Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027–2028: Fully Funded Postgraduate Scholarships at the University of Cambridge, UK

Overview

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is an international postgraduate funding programme established at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom through a donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The programme aims to support exceptional students who possess academic excellence, leadership potential, and a strong dedication to improving the lives of others. Approximately 70 full-cost scholarships are awarded annually, with roughly two-thirds allocated to PhD students and the remainder supporting eligible postgraduate programmes.

Who can apply

Citizens of countries outside the United Kingdom are eligible to apply for the scholarship. Candidates must be prospective postgraduate students applying for an eligible full-time or part-time PhD, MLitt, or other eligible full-time postgraduate course at the University of Cambridge. Selection prioritizes intellectual ability, the rationale for the chosen course, leadership potential, and a demonstrated commitment to social improvement.

What you get

The scholarship provides comprehensive financial support, covering the full University composition fee, a maintenance allowance for living costs, a single economy airfare at the start and end of the course, and the costs associated with the UK visa and Immigration Health Surcharge. Additional funding may also be available for academic development, dependent children allowances, fieldwork maintenance, maternity or paternity support, and hardship funding, depending on specific eligibility conditions.

How to apply

Applicants must submit their applications through the University of Cambridge Graduate Application Portal. Because application deadlines vary depending on the applicant's nationality, specific course of study, and application round, candidates must consult the official Gates Cambridge application timeline for the relevant academic year prior to applying.