Study at one of the world’s top universities on a fully funded postgraduate scholarship. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship offers around 70 full-cost scholarships each year to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK, funding PhD, MLitt, and one-year postgraduate courses at the University of Cambridge. It covers the full University Composition Fee, a maintenance allowance of £23,152 for 12 months, airfare, and visa costs. Applications for 2027/8 entry are now open, and the scholarship runs two separate rounds: one for US citizens resident in the US, closing 14 October 2026, and an international round closing either 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on your course.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027 Details:
- Host Country: United Kingdom (Cambridge, England)
- University: University of Cambridge, funded by the Gates Cambridge Trust
- Degree Level: PhD (full-time or part-time), MLitt (full-time), or a one-year postgraduate course
- Financial Coverage: Fully Funded
- Deadline: 14 October 2026 (US round); 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027 (International round, course-dependent)
Also check this Commonwealth Scholarship 2027/28 in the UK for another fully funded UK postgraduate route.
Financial Benefits
According to the official Gates Cambridge page, the scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge, plus additional discretionary funding:
Core components:
- The University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate
- A maintenance allowance of £23,152 for 12 months (pro rata for shorter courses; payable for up to 4 years for PhD scholars)
- One economy single airfare at both the start and end of the course
- Inbound visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge
Discretionary components:
- Academic development funding, from up to £750 to up to £4,000, for attending conferences and courses
- A Dependent Children Allowance of up to £12,793 per year for one child, or up to £18,244 for two or more (no funding for a partner)
- Fieldwork funding, allowing PhD students to keep their maintenance allowance while conducting fieldwork
- Maternity/paternity funding, allowing scholars to intermit for up to 6 months while still receiving their allowance
- Hardship funding for unforeseen financial difficulties
Not covered: bench fees or the cost of scientific equipment, which the Trust expects the academic department to fund instead.
Also apply for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027/28 for another fully funded postgraduate route in Europe.
Eligibility Criteria
You can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship if you:
- Are a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom
- Are applying to a PhD (full-time or part-time, under a pilot scheme), an MLitt (full-time), or an eligible one-year postgraduate course
- Are a current Cambridge student applying for a new postgraduate course — for example, moving from an MPhil to a PhD (you cannot apply to fund the remainder of a course you’ve already started)
- Meet the selection criteria: outstanding intellectual ability, strong reasons for your choice of course, a demonstrated commitment to improving the lives of others, and leadership potential
Courses NOT eligible, per the official page, include any undergraduate degree, MASt courses, most part-time degrees, and non-standard programs such as the MBA, EMBA, MFin, PGCE, and MD (part-time).
Required Documents
- Admission application, including your academic background and course details, submitted via the University’s Graduate Application Portal
- Four Gates Cambridge selection statements, each 200–300 words, addressing academic excellence, your reasons for choosing the course, your commitment to improving others’ lives, and your leadership experience
- A research proposal, required for PhD applicants only
- Two academic references for admission
- One separate Gates Cambridge reference, specifically addressing your fit for the scholarship’s four selection criteria
Also check this One Young World Leading Scholarship 2026 in South Africa for another leadership-focused fully funded scholarship.
How to Apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027?
Step 1: Confirm you’re a citizen of a country outside the UK, and identify an eligible course using the University’s Course Directory.
2: Complete the combined application for admission and funding through the University’s Graduate Application Portal — there’s no separate Gates Cambridge application form.
Step 3: Complete the admission section with your academic background and course preferences, plus the College place section.
4: Complete the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section, including your four selection statements and, if you’re a PhD applicant, your research proposal.
Step 5: Arrange your two academic references and a separate Gates Cambridge reference, and brief your Gates Cambridge referee on the scholarship’s specific criteria.
6: Submit before your deadline — 14 October 2026 if you’re a US citizen resident in the US, or your course’s specific International round deadline otherwise.
Official Website
The Link to the Official website is given below.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s a fully funded postgraduate scholarship at the University of Cambridge, funded by the Gates Cambridge Trust, offering around 70 scholarships a year to outstanding applicants from outside the UK.
Citizens of any country outside the UK applying for a PhD, MLitt, or eligible one-year postgraduate course at Cambridge.
Yes. It covers the full University Composition Fee, a maintenance allowance, airfare, and visa costs, plus several types of discretionary funding.
£23,152 for 12 months at the 2026–27 rate, pro rata for shorter courses, and payable for up to 4 years for PhD scholars.
14 October 2026 for US citizens resident in the US. For all other applicants, either 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on your course.
Through the University of Cambridge’s Graduate Application Portal — the Gates Cambridge application is embedded within the standard admission and funding application, not a separate form.
Yes, if applying for a new postgraduate course, though not to fund the remainder of a course already in progress.
No. Non-standard programs like the MBA, EMBA, MFin, and PGCE are not eligible.