Description:

At a glance

A citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom may apply
Gates Cambridge does not admit or place scholars - all applications must be made through the University of Cambridge
Scholarships are available for a postgraduate degree in any subject at the University of Cambridge
One application form for postgraduate admission and a Scholarship

Eligibility

You can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship if you are:
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.

Courses which are NOT eligible for Gates Cambridge Scholarships:
BA (undergraduate)
BA affiliated (a second BA)
MBBChir Clinical Studies
MD Doctor of Medicine degree (6 years, part-time)
Part-time degrees
Non-degree courses
Courses at universities other than Cambridge

Value

A Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge.

Core components
the University Composition Fee and College fees at the appropriate rate*
a maintenance allowance for a single student (£13,900 for 12 months at the 2014-15 rate; pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months)
one economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course
inbound visa costs

Discretionary components

The Trust also considers applications for several types of additional funding on a discretionary basis:
Family allowance - up to £9,630 for a first child and up to £4,110 for a second child. No funding is provided for a partner.
Academic development funding - up to £500 a year to attend Conferences and Courses.
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

*The University Composition Fee varies for different types of students; applicants should see the Graduate Studies Prospectus for full details about precise amounts. Where a student from the European Union has been successful in gaining a fees award from public authorities they must accept this and the Trust will not pay these fees.

** The PhD at Cambridge is a three-year degree and Gates Cambridge Scholars should take on a research project that they and their Supervisor think can be completed within three years. However, if there are unforeseen circumstances which mean you need further funding during all or part of your fourth year, the Trust will consider an application on a discretionary basis. But you should not rely on receiving any fourth year funding when you start your PhD.