Application Deadline: 2 December 2015
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.
Scholarships are awarded to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge.
Eligibility Requirements
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.)
Ideal Candidates:
The selection criteria are:
- outstanding intellectual ability
- leadership potential
- a commitment to improving the lives of others
- a good fit between the applicant’s qualifications and aspirations and the postgraduate programme at Cambridge for which they are applying
Scholarship Worth:
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 (£14,300 for 12 months at the 2015-16 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 & associated NHS surcharge costs
Discretionary components
The Trust also considers applications for several types of additional funding on a discretionary basis:
- Academic development funding – from £500 to £1,500, dependent on the length of your course, to attend conferences and courses.
- Family allowance – up to £9,630 for a first child and up to £4,110 for a second child. 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.
- 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
How to Apply:
Standard applications (via the Graduate Admissions Office)
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 GRADSAF form and supporting documents.
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:-
- GRADSAF application form (which includes a Gates Cambridge section)
- Academic transcripts
- 2 academic references
- 1 personal reference (for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship)
Timeline:
Applications Open: 1 September 2015
Application Deadline: 2 December 2015
Supporting documents Deadline: 14 days after submitting application
References Deadline: 14 days after submitting application
Departmental ranking: February
Trust shortlisting: Early March
Shortlisted candidates invited to interview: Early March
Interviews: 22 & 23 March 2016 (Cambridge, UK)
Scholarships offered: Late March
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship Programme 2016