Gates Cambridge Scholarship — eligibility & deadline
Gates Cambridge funds outstanding postgraduate applicants from outside the UK at the University of Cambridge. It is among the most competitive scholarships in the world, with roughly 80 awards a year.
Last updated: . Deadlines and amounts are reviewed each cycle — always confirm on the official website.
Award amount
Fully funded — tuition, maintenance allowance, airfare, discretionary funds
Deadline
December to early January, aligned with the Cambridge course deadline for your department.
Study level
Postgraduate — PhD, MPhil, MLitt · United Kingdom
Eligibility criteria
- Citizen of any country outside the UK
- Applying for a full-time residential postgraduate course at Cambridge
- Outstanding academic record and research potential
- A commitment to improving the lives of others
What the scholarship covers
- Full university composition fee
- Generous maintenance allowance (approx. £20,000+/year)
- One return economy airfare per year
- Visa and immigration health surcharge costs
- Family, fieldwork and academic development funding where applicable
Application tips from our counsellors
There is one application: the Cambridge graduate application with the Gates section completed. Missing the departmental deadline means missing Gates.
The 'improving lives of others' criterion is scored — evidence it with sustained work, not one-off volunteering.
PhD applicants should contact potential supervisors months in advance; a supportive supervisor materially strengthens the case.
Applications from India sit in the highly competitive international pool — a distinctive, specific research question matters more than a perfect GPA.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Gates Cambridge deadline?
You must apply by your Cambridge course deadline, which for most departments falls between early December and early January.
Is a separate Gates Cambridge application needed?
No. You complete the Gates Cambridge section within the standard Cambridge graduate application.
How many Gates Cambridge scholarships are awarded?
Approximately 80 scholarships are awarded each year across all countries outside the UK.
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