Gates Cambridge Scholarship: requirements, benefits and deadline

Gates Cambridge Scholarships pay the full cost of a postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge for outstanding applicants from any country outside the UK. Around 70 scholarships are awarded each year, about two-thirds of them for PhDs.

Country
United Kingdom
Level
PhD, MLitt and one-year postgraduate courses
Funding
Fully funded
Next deadline
8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on your course (14 October 2026 for US citizens resident in the US)

Official website

What it covers

  • The University Composition Fee
  • A maintenance allowance of £23,152 for 12 months (2026–27 rate; pro rata for shorter courses), for up to 4 years for PhD scholars
  • One economy airfare at the start and end of the course
  • Inbound visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge
  • Discretionary funding: academic development funding, dependent children allowance, fieldwork, parental leave and hardship funding

Who can apply

  • Be a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom
  • Apply for a PhD (full- or part-time), a full-time MLitt or a full-time one-year postgraduate course at Cambridge
  • Not eligible: undergraduate degrees, MASt courses, the MBA, EMBA, MFin and other professional courses listed by Gates Cambridge
  • Selection is based on outstanding intellectual ability, reasons for your choice of course, commitment to improving the lives of others, and leadership potential

Key dates

Applications open
11 September 2026, for entry in 2027/28
US round
14 October 2026, 23:59 UK time (US citizens resident in the US only)
International round
8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, 23:59 UK time, depending on the course funding deadline
Offers
By early February 2027 (US round) and by early April 2027 (international round)

How to apply

  1. Choose your course and check its funding deadline in the University of Cambridge Course Directory.
  2. Apply through the University’s Graduate Application Portal, completing the admission section and the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section.
  3. Answer the four Gates Cambridge questions and, for a PhD, include a research proposal.
  4. Arrange two academic references plus a Gates Cambridge reference on how you meet the criteria.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Gates Cambridge Scholarship cover?

The University Composition Fee. A maintenance allowance of £23,152 for 12 months (2026–27 rate; pro rata for shorter courses), for up to 4 years for PhD scholars. One economy airfare at the start and end of the course. Inbound visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge. Discretionary funding: academic development funding, dependent children allowance, fieldwork, parental leave and hardship funding.

Who can apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship?

Be a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom. Apply for a PhD (full- or part-time), a full-time MLitt or a full-time one-year postgraduate course at Cambridge. Not eligible: undergraduate degrees, MASt courses, the MBA, EMBA, MFin and other professional courses listed by Gates Cambridge. Selection is based on outstanding intellectual ability, reasons for your choice of course, commitment to improving the lives of others, and leadership potential.

When is the Gates Cambridge Scholarship deadline?

8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on your course (14 October 2026 for US citizens resident in the US). Applications open: 11 September 2026, for entry in 2027/28. US round: 14 October 2026, 23:59 UK time (US citizens resident in the US only). International round: 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, 23:59 UK time, depending on the course funding deadline. Offers: By early February 2027 (US round) and by early April 2027 (international round).

How do I apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship?

Choose your course and check its funding deadline in the University of Cambridge Course Directory. Apply through the University’s Graduate Application Portal, completing the admission section and the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section. Answer the four Gates Cambridge questions and, for a PhD, include a research proposal. Arrange two academic references plus a Gates Cambridge reference on how you meet the criteria.

Sources: Gates Cambridge: The scholarship · Gates Cambridge: Eligibility · Gates Cambridge: Timeline · Gates Cambridge: How to apply (checked 26 September 2026)

Compare dates across programmes in the scholarship deadlines calendar.

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