The University of Cambridge received a landmark US$210 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in October 2000, which launched the Gates Cambridge Scholarship program. In October 2001, the inaugural group of scholars moved into their house. Since then, scholars from more than 100 countries have received over 2,000 scholarships from the Trust.

Eligibility for Gates Cambridge Scholarships for International Students :

• Applicants must be classed as international students.
• Applicants must exhibit outstanding scholarly intellect.
• Applicants must display leadership potential and a commitment to improving the lives of others.
• Applicants must enroll in any of the eligible courses at the University of Cambridge.

Eligible Programs:

• PhD (full-time or part-time)
• MLitt (full-time)
• One-year postgraduate course (full-time)

Non-Eligible Programs:

• Any Undergraduate degree, such as a BA (undergraduate) or BA affiliated (a second BA)
• MASt courses
• Master of Business (MBA)
• Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) and Global EMBA
• Master of Finance (MFin)
• Executive Master of Accounting
• Business Doctorate (BusD)
• PGCE
• MBBChir Clinical Studies
• MD Doctor of Medicine degree (6 years, part-time, Home students only)
• Graduate Course in Medicine (A101)
• Part-time degrees other than the PhD
• Non-degree courses

Application Process:

• All eligible candidates must submit the admission and scholarship application through the University’s Graduate Application Portal.
• The candidates must submit the details about their academic background, plans, and suitability for the proposed course.
• They must submit a response to the Gates Cambridge statement.
• PhD applicants must submit the research proposal.
• The candidates must add three references fulfilling the Gates Cambridge reference criteria conditions.

Value of the Award:

The successful candidates can avail of the following benefits:

• Full tuition
• Maintenance allowance of GBP 21,000
• One economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course
• Inbound visa costs and the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge

     Discretionary components of the award:

• Academic development funding – up to £2,000
• Dependent Children Allowance – up to £11,604 for one child and up to £16,548 for two or more children (2023-24 rate).
• Fieldwork allowance
• Maternity/Paternity funding
• Hardship funding – for unforeseen difficulties facing the scholar