cambridge award clears the full Cambridge course fee and pays a £23,152 annual maintenance allowance that scholars draw on for housing and living costs, with separate provision for airfare, the Immigration Health Surcharge, and discretionary grants for fieldwork, dependants, or family leave. The maintenance allowance is paid for the standard duration of the course — typically one year for a taught Master's and up to four years for a PhD — and is reviewed annually against Cambridge's published cost-of-living figure. It is a fully funded scholarship.
The deadline is 14 October 2026 for US citizens resident in the US; 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027 for all other applicants, depending on the course. Always verify with the official website as dates may change annually.
Competition level: Approximately 1.3%. Acceptance rate: Approximately 1.3% overall; roughly 5% in the US round and 1.3% in the international round. Strong academic record and clear motivation are essential.
Yes
Typically required: academic transcripts, passport, Must meet the English language requirement set by the specific Cambridge department for the course applied to, Yes, three references: two academic references for admission plus one dedicated Gates Cambridge reference assessing fit with the scholarship criteria recommendation letters, CV, personal statement/motivation letter. Check official website for the complete list.