Each year, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funds Gates Cambridge
Scholarship to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject available
at the University of Cambridge. Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full
cost of studying at Cambridge. It also provides additional, discretionary
funding.
The aim of the Gates
Cambridge Scholarship programme is to build a global network of future leaders
committed to improving the live
s of others.
The Gates Cambridge
Scholarship programme was established in October 2000 by a donation of US$210m
from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge; this
is the largest ever single donation to a UK university.
At Cambridge,
Scholars pursue the full range of subjects available at the University and are
spread through its departments and Colleges.
Course Level: Gates Cambridge Scholarship
is available to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree (PhD, MSc or MLitt or
one-year postgraduate course) in any subject available at the University of
Cambridge.
Study
Subject (s):
Gates Cambridge Scholarship is awarded to study any subject available at the
University of Cambridge.
Scholarship Award: The Gates Cambridge
Scholarship is one of the most generous international scholarships available.
It covers the following costs:
Core
components
- the University
Composition Fee at the appropriate rate* - a
maintenance allowance for a single student (£14,900 for 12 months at the
2017-18 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 & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge
Discretionary
components
The Trust also
considers applications for several types of additional funding on a
discretionary basis:
- Academic
development funding – from £500 to £2,000, dependent on the length of your
course, to attend conferences and courses. - Family
allowance – up to £10,120 for a first child and up to £4,320 for a second
child (2016-17 rate). No funding is provided for a partner. - Fieldwork
– you may apply to keep up to your normal maintenance allowance while on
fieldwork as part of your PhD (the Trust does not fund other fieldwork
costs as these should be funded by the University Composition Fee). - Hardship
funding – for unforeseen difficulties - Maternity/Paternity
funding – should you require it, you may apply to intermit your studies
for up to 6 months and continue to receive your maintenance allowance
during this time - Some
fourth year funding for PhD Scholars may be provided**
*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.
Receiving
a salary or substantial other scholarship?
If you are receiving
a salary from an employer or have another substantial scholarship, the Trust
reserves the right to reduce or not pay the standard maintenance allowance. You
should let the Trust know ASAP if you are awarded any funding towards your
degree at Cambridge.
What
is not covered
Most costs are
covered by the Scholarship but Gates Cambridge does not cover bench fees or the
costs of scientific equipment or similar academic resources. The Trust expects
such core course costs to be covered by the academic department at Cambridge.
Scholarship can
be taken in the UK
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) - One
year postgraduate course (e.g. MPhil, LLM, MASt, Diploma, MBA etc.)
You can use the form
below to quickly check if you are eligible to apply for a Gates Cambridge
Scholarship and, if so, in which of the two application rounds you must apply.
Current
student at Cambridge?
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 PhD. 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 in round two. However, if you have already started a course you
cannot apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship to fund the remainder of it.
College
Admission Requirement
Entrance
Requirement: Applicants
must have their previous degree.
Test
Requirement: No
English
Language Requirements: Graduate
Admissions Office or academic department may require some applicants to submit
the following for admission to the University:
- English
language test scores (if English is not your first language) - A
research proposal, an example of your written work, a GRE/GMAT score,
etc. Not all applicants will be required to submit such documents
How to
Apply: Applicants
apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship and admission to their chosen
postgraduate course at the University of Cambridge and a Cambridge College via
the Graduate Admissions Office, using the Graduate Application Form and
supporting documents. It is not possible to apply for a Gates Cambridge
Scholarship without applying to the University of Cambridge. You must
apply for admission as a postgraduate student at the University of Cambridge
and a Gates Cambridge Scholarship at the same time, using the one application
pack. To be considered for postgraduate admission and a Gates Cambridge
Scholarship all applicants must submit the following documents to the Graduate
Admissions Office by the relevant deadline:-
- Graduate
Application Form (which includes a Gates Cambridge section) - Academic
transcripts - 2
academic references - 1
personal reference (for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship)
Application
Deadline:
The deadlines are as follows: Round 1 (US citizens based in the USA) – October
11, 2017 and Round 2 (all other eligible candidates) – Dependent on your course
– either December 6, 2017 or January 4, 2018.