About the Gates Cambridge Scholarship
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship, funded by a historic $210 million donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is the largest single donation ever made to a UK university. Since its inception in 2000, it has profoundly impacted many lives.
Global Opportunity
Each year, around 80 full-cost scholarships are awarded to exceptional individuals from around the world, allowing them to pursue postgraduate degrees at the University of Cambridge.
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Two-thirds of these awards are designated for PhD students, with 25 scholarships available in the US round and 55 in the International round.
Selection Criteria
Candidates are selected based on four key criteria:
— Outstanding intellectual ability
— Reasons for choosing the course
— Commitment to improving lives
— Leadership potential
Thriving Community
Cambridge hosts approximately 250 Gates Cambridge Scholars at any given time, representing a range of disciplines and countries.
The Gates Cambridge Alumni network includes over 1,700 members who are making a global impact.
Mission and Vision
The mission of Gates Cambridge is to build a global network of future leaders dedicated to improving lives.
This goal is achieved by selecting outstanding scholars, providing financial support, and fostering a strong community.
Funding
A Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge and also offers additional discretionary funding.
Core Components
— The University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate
— A maintenance allowance for a single student (£21,000 for 12 months at the 2024-25 rate; pro-rated for courses shorter than 12 months). For PhD scholars, the award covers up to 4 years.
— One economy single airfare at the beginning and end of the course
— Inbound visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge
The University Composition Fee varies by student type; applicants should consult the Graduate Studies prospectus for precise details.
If a student receives a fee award from public authorities (such as UKRI), they should accept that award, and the Trust will either not cover their fee or may share the fee and maintenance costs.
Discretionary Components
The Trust considers applications for additional funding on a discretionary basis for the following:
— Academic Development Funding: Between $500 and $2,000, depending on the length of your course, to attend conferences and courses.
— Dependent Children Allowance: Up to $11,604 for one child and up to $16,548 for two or more children (2023-24 rate). Funding is not provided for a partner.
— Fieldwork: You may apply to retain your normal maintenance allowance while conducting fieldwork as part of your PhD. The Trust does not cover other fieldwork costs, which should be funded by the University Composition Fee.
— Maternity/Paternity Funding: If needed, you may apply to take a break from your studies for up to 6 months and continue to receive your maintenance allowance during this time.
— Hardship Funding: For unforeseen difficulties faced by the scholar.
Receiving a Salary or Substantial Other Scholarship?
If you are receiving a salary from an employer or another substantial scholarship, the Trust reserves the right to reduce or not provide the standard maintenance allowance.
You should inform the Trust as soon as possible if you receive additional funding for your degree at Cambridge.
What Is Not Covered?
While most costs are covered by the scholarship, Gates Cambridge does not cover bench fees, scientific equipment, or similar academic resources.
The Trust expects these core course costs to be covered by the academic department at Cambridge.
The Application Process
First, watch the University’s brief overview video about applying for postgraduate admission and funding.
Then, read the specific requirements for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship below.
Combined Application Form
Applicants must submit their application for both admission and funding (including Gates Cambridge and other sources) through the University’s Graduate Application Portal.
To be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, you need to complete the sections for applying to a course and a College place, as well as the Gates Cambridge funding section.
Gates Cambridge reviews the full application for both admission and funding.
Admission Section
In this section, you apply to a specific graduate course and a College place. Provide all necessary details about yourself, your academic background, your plans, and your suitability for the proposed course.
Funding Section
In this section, you can apply for various types of funding offered by the University and associated bodies, including the Gates Cambridge Scholarships, which has its own sub-section.
When applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, you will need to provide the following:
— Gates Cambridge Statement: You will be asked to write a statement of no more than 3000 characters (approximately 500 words) explaining why you are applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship and how you meet the four main criteria. Detailed application instructions, selection criteria, and guidance for completing this statement can be found at: www.gatescambridge.org. This statement helps Gates Cambridge identify candidates who are not only academically outstanding but also demonstrate leadership potential and a commitment to improving the lives of others. This is the only part of the application where you explicitly address how you align with the Gates Cambridge program’s criteria, so use your background, achievements, experiences, and future goals to demonstrate your fit with the program.
— Research Proposal (PhD Applicants Only) :PhD applicants must submit a research proposal as part of their application for funding. While most PhD applicants will include a research proposal with their admission application, it is required separately for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship if not already included. Applicants for degrees other than a PhD do not need to submit a research proposal for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
— Gates Cambridge Reference: In addition to the two academic references required for admission, Gates Cambridge applicants must arrange for an additional reference that specifically addresses how they meet the scholarship’s criteria.
The reference should include:
— An assessment of the applicant’s suitability for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship based on criteria such as intellectual ability, justification for the choice of course, commitment to improving lives, and leadership capacity.
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— An evaluation of how highly the applicant should be ranked for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
— The overall group on which this ranking is based.
— The size of this group.
The Gates Cambridge reference is used similarly to the Gates Cambridge statement to distinguish between candidates nominated by academic departments.
Referees are also asked to rate the applicant for the scholarship as exceptional, strong, not strong, or weak. They may enter up to 4,000 characters in the online reference or upload a separate letter.
Who Should Write the Gates Cambridge Reference?
You should ask someone who holds an appropriate position and can provide an informed and authoritative evaluation.
This person should understand the criteria and the highly competitive nature of the Gates Cambridge program and the academic standards at the University of Cambridge.
Many applicants choose a current or former academic advisor familiar with their personal attributes, a current or former employer, or a senior member of a volunteering organization—though this list is not exhaustive.
Some applicants also ask one of their two academic referees to write the Gates Cambridge reference, which is acceptable as long as that referee has a good understanding of your personal qualities and specifically addresses how you meet the Gates Cambridge criteria (without providing a third academic reference).
You should not ask a friend, family member, or someone who cannot comment on your suitability for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
Points to Consider
— It is crucial that the Gates Cambridge referee is well-informed about the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, particularly its selection criteria, to provide the most relevant reference.
— Referees should use specific examples to illustrate how you meet the Scholarship’s criteria.
— Ensure your Gates Cambridge referee focuses the reference on the Gates Cambridge criteria, rather than using a standard or previous reference.
Both your academic and Gates Cambridge referees must submit their references by the specified deadline.
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