Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2024-25 [Fully Funded; PhD; PG & Others]: Applications are Accepted on a Rolling Basis!

Applications are invited for the fully funded Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2024-25. There are different deadlines for various courses check the details below!

About the Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme was established in October 2000 by a donation of US$210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge; this is the largest ever single donation to a UK university. The first class of scholars came into residence in October 2001. Since then, the Trust has awarded over 2,000 scholarships to scholars from more than 100 countries.

Each year Gates Cambridge offers c.80 full-cost scholarships to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. Approximately two-thirds of these awards will be offered to PhD students, with approximately 25 awards available in the US round and 55 available in the International round.

Who can apply?

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

1. a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom
2. applying to pursue one of the following courses at the University of Cambridge:
   • PhD (full-time or part-time*)
   • MLitt (full-time)
   • One-year postgraduate course (full-time), with some exceptions – see below

* For October 2024 entry, Gates Cambridge is continuing to pilot a scheme which allows applicants to apply for funding for a part-time doctoral degree.

Current a Student at Cambridge?​

If you are currently studying at Cambridge and wish to apply for a new postgraduate course you can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. For example, if you are currently studying for an MPhil you can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship to pursue a PhD. Current Gates Cambridge Scholars may also apply for a second scholarship if they are applying for a new degree. All current Cambridge students will be considered the second, international round. However, if you have already started a course (e.g. you are currently part way through a PhD) you cannot apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship to fund the remainder of it.

Courses which Gates Cambridge does NOT consider:

1. Any Undergraduate degree, such as a BA (undergraduate) or BA affiliated (a second BA)
2. Business Doctorate (BusD)
3. Master of Business (MBA)
4. Master of Finance (MFin)
5. MASt courses
6. PGCE
7. MBBChir Clinical Studies
8. MD Doctor of Medicine degree (6 years, part-time, Home students only)
9. Graduate Course in Medicine (A101)
10. Part-time degrees other than the PhD
11. Non-degree courses

Gates Scholarship Application Timeline:

Required Documents for Gates Cambridge University Scholarship:

1. Personal statement (no more than 3000 characters).
2. Research proposal for PhD candidates (mandatory even if not required by the course or college).
3. Three reference letters (one can be from a current employer if needed).

Benefits of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2024-25:

1. Full coverage of study costs.
2. An annual maintenance allowance of £20,000.
3. Visa costs covered.
4. Economy class one-time airfare is provided.
5. Immigration Health Surcharge costs covered.
6. Additional academic development funds (up to £500-£2000) to attend conferences and other courses (amount depends on course length).
7. Family allowance of up to £11,604 for one child and up to £16,548 for two or more children.
8. Coverage of hardship costs or unforeseen difficulties.
9. Fieldwork Allowance.
10. Maternity/Paternity funding.

How to Apply?

A combined application form

Applicants submit their application for admission and funding (Gates Cambridge and other funding) via the University’s Graduate Application Portal.

To be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you must complete the section to apply for admission to a course and a College place and the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section. Gates Cambridge has access to the full application for admission and funding when reviewing applications.

The admission section

In this section you are applying to a specific graduate course and a College place. You will provide all of the usual details about yourself, your academic background, plans and suitability for the proposed course.

The funding section

In this section you can apply for a range of funding offered by the University and associated bodies, including the Gates Cambridge Scholarships, which has it’s own sub-section. When applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you will be asked to provide the following:

Gates Cambridge statement

In the application form we ask,

In no more than 3000 characters (approximately 500 words) please explain why you are applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship and how you meet the four main criteria. Full details about how to apply, including selection criteria and guidance on completing this statement, can be found here.

The statement is used by Gates Cambridge to help distinguish between those candidates who have nominated by academic departments. It helps us identify those candidates who, as well as being academically outstanding, possess a capacity for leadership and commitment to improving the lives of others. This is the only part of the application form where applicants are specifically asked about their fit with the Gates Cambridge programme and you should use your background, achievements, experiences and future aims to show how you specifically meet the programme’s criteria.

Research proposal (PhD applicants only)

Gates Cambridge requires PhD applicants only to submit a research proposal as part of their application for funding. Most PhD applicants will upload a research proposal as part of their application for admission, but where this is not the case a research proposal is required to apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. If you are applying for a degree other than the PhD you do not need to submit a research proposal as part of your materials of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship .

Gates Cambridge reference

In addition to two academic references for admission, Gates Cambridge applicants must arrange for someone to submit a reference setting out how they meet the scholarship’s criteria.

In the application form,

Please give your assessment of the applicant’s suitability for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. These are awarded on the following criteria: intellectual ability, justification for the choice of course, a commitment to improving the lives of others and leadership capacity.

They also ask,

• How highly would you rank the applicant for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship?
• On what overall group are you basing this ranking?
• What is the size of this group?

The Gates Cambridge reference is used in the same way as the Gates Cambridge statement – to help distinguish between those candidates who have been nominated by academic departments.

Referees are also asked how they rate the applicant for the scholarship: exceptional, strong, not strong, weak. They may paste/type up to 4,000 characters into the on-line reference or upload a separate letter.

Who should write the Gates Cambridge reference?

You should ask someone of appropriate standing who is able to answer the question with authority and who understands the criteria and highly competitive nature of the Gates Cambridge programme and academic standards at the University of Cambridge.

Many applicants ask a current or former academic advisor who is aware of their personal attributes, a current or former employer, or a senior member of an organisation with whom they have volunteered – although this is by no means an exhaustive list. Some applicants ask one of their two academic referees to write the Gates Cambridge reference: this is fine, as long as that person has a good understanding of your personal qualities and writes specifically about how you meet the Gates Cambridge criteria (and does not provide a third academic reference).

You should not ask a friend or a family member, or someone who is unable to comment on your suitability for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship.

Some points to consider are:

• It is essential that the Gates Cambridge referee is fully briefed about the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, especially its selection criteria, so they can write the most appropriate reference for you;
• It is useful when referees use specific examples of how you meet the Scholarship’s criteria;
• You will need to ensure your Gates Cambridge referee understands the need to keep the reference focused on the Gates Cambridge criteria (and not, for example, rehash a standard or previous reference).
• You must ensure both your academic and gates Cambridge referees submit their references by the specified deadline

Selection Process

Gates Cambridge uses a two-stage selection process to ensure our Scholars meet all of our criteria to the highest level.

1. Departmental nomination

Gates Cambridge asks academic departments in Cambridge to nominate a small number of eligible applicants who meet all four of the scholarship’s criteria to a very high level. This ensures that those nominated by departments are academically outstanding and are likely to succeed as a postgraduate student at Cambridge and also that they show evidence of meeting Gates Cambridge’s selection criteria.  A relatively small number of those who apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship are nominated by departments and then invited to interview.

2. Interview

All candidates nominated by academic departments are invited to a short interview to assess how they meet all four Gates Cambridge criteria.  Scholars are then selected after interview.

If you are called to interview

You will be sent full details about the format and arrangements on the timing set out on our Timeline page. If you are invited for interview you will have gone through an incredibly 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 virtually. Where you are able to attend the interview in person we encourage this.

There are four broadly subject-based interview panels:

• Arts
• Biological Sciences
• Physical Sciences
• Social Sciences

Each panel consists of appropriate and experienced  academics and practioners and may also include Gates Cambridge alumni and a representative of the Gates Cambridge Trust.

Each interview has four main sections:

1. Welcome and introduction

• The Chair will introduce the panel, set out the format of the interview, and provide any other essential information to allow for a productive conversation.

2. Gates Cambridge

• What you know about the Gates Cambridge Scholarships
• Your motivation for applying
• Why you think you could be a Gates Cambridge Scholar
• Your thoughts on the opportunities and responsibilities that a prestigious, full-cost scholarship at one of the world’s leading universities brings

3. Academic and career plans

• Your academic work to date – can you convincingly communicate your passion for, and the importance of, your chosen subject?
• Your proposed degree at Cambridge – can you provide a convincing justification for your choice of course at Cambridge?
• Your career plans – can you convincingly link your application for both a Gates Cambridge Scholarship and your proposed course at Cambridge to your future career plans?
• You may also be asked probing intellectual or ethical questions, to which there are no ‘right’ answers

4. Final thoughts and questions

• A chance to convey any additional information and/or ask any questions to the interview panel (optional)
• If you are not called to interview
• You will receive an email from Gates Cambridge confirming that your application has not been successful. You will find further information on our  Timeline page.

Feedback

Please note that we are not able to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

Contact Details

info[at]gatescambridge[dot]org.

Click here to view the official notification of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2024-25.