Change your Life with a Gates Cambridge Scholarships 2026–27 (80 full-cost scholarships)

Internships Specialist2 days ago

0 63 2 minutes read

Transforming lives through postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge

Table of Contents

📌 Overview

80 full-cost scholarships annually for outstanding applicants from outside the UK.
~25 awards in the US round, ~55 awards in the International round.
Majority (≈ two-thirds) are for PhD students, though one-year master’s and MLitt applicants are also eligible.
A thriving community of 250 current Scholars from 50+ countries, plus 1,700+ alumni worldwide.

Established in 2000 with a US$210m donation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the programme has awarded 2,000+ scholarships to date.

Applicants are assessed on four key areas:

⛔ Not covered: Bench fees, equipment costs, or other core course expenses (expected to be covered by departments).

Citizenship: Open to all non-UK citizens.
Courses eligible:
- PhD (full-time or part-time)
- MLitt (full-time)
- One-year postgraduate course (full-time, with some exceptions)
Ineligible courses: BA, MASt, MBA, EMBA, MFin, BusD, PGCE, Clinical Medicine, part-time degrees (except PhD), non-degree courses.
Current Cambridge students: May apply if starting a new degree (e.g., MPhil → PhD).

Applications are submitted via the University of Cambridge Graduate Application Portal, which combines admission and funding.

Four short essays aligned with selection criteria:
- Academic excellence (200 words)
- Choice of course (200 words)
- Commitment to improving lives (300 words)
- Leadership capacity (300 words)
Research proposal (PhD applicants only)
Gates Cambridge reference (in addition to 2 academic references)

Referees must directly address the four Gates Cambridge criteria and assess the candidate’s suitability.

Gates Cambridge builds a global network of future leaders dedicated to improving the lives of others.
Scholars benefit from financial support, mentorship, and a vibrant, interdisciplinary community at Cambridge.

Internships Specialist2 days ago

0 63 2 minutes read