Gates Cambridge Scholarship for international students offered by the University of Cambridge since October 2000. Under this scholarship scheme, eligible applicants will get funding. In this article today we are going to discuss how you can apply for the scholarship scheme, what are the eligibility measures, the documents required for application submission, the scholarship amount, and much other related information. If you desire to pursue your further studies from outside India and have chosen the University of Cambridge, UK to pursue the studies, then this article is very valuable for you.
About Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Many students in India desire to move to a foreign country to complete their higher studies. There are several universities across the country offering different courses and admission to international students. The University of Cambridge is a UK-based university, that welcomes various students across the globe to complete their education from the university. The university offers different courses and since 2000 university is also offering the Gates Cambridge Scholarship to international students. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship was established with the donation of US$210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge. Since then till now university offers scholarships to international students every year.
Also Read: Truman State University Scholarship
Overview of Scholarship
- Article About: Gates Cambridge Scholarship
- Offered by: University of Cambridge
- Started in: October 2000
- Launched for: Students
- No of scholarships: 80
- Benefits: Monetary
- Official website: Gates Cambridge
No of scholarships
Every year the university offers 80 full-cost scholarships out of which 25 scholarships are given to Ph.D. students in the US round and 55 are available in the international round.
Objective of Gates Cambridge Scholarship
The motive behind starting this scheme is to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others. To complete this motive university is going to select outstanding scholars across the globe and provide them with financial and non-financial support.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship Amount
The scholarship covers the full cost of study at the University of Cambridge plus discretionary funding. Except for bench fees or the costs of scientific equipment or similar academic resources the scholarship covers all the expenses as detailed further:
| Core components | Composition Fee Maintenance allowance (£17,848 for 12 months at the 2021-22 rate; pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months) for Ph.D. scholars the award is for up to 4 years Economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the Course In Bound visa costs & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge |
| Discretionary components | Academic development funding which depends on the length of your course, to attend conferences and courses from up to £500 to up to £2,000. Family allowance – up to £10,120 for one child and up to £14,440 for two or more children.Fieldwork –normal maintenance allowance while on fieldwork as part of your Ph.D. Maternity/Paternity funding hardship funding |
Interview Stages
The students will have to go through the following selection stages in order to be selected for this scholarship:-
- 1. Welcome and introduction
- The Chair will introduce the panel, set out the format of the interview, and provide any other essential information to allow for a productive conversation.
- 2. Gates Cambridge
- What you know about the Gates Cambridge Scholarships
- Your motivation for applying
- Why you think you could be a Gates Cambridge Scholar
- Your thoughts on the opportunities and responsibilities that a prestigious, full-cost scholarship at one of the world’s leading universities brings.
- 3. Academic and career plans
- Your academic work to date – can you convincingly communicate your passion for, and the importance of, your chosen subject?
- Your proposed degree at Cambridge – can you provide a convincing justification for your choice of course at Cambridge?
- Your career plans – can you convincingly link your application for both a Gates Cambridge Scholarship and your proposed course at Cambridge to your future career plans?
- You may also be asked probing intellectual or ethical questions, to which there are no ‘right’ answers
- 4. Final thoughts and questions
- A chance to convey any additional information and/or ask any questions to the interview panel (optional)
- If you are not called to interview
- You will receive an email from Gates Cambridge confirming that your application has not been successful
Courses Not Offered
Courses that Gates Cambridge does NOT consider are:
- Any Undergraduate degree, such as BA (undergraduate) or BA affiliated (a second BA)
- Business Doctorate (BusD)
- Master of Business (MBA)
- Master of Finance (MFin)
- MASt courses
- PGCE
- MBBChir Clinical Studies
- MD Doctor of Medicine degree (6 years, part-time, Home students only)
- Graduate Course in Medicine (A101)
- Part-time degrees other than the PhD
- Non-degree courses
Selection Procedure
Gates Cambridge uses a two-stage selection process to ensure our scholars meet all of our criteria to the highest level:-
- 1. Departmental nomination
- Gates Cambridge asks academic departments in Cambridge to nominate a small number of eligible applicants who meet all four of the scholarship’s criteria to a very high level. This ensures that those nominated by departments are academically outstanding and are likely to succeed as a postgraduate students at Cambridge and also that they show evidence of meeting Gates Cambridge’s selection criteria. A relatively small number of those who apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship are nominated by departments and then invited to interview.
- 2. Interview
- All candidates nominated by academic departments are invited to a short interview to assess how they meet all four Gates Cambridge criteria. Scholars are then selected after the interview.
- If you are called to interview
- You will be sent full details about the format and arrangements on the timing set out on our Timeline page. If you are invited for an interview you will have gone through an incredibly competitive process.
- You will be invited for a 20-25 minute interview and, depending on where you are, you can interview either in person or virtually. Where you are able to attend the interview in person we encourage this.
- There are four broadly subject-based interview panels:
- Arts
- Biological Sciences
- Physical Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Each panel consists of appropriate and experienced academics and practitioners and may also include Gates Cambridge alumni and a representative of the Gates Cambridge Trust.
Eligibility Criteria
You must follow the following eligibility criteria in order to apply for this scholarship:-
- 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 courses at the University of Cambridge:
- Ph.D. (full-time or part-time*)
- MLitt (full-time)
- One-year postgraduate course (full-time), with some exceptions.
- For October 2023 entry, Gates Cambridge is piloting a scheme that allows applicants to apply for funding for a part-time doctoral degree.
- If you are currently studying at Cambridge and wish to apply for a new postgraduate course you can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. For example, if you are currently studying for an MPhil you can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship to pursue a Ph.D. Current Gates Cambridge Scholars may also apply for a second scholarship if they are applying for a new degree. All current Cambridge students will be considered for the second, international round. However, if you have already started a course (e.g. you are currently part way through a Ph.D.) you cannot apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship to fund the remainder of it.
Documents List
- Copies of degree transcripts and certificates,
- A research proposal,
- Statement of Interest
- Date of birth Proof
- One photo ID proof
- Scanned passport-size image
- Other necessary documents
Also Read: GSK Scholars Program
Apply Process Gates Cambridge Scholarship
To apply for the scholarship scheme students, need to apply for the course by visiting the University of Cambridge Application portal.
Students need to submit a combined application form for the course and funding scheme. you may check the course available in the university by clicking here before seeking an application in detail.
Important Dates
- US citizens resident in the USA
| Stages | Date |
| Applications open | Thursday 15 September 2022 |
| Application deadline | Wednesday 12 October 2022 (Time 12:00, noon in local US time zone) |
| Departmental ranking | Monday 17 October 2022 to Thursday 17 November 2022 |
| All applicants are notified of the application outcome | by Friday 9 December 2022 |
| Review and selection by panels | January 2023 |
| Scholarships offered | Late January 2023 |
| Scholarships accepted | 72 hours after the offer |
- Other eligible applicants
| Stages | Date |
| Applications open | Thursday 15 September 2022 |
| Application deadline | Dependent on your course – either 1 December 2022 or 5 January 2023 |
| Departmental ranking | December – February |
| All applicants are notified of the application outcome | by Friday 3 March 2022 |
| Review and selection by panels | March 2023 |
| Scholarships offered | Late March |
| Scholarships accepted | 72 hours after the offer |
Helpline
- Contact number: +44 (0)1223 338467
- Email to info@gatescambridge.org.