Gates Cambridge Trust

Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a prestigious full-cost scholarship program for outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. Approximately 80 scholarships are awarded annually, with roughly two-thirds going to PhD students. The program was established in October 2000 through a historic $210 million donation from the Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge. The scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge including the University Composition Fee, a maintenance allowance (£21,000 for 12 months at 2024-25 rates), economy airfare at the beginning and end of the course, visa costs, and Immigration Health Surcharge. Additional discretionary funding is available for academic development (conferences and courses), dependent children allowance, fieldwork support, maternity/paternity funding, and hardship situations. The Gates Cambridge mission is to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others. Selection is based on outstanding intellectual ability, reasons for choice of course, commitment to improving the lives of others, and leadership potential. The community includes approximately 250 current scholars from about 50 countries and over 1,700 alumni worldwide.