Gates Cambridge Scholarships 2026

The Gates Cambridge offers 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.

Summary

1. Application Deadline: December 2, 2025
2. Study Level: Masters, PhD
3. Sponsor: Gates Cambridge
4. City to Study: Cambridge
5. School to Study: University of Cambridge
6. Eligible Country: All Countries

Eligibility Criteria for Gates Cambridge Scholarships 2026

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:
3. PhD (full-time or part-time*)
4. MLitt (full-time)
5. One year postgraduate course (full-time), with some exceptions – see below

Courses which Gates Cambridge does NOT consider:

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

Selection Process

Candidates are selected based on

Academic excellence

To be competitive for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship candidates must show evidence of academic excellence (through their transcripts, references, experience and the potential to succeed on the chosen course). Academic departments at the University of Cambridge nominate only the most academically outstanding applicants for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, which ensures that those whom we select will thrive at Cambridge.

Reasons for choice of course

You should be able to make a strong case for a particular postgraduate degree at Cambridge. PhD applicants (and most research MPhil applicants) will need to make contact with a potential supervisor with whom they will develop a research project, a summary of which is part of the application. You will need to demonstrate that you have the academic background and the necessary skills and expertise to complete the course. Taught MPhil and other applicants need to make a strong case for how completing the proposed course will facilitate their career plans. Gates Cambridge seeks Scholars who will have an academically transformative experience at Cambridge, so it is important that you fully research and justify the course for which you are applying.

A commitment to improving the lives of others

A defining characteristic of the Gates Cambridge programme is the commitment of our Scholars to improving the lives of others. We interpret this criterion broadly and applicants define it themselves by providing evidence of their past, current and future commitment to the societies in which they will live and work.

A capacity for leadership

Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate a capacity for leadership, which can be expressed in a multitude of ways. Applicants should provide evidence of their leadership experience to date and indicate the ways in which their leadership skills may have an impact on their future careers.

Application Documents

In the application form, you'll be asked:

1. 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 at: www.gatescambridge.org

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.

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 you'll be asked:

1. 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.
2. How highly would you rank the applicant for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship?
3. On what overall group are you basing this ranking?
4. 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 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.

Benefits of Gates Cambridge Scholarships 2026

1. University tuitioin Fee
2. Maintenance allowance for a single student (£21,000 for 12 months at the 2024-25 rate; pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months) – for PhD scholars the award is for up to 4 years
3. One economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course
4. Inbound visa costs & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge

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

1. Academic development funding – from up to £500 to up to £2,000, dependent on the length of your course, to attend conferences and courses.
2. Dependent Children Allowance – up to £11,604 for one child and up to £16,548 for two or more children (2024-25 rate). No funding is provided for a partner.
3. Fieldwork – you may apply to keep up to your normal maintenance allowance while on fieldwork as part of your PhD (the Trust does not fund other fieldwork costs as these should be funded by the University Composition Fee).
4. Maternity/Paternity funding – should you require it, you may apply to intermit your studies for up to 6 months and continue to receive your maintenance allowance during this time
5. Hardship funding – for unforeseen difficulties facing the scholar

How to Apply

Are you qualified and interested in this opportunity? Kindly go to Gates Cambridge on www.gatescambridge.org to apply

For more details, visit the Scholarship webpage

Application Deadline

December 2, 2025

Application Link(s)

• Apply for Gates Cambridge Scholarships 2026