Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2026 (Fully Funded)

Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2026-2027 is a fully funded scholarship for international students. This scholarship is offered for masters and PhD studies. This scholarship provides £21,000 stipend per annum, health insurance, academic development funding up to £2,000 and family allowance up to £16,548.

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship Program was established in October 2000 with a donation of US$ 210 m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge, the biggest single donation ever made to the UK university.

Scholarship Summary

• Level of Study: Masters, PhD
• Institution(s): University of Cambridge
• Study in: UK
• Opportunity Focus Areas: All the available courses at University of Cambridge except the courses listed below
• Program Period: Two years for masters and three years for PhD
• Deadline:
  • For US Citizens: (open in early September 2025) Wednesday 16 October 2025 (Time 12:00, noon in local US time zone)
  • For International Students: Dependent on your course – either 3 December 2025 or 7 January 2026 (see Course Directory)

Courses which are NOT eligible for Gates Cambridge Scholarships:

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

Scholarship Coverage

Gates Cambridge Scholarship provides the recipient with the following benefits:

• 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 rata for courses shorter than 12 months) – for PhD scholars the award is for up to 4 years
• One economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course
• Inbound visa costs & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge
• Academic development funding – from up to £500 to up to £2,000, dependent 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). No funding is provided for a partner.
• Fieldwork – you may apply to keep up to your normal maintenance allowance while on fieldwork as part of your PhD (the Trust does not fund other fieldwork costs as these should be funded by the University Composition Fee).
• Maternity/Paternity funding – should you require it, you may apply to intermit your studies for up to 6 months and continue to receive your maintenance allowance during this time
• Hardship funding – for unforeseen difficulties facing the scholar

Eligibility Criteria for Gates Cambridge Scholarship

To qualify for Gates Cambridge Scholarship, candidate must fulfill all of the following requirements below:

• Required Language: English
• Eligible Countries: All world countries.
• Academic excellence.
• You should be able to make a strong case for a particular postgraduate degree at Cambridge.
• A commitment to improving the lives of others.
• A capacity for leadership.
• Applicants must be from countries outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree.