Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Gates Cambridge Scholarships

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme was established in October 2000 by a donation of US$210 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge, the largest ever single donation to a UK university. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is one of the world's most prestigious awards, aiming to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others.

Applications open

1 Sep 2023

Applications closed

11 Oct 2023

Application type

Application required
How to apply

Benefit type

General allowance
Tuition fee exemption
Fee remission
College fee remission
Full benefit details

Citizenship requirements

Australian / domestic student
International student

Total value

100% fee remission and at least $35,000

Applicable study areas

All study areas

Number of scholarships awarded

80

  • "The Gates Cambridge Scholarship has been immensely valuable for my professional development. Gates has funded my participation in the leading academic conferences in my discipline, which allowed me to receive feedback on my research and build relevant networks. Within Cambridge, Gates regularly offers lectures and workshops run by world experts on a wide range of topics, some of which are proposed by scholars themselves. The Gates network has also been a helpful source of internship, volunteering and employment opportunities. Gates encourages its scholars to create social impact with their academic work, and its media platform has been important in helping me reach a wider audience for my work."
    Read Sharmila Parmanand's story
  • Eligibility & selection criteria

    Eligibility

    To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:

    • Be a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom
    • Apply to pursue one of the following full-time residential courses of study at the University of Cambridge:
      • PhD
      • MSc/MLitt
      • One year postgraduate course (with some exceptions - see below)

    Courses which are not eligible for Gates Cambridge Scholarships:

    • Any Undergraduate degree such as BA (undergraduate) or BA affiliated (a second BA)
    • Master of Business (MBA)
    • Master of Finance (MFin)
    • MASt courses
    • PGCE
    • MBBChir Clinical Studies
    • MD Doctor of Medicine degree (6 years, part-time)
    • Graduate Course in Medicine (A101)
    • Part-time degrees
    • Non-degree courses

    Selection criteria

    • Academic excellence
    • Reasons for choice of course
    • A commitment to improving the lives of others
    • A capacity for leadership
  • Application process

    Applications for this scholarship need to be made directly through the Graduate Admissions Office at the University of Cambridge, that is, students apply for admission to Cambridge and indicate that they wish to be considered for funding including merit-based scholarships.

    You can apply for admission to a postgraduate degree, a College place and various sources of funding (including the Gates Cambridge Scholarship) via the University of Cambridge's Graduate Applicant Portal.

    If applicants are successful in obtaining a place at Cambridge, they will be given a conditional offer by the Graduate Admissions office. These applicants will then be considered for any awards for which they are eligible, including the Gates Cambridge Scholarships.

    Note that deadline to apply for this scholarship is specific to the Cambridge course you wish to enrol in. Further information is available from the Gates Cambridge Scholarship website. For enquiries, contact info@gatescambridge.org.

  • When will I know the outcome?

    Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview in early March 2022.

What are the benefits?

  • A maintenance allowance for a single student (£20,000 for 12 months at the 2023-24 rate; pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months). PhD scholars will be funded for up to 4 years.
  • The University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate.
  • One economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course.
  • Inbound visa costs & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge.

The Trust also considers applications for several types of additional funding on a discretionary basis. For further information see an overview of the scholarship at the Gates Cambridge Scholarships website.

The information listed here is subject to change without notice. Where we have listed information about jointly run scholarships programs, please also see our partners' websites. Information describing the number and value of scholarships awarded is indicative.