Many students dream to study in the United Kingdom because it is home to some of the best universities in the world. The cost of study in United Kingdom is very high and most families cannot pay it. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2026-2027 is a golden chance for international students to study free in the UK. This scholarship is fully funded and covers tuition fees, living allowance, health insurance, airfare and academic development funding. It is available for master and PhD programs at the University of Cambridge. The program is designed for talented students from all countries who want to study in Cambridge and make a difference in the world.
Quick Facts About Gates Cambridge Scholarship
- Study Location: United Kingdom
- Level of Study: Master and PhD programs
- Host Institution: University of Cambridge
- Funding Type: Fully Funded
- Program Duration: Two years for master programs and three to four years for PhD programs.
- Deadline: For USA citizens October 16, 2025. For international students either December 3, 2025 or January 7, 2026 depending on the course. Kindly See the course directory.
About Gates Cambridge Scholarship
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship was established in October 2000 with a donation of two hundred ten million USA dollars from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This was the largest single donation ever made to a UK university. The program offers full cost scholarships to exceptional candidates from outside the United Kingdom.
Each year about eighty scholarships are awarded. Two thirds of these go to PhD students. Around 25 awards are given in the USA round and 55 in the international round. The scholarship is open to all subjects offered at Cambridge except a few courses such as undergraduate degrees, MBA, MFin, PGCE and medicine programs.
See Also: Monash University Scholarship 2026 | Fully Funded | Australia
The goal of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship is to create a worldwide group of future leaders. These leaders will be dedicated to making life better for other people. The people who get the scholarship are chosen for several reasons. They must have top grades. They must show they can be a leader. They must also show a strong desire to help others. The program is very hard to get into. It gets thousands of people applying from all over the world every year.
Scholarship Benefits
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship provides many benefits to students.
- Tuition fees are fully covered through the University Composition Fee.
- Living allowance of twenty one thousand pounds per year for a single student. For PhD students the award is for up to four years.
- One economy airfare at the beginning and end of the course.
- Visa costs and immigration health surcharge are covered.
- Academic development funding up to two thousand pounds to attend conferences and courses.
- Family allowance up to eleven thousand six hundred four pounds for one child and up to sixteen thousand five hundred forty eight pounds for two or more children.
- Fieldwork support which allows students to keep their normal allowance during PhD fieldwork.
- Maternity or paternity funding which allows students to take up to six months leave while continuing to receive allowance.
- Hardship funding for unforeseen difficulties.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship you must meet these rules:
- You must be applying for a full time masters or PhD program at the University of Cambridge.
- You must be an international student from a country outside the United Kingdom.
- You must have excellent grades and a strong record of academic success.
- You must give a strong reason for wanting to do your postgraduate degree at Cambridge.
- You must show that you have leadership skills and a desire to serve your community.
- You must show you are dedicated to helping other people and improving lives.
The scholarship is open to students from all countries. It is highly competitive and only the best candidates are selected.
How to Apply For Gates Cambridge Scholarship
The application process is clear but requires careful preparation. Students must follow each step to avoid mistakes.
- Apply for admission to a course and a college place at Cambridge.
- Complete the Gates Cambridge section of the funding application.
- Build an account on the Cambridge application website.
- Fill in personal information and academic details.
- Submit required documents including:
- Gates Cambridge statement of about five hundred words explaining why you are applying and how you meet the four criteria
- CV or resume
- Research proposal for PhD applicants
- Gates reference in addition to two academic references. This reference should explain your fit with the scholarship
- Answer all application questions carefully.
- Submit the application before the deadline.
- Apply Now
Official Website
For full details and deadlines visit the Gates Cambridge Scholarship page.