Gates Cambridge Scholarships 2027/28: University of Cambridge, UK (fully funded)

Applications are open for the Gates Cambridge Scholarships 2027/28 for outstanding international students seeking fully funded postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge.

Established through a donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates Cambridge is one of the world’s most competitive postgraduate scholarship programmes. It supports exceptional candidates from countries outside the United Kingdom who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership ability, and a commitment to improving the lives of others.

Approximately 80 full-cost scholarships are awarded annually. Around two-thirds of the awards normally go to PhD candidates, with the remaining scholarships supporting eligible master’s and MLitt students.

What It Covers

• Full University Composition Fee
• Annual maintenance allowance
• One economy-class airfare at the beginning of the programme
• One economy-class airfare after completing the programme
• Inbound visa costs
• Immigration Health Surcharge
• Funding for the normal duration of an eligible course
• Additional discretionary support for academic development, conferences, research expenses, family needs, maternity or paternity support, hardship, and eligible PhD fieldwork

The Trust does not normally cover bench fees or scientific equipment that the university or department is expected to provide. Discretionary awards are assessed separately and are not guaranteed.

Who Can Apply

• Citizens of a country outside the United Kingdom
• Applicants for an eligible full-time postgraduate course at Cambridge
• Applicants who meet the academic requirements of their chosen programme
• Applicants who demonstrate outstanding intellectual ability
• Applicants with strong reasons for selecting their course
• Applicants who demonstrate a commitment to improving the lives of others
• Applicants who show evidence of leadership capacity
• Applicants who submit both the Cambridge admission and Gates Cambridge funding sections before the relevant deadline

Current Cambridge students may apply for a new eligible postgraduate degree. They cannot use Gates Cambridge funding to finance the remainder of a programme they have already started.

Eligible Programmes

• Full-time PhD programmes
• Full-time MLitt programmes
• Most eligible one-year postgraduate courses
• A pilot scheme for eligible part-time PhD study may also be available. Applicants must confirm the current course rules before applying.

The scholarship does not support undergraduate degrees, affiliated BA degrees, Master of Business programmes, Master of Finance, PGCE, non-degree courses, or courses that do not meet the required duration. Applicants should confirm the eligibility of their specific programme before applying.

Study Levels: Master’s, MLitt, PhD, and eligible professional postgraduate degrees
Host Institution: University of Cambridge
Host Country: United Kingdom
Number Available: Approximately 80 scholarships annually
Funding Type: Fully Funded
Deadline: Course-specific funding deadline listed in the University of Cambridge Course Directory. For US citizens resident in the United States, the 2027/28 deadline is October 14, 2026. Other applicants must follow the funding deadline attached to their selected course.

Applicants should not assume that one date applies to every course. A Cambridge course may have an earlier funding deadline than its general admission deadline, and all supporting documents and references must be received by the relevant funding deadline.

Selection Criteria

• Outstanding intellectual ability
• Strong reasons for choosing the proposed course
• Commitment to improving the lives of others
• Demonstrated leadership capacity

A strong application should connect the candidate’s academic background, proposed Cambridge programme, leadership record, and long-term plans for social impact.

Application Requirements

• University of Cambridge graduate application
• Academic transcripts
• CV or résumé
• Statement explaining the reasons for applying
• Research proposal for relevant programmes, including PhD applications
• Gates Cambridge selection questions
• Two academic references for admission
• One additional Gates Cambridge reference
• English-language test results where applicable
• Programme-specific documents

PhD applicants may also need to identify and contact a potential Cambridge supervisor before applying. The Gates Cambridge reference is separate from the two academic references required for admission.

How to Apply

There is no separate external Gates Cambridge application form. Applicants must submit one combined application through the University of Cambridge Graduate Application Portal guidance page, including the admission to a course and College place section and the Gates Cambridge funding section.

Select an eligible postgraduate course, review its admission and funding deadline, and complete the funding section of the Cambridge application. Applicants must indicate that they want to be considered for Gates Cambridge and answer the scholarship-specific questions.

Applications submitted after the relevant funding deadline may still be considered for admission but will not be considered for Gates Cambridge funding. All supporting documents and references must be received by the course’s funding deadline.