Scholarship
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Gates Cambridge Trust, University of Cambridge
Award
full-cost scholarship for postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge
Deadline
~Oct 16, 2027
Estimated; confirm on sponsor site
Full-cost postgraduate scholarship at the University of Cambridge for students from outside the UK (about 25 awards in the dedicated U.S. round each year), available in any subject. Selection emphasizes academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to improving others' lives.
Eligibility
- Grade levels
- College undergraduate, College graduate
- Essay
- Required
Application requirements
- Submit Cambridge graduate admission and funding application: Apply via the University of Cambridge Graduate Application Portal. Complete admission to a course/college place and the Gates Cambridge funding subsection.
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Four Gates Cambridge funding questions: Four short statements mapped to selection criteria: academic excellence; why this Cambridge course; commitment to improving others' lives; leadership capacity.
Essay prompts
- Please describe how, through your education and past experiences, you have displayed academic excellence. approx. 200 words, up to 1,400 characters
- Please explain why you want to study this specific course at the University of Cambridge, and how it will facilitate your future plans. approx. 200 words, up to 1,400 characters
- Please provide an example, or examples, of how you have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of others. Please explain why this is important to you and how it is relevant to your future plans. approx. 300 words, up to 2,100 characters
- Please provide an example, or examples, of how you have demonstrated a capacity for leadership. This could be by initiating a change or bringing others together to achieve a goal. How will this help you make an impact in the future? approx. 300 words, up to 2,100 characters
- Two academic references for admission: Standard two academic references required for Cambridge course admission as part of the combined application.
- Gates Cambridge reference: Additional reference assessing suitability against Gates criteria. Referee also ranks applicant within a defined group.
Verified Jun 25, 2026 · View official source