Great news for aspiring scholars! Applications are now open for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, one of the most prestigious fully funded awards in the United Kingdom. In this article, we detail the scholarship benefits, eligibility, and step-by-step application process.
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2026-2027 is a fully funded master’s and PhD scholarship for outstanding international students. It provides a £21,000 annual stipend, health insurance, academic development funding of up to £2,000, and a family allowance of up to £16,548.
Established in October 2000 with a historic US$210 million donation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge, this program supports exceptional candidates from outside the UK in pursuing a full-time postgraduate degree in any available subject at Cambridge (except those listed as ineligible).
The program awards 80 full-cost scholarships, with around two-thirds allocated to PhD students. Approximately 25 awards are available in the US round and 55 in the international round.
Scholarship Summary
- Level of Study: Master’s, PhD
- Institution: University of Cambridge
- Study Location: UK
- Eligible Fields: All courses except those excluded in the official list
- Program Duration: 2 years (Master’s) or 3 years (PhD)
- Deadline:
- US Citizens: October 16 (12:00 noon US local time)
- International Students: Either December 3 or January 7 (Next Year), depending on the course (see Course Directory)
Courses which are NOT eligible for Gates Cambridge Scholarships:
- Any Undergraduate degree such as BA (undergraduate) or BA affiliated (a second BA)
- Business Doctorate (BusD)
- Master of Business (MBA)
- Master of Finance (MFin)
- PGCE
- MBBChir Clinical Studies
- MD Doctor of Medicine degree (6 years, part-time)
- Graduate Course in Medicine (A101)
- Part-time degrees
- Non-degree courses
Scholarship Coverage
Gates Cambridge Scholarship provides the recipient with the following benefits:
- The University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate
- A maintenance allowance for a single student (£21,000 for 12 months at the 2026-2027 rate; pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months) – for PhD scholars the award is for up to 4 years
- One economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course
- Inbound visa costs & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge
- Academic development funding – from up to £500 to up to £2,000, dependent on the length of your course, to attend conferences and courses.
- Dependent Children Allowance – up to £11,604 for one child and up to £16,548 for two or more children (2023-24 rate). No funding is provided for a partner.
- 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).
- 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
- Hardship funding – for unforeseen difficulties facing the scholar
Eligibility Criteria for Gates Cambridge Scholarship
To qualify for Gates Cambridge Scholarship, candidate must fulfill all of the following requirements below:
- Required Language: English
- Eligible Countries: All world countries.
- Academic excellence.
- You should be able to make a strong case for a particular postgraduate degree at Cambridge.
- A commitment to improving the lives of others.
- A capacity for leadership.
- Applicants must be from countries outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree.
