Full funding · Study in the UK
Gates Cambridge Scholarships
Fully funded: full tuition, a generous maintenance stipend, airfares and discretionary funding
- Funder
- Gates Cambridge Trust, University of Cambridge
- Level
- Postgraduate · Doctoral
- Coverage
- Full
About this scholarship
Established in 2000 through a landmark gift from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates Cambridge funds outstanding postgraduate study in any subject at the University of Cambridge.
Selection weighs academic excellence alongside leadership capacity and a commitment to improving the lives of others — around 80 new scholars are chosen each year worldwide.
🗓️ Deadline
Apply with your Cambridge course application; most international deadlines fall in early December or early January
Award cycles shift year to year. Confirm the current deadline on the official site before you plan around it.
Eligibility
- Citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom
- Applying to a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge
- Outstanding academic record with clear evidence of leadership
- A demonstrated commitment to improving the lives of others
How to apply
- Apply for admission to your chosen Cambridge course by the funding deadline
- Tick the Gates Cambridge box and add the scholarship statement in the same application
- Provide an additional reference addressing the scholarship criteria
- Shortlisted candidates are interviewed before final selection
- Ask your Tutopiya counsellor to help plan the course choice and statements
Studying in the UK
World-leading universities, a two-year post-study work route and degrees recognised everywhere. Post-study work: 2 years (Graduate Route).
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Gates Cambridge Scholarships: your questions, answered
What does the Gates Cambridge Scholarships cover?
Fully funded: full tuition, a generous maintenance stipend, airfares and discretionary funding. Established in 2000 through a landmark gift from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates Cambridge funds outstanding postgraduate study in any subject at the University of Cambridge.
Who is eligible for the Gates Cambridge Scholarships?
Core requirements are: Citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom; Applying to a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge; Outstanding academic record with clear evidence of leadership; A demonstrated commitment to improving the lives of others. Eligibility rules are set by the funder and can change each cycle, so confirm on the official site before applying.
When is the Gates Cambridge Scholarships deadline?
Apply with your Cambridge course application; most international deadlines fall in early December or early January. Because award cycles shift year to year, always check the official programme website for the current date.
Is the university placement service really free?
Yes, our service is 100% free. Counselling, university matching, application support and guidance right up to your offer cost you nothing. There are no consultation fees and no agent fees, because we are funded by our university partners. The only cost you take on is the university’s own tuition or semester fees, which you pay directly to the university after you accept your offer.
What exactly do you help with?
Everything from start to finish: understanding your options, shortlisting the right programme, preparing your application and personal statement, submitting to the university, and guiding you through the offer, enrolment and visa paperwork, all with a dedicated counsellor.
Which universities can you place me into?
We place students into a range of UK and international universities, and we shortlist the best-fit options for your grades, budget and goals rather than pushing a single school. On some pages we run dedicated free placement drives for a specific partner university, and we are always adding more partners. Tell us your goals and your counsellor will map out your options.