Gates Cambridge Scholarships for International Students

Do I qualify

The eligibility details below come from the captured scholarship source. Compare them with your circumstances and the provider page.

Everyone needs

• citizenship a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom
• Not open to: already started a course, fund the remainder of it
• Not open to: degree any undergraduate degree, such as BA (undergraduate) or BA affiliated (a second BA)
• Not open to: degree MASt
• Not open to: degree part-time degrees other than the PhD
• Not open to: degree professional development courses, non standard degrees, MBA, EMBA, Global EMBA, MFin, Executive Master of Acc…

These depend on how you qualify. The provider describes 3 ways, and you will not need all of them. The official page shows which applies to you.

• admission PhD (full-time or part-time*)
• admission MLitt (full-time)
• admission one-year postgraduate course (full-time), with some exceptions

Not open to: already started a course; fund the remainder of it; any undergraduate degree, such as BA (undergraduate) or BA affiliated (a second BA); MASt courses; part-time degrees other than the PhD; professional development courses and non-standard degrees such as: Master of Business (MBA) Executive Master of…

Who is eligible

citizen_of_a_country_other_than_the_United_Kingdom

Level of study

Master's, PhD

Fields of study

Any

How to apply

The application information below summarizes the captured scholarship source. Review the provider page before submitting.

1. Determine the applicable round: US citizens currently resident in the USA must use the October round and cannot use the later round; US citizens overseas use the later round. All current Cambridge students are considered in the international round. For the later round, check the course funding deadline in the University Course Directory. Required
2. If unsure which round applies after reading the timeline, email details to Gates Cambridge. Optional
3. Complete the combined admission and funding application via the University's Graduate Application Portal, including admission to a specific course and a College place and the Gates Cambridge funding section. Required
4. Answer the four Gates Cambridge selection questions on academic excellence, course choice and future plans, commitment to improving others' lives, and leadership. The first two answers allow up to 1,400 characters each; the last two allow up to 2,100 characters each. Required
5. For PhD applications only, submit a research proposal. If it is not uploaded among the compulsory admission documents, provide it for the Gates Cambridge funding application. Non-PhD applicants do not need a research proposal. Required
6. Arrange two academic references for admission and an additional Gates Cambridge reference addressing the scholarship criteria. Brief the Gates Cambridge referee on the criteria; do not use a friend or family member. Ensure all referees submit by the specified deadline. Required
7. Submit the full application and all documents, including references, by 11:59pm UK time on the applicable round deadline. The later round deadline is either 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027 depending on the course. Required