Fully Funded Scholarships at the University of Cambridge program are now open for the academic year 2023-2024.

The Gates Cambridge mission is to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others. It aims to achieve this mission by selecting outstanding scholars, providing them with financial and non-financial support at one of the world’s leading universities, and facilitating community building at and beyond Cambridge.

Each year, the Gates Cambridge program offers 80 fully funded scholarships to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. Approximately two-thirds of these awards will be offered to Ph.D. students, with approximately 25 awards available in the US round and 55 available in the International round.

There is currently a community of more than 1,700 Gates Cambridge Alumni spread across the world. 

Fully Funded Scholarships Benefits 

the Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge. It also provides additional, discretionary funding.

Core components:

• The University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate.
• A maintenance allowance for a single student (£18,744 for 12 months at the 2022-23 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.

Discretionary components:

The Gate Cambridge also considers applications for several types of additional funding on a discretionary basis:

• Academic development funding: from up to £500 to up to £2,000, to attend conferences and courses.
• Family allowance: up to £10,944 for one child and up to £15,612 for two or more children. No funding for a partner.
• Fieldwork: you may apply to keep up to your normal maintenance allowance while on fieldwork as part of your Ph.D.
• Maternity/Paternity funding: you may apply to interrupt 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.

Fully Funded Scholarships ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

You can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship if you are:

1. A citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom.
2. And applying to pursue one of the following full-time residential courses at the University of Cambridge: Ph.D., M.Sc., MLitt, or one-year postgraduate course.

Besides these aforementioned criteria, you must prove :

• Academic excellence.
• An outstanding intellectual ability.
• Reasons for choice of the course.
• A commitment to improving the lives of others.
• And leadership potential.

Before applying, you should thoroughly research your prospective course, including its requirements, deadlines, and supporting documents. Information on all courses available to study at the University of Cambridge are in the Course Directory.

You should submit your application through the Applicant Portal. Once you have selected your course in the Course Directory, click the Apply Online button to be directed to the Applicant Portal.

If you are interested in a PhD program, you’ll have to discuss your research project with a potential supervisor. To find and contact a potential supervisor, follow the steps below:

1. Using the Course Directory, choose a program.
2. On the program’s webpage, scroll down your screen to the “Key Information” section, and click on “Course on Department Website”.
3. Now, on the menu, look for a link named “CDT board”, or “Contact”, or “Academic Team” (it differs between programs). You’ll find there an email address of a supervisor that you can contact.

If you are shortlisted for an interview, you should know that you have “survived” an extremely competitive process. You will be invited for a 20-25 minute interview and, depending on where you are, you can interview either in person or by skype 

If you have any inquiries about this program, you can contact the Gate Cambridge board at: [email protected].