The Gates Cambridge Scholarships are one of the most prestigious international scholarships in the world. The program was established in 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. Gates Cambridge Scholarships are prestigious, highly competitive full-cost scholarships. They are awarded to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge.
Study Subject:
Scholarships are awarded to study any subject at postgraduate level offered by the University of Cambridge.
Eligibility:
- a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom.
- applying to pursue one of the following full-time residential courses of study at the University of Cambridge: PhD (three year research-only degree); MSc or MLitt (two year research-only degree); or a one year postgraduate course (e.g. MPhil, LLM, MASt, Diploma, MBA etc.)
- OR already a student at Cambridge and want to apply for a new postgraduate course. For example, if you are studying for an MPhil you can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship to do a PhD. However, if you have already started a course, you cannot apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship to fund the rest of it.
- OR already a Gates Cambridge Scholar and want to apply for a second Scholarship. You must apply by the second, international deadline and go through the same process of departmental ranking, shortlisting and interviewing as all other candidates.
Scholarship Duration:
Scholarships award amounts depending on the length of the chosen degree course or Study project, 12 to 24 months. Initially, scholarships are for a given academic year and have performed well according to the duration of the study program extended on request.
Scholarship Value:
A Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge.
- The University Composition Fee and College fees at the appropriate rate
- a maintenance allowance for a single student (£13, 300 for 12 months at the 2012-13 rates; pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months)
- one economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course
The Trust also considers applications for several types of additional funding on a discretionary basis:
- Family allowance – up to £7,775 for a first child and up to £1,200 for a second child. No funding is provided for a partner.
- Conference attendance: up to £500 a year if you are presenting.
- Fieldwork – you may apply to keep up to your normal maintenance allowance while on fieldwork as part of your PhD.
- Some fourth year funding for PhD Scholars may be provided – but the termly maintenance allowance reduces per term for up to a year
- Hardship funding – if there are unforeseen difficulties.
Selection Criteria:
- outstanding intellectual ability
- leadership potential
- a commitment to improving the lives of others
- a good fit between the applicant’s qualifications and aspirations and the postgraduate programme at Cambridge for which they are applying.
Application Deadline:
The deadlines are as follows:
- Round 1 (US citizens based in the USA) – 15 October 2013 and
- Round 2 (all other eligible candidates) – 3 December 2013.
For further information: Gates Cambridge Scholarship
