Application Process for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2023

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship Program was established in October 2000 with a donation of US$ 210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge, the biggest single donation ever made to a UK university. In October 2001, the initial group of academics moved into residence. Since that time, the Trust has given out more than 2,000 scholarships to students in more than 100 different nations.

Outstanding candidates from outside the UK are given full scholarships each year by Gates Cambridge to study for a postgraduate degree in any field offered by the University of Cambridge. There will be about 25 awards available in the US round and 55 awards available in the international round, with about two-thirds of these awards going to Ph.D. candidates.

The Criteria for Selection are:

• Exceptionally strong intelligence
• Motivations for course selection
• A dedication to enhancing others’ lives
• Leadership Abilities

Building a global network of future leaders devoted to enhancing the lives of others is the goal of the Gates Cambridge initiative. By choosing exceptional scholars, offering them financial and non-financial assistance at one of the top universities in the world, and facilitating community building at Cambridge and beyond, it hopes to accomplish this purpose.

One of the most prominent international scholarships in the world is the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Outstanding candidates from outside the UK are given scholarships to attend the University of Cambridge full-time for a postgraduate degree in any field that is offered.

About the Gates Cambridge Scholarship

• Deadline: January (annually)
• Study In: UK.
• Course Starts In: October 2023
• Number of scholarships: 80 scholarships (55 to internationals, 25 to US citizens and residents)
• Institution(s) hosting: Cambridge University, United Kingdom
• Number of Awards: Each year, about 80 scholarships are given out
• Target audience: All countries except UK.
• Level and Area of Study: Ph.D., MSc, MLitt, or a one-year postgraduate degree in any of the university’s academic areas.

Courses Not Covered 

Gates Cambridge Scholarship is NOT available for the following courses:

• Any Undergraduate degree such as BA (undergraduate) or BA affiliated (a second BA)
• Business Doctorate (Bus D)
• Master of Business (MBA)
• Master of Finance (MFin)
• PGCE
• MBBChir Clinical Studies
• MD Doctor of Medicine degree
• Graduate Course in Medicine
• Part-time degrees
• Non-degree courses

Gates Cambridge Scholarship Funding

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge. It also provides additional, discretionary funding.

Core Components

• The appropriate rate of the university composition fee.
• A maintenance payment for a single student ($18,744 for a year at the rate of 2022–23; prorated for courses lasting less than a year); for Ph.D. scholars, the grant is good for up to four years.
• One economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course
• Inbound Visa costs & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Note: The University Composition Fee varies depending on the type of student; for complete information on exact amounts, applicants may see the Graduate Studies prospectus. The Trust will not cover these costs if a student has been successful in receiving a fee award from public agencies (such as the UKRI).

Discretionary Elements

The Trust also makes discretionary decisions on requests for a range of extra funding, including:

• Academic allowance: Depending on the length of your program, you may be eligible for academic development grants ranging from £500 to £2,000 to help you attend conferences and courses.
• Family allowance: up to £10,944 for one child and up to £15,612 for two or more children. No funding for a partner.
• Fieldwork – you may apply to keep up to your normal maintenance allowance while on fieldwork as part of your PhD.
• Maternity/Paternity Leave: If you need financing for maternity or paternity leave, you can seek to put your studies on hold for up to six months while still receiving your maintenance allowance.
• Hardship money is available to help students who face unforeseen challenges.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship Eligibility:

 Who is Eligible for the Scholarship?

Here are the key eligibility requirements to apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship:

There are certain guidelines to be adhered to apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship program. Those will only be the eligible applicants who:

• Are citizens of any country not belonging to the UK
• Applying to attain any of the full-time residential courses at the University of Cambridge.
• Secures admission in any of the following degrees of study:
  • Ph.D.
  • M.Sc. or M.Litt.
  • PG course of 1 year
• Can be a current student at the University of Cambridge and planning to apply for a suitable course next year but should not register themselves in any other course in between.

Application Process

Through the university’s graduate application portal, candidates submit their applications for admission and financial aid (Gates Cambridge and other funds).

You must fill out both the Gates Cambridge portion of the funding section and the form to apply for admission to a course and a college place in order to be eligible for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. When evaluating applicants, Gates Cambridge has access to the whole admission and grant application.

The Application Section

You are requesting admission to a certain graduate program and a college position in this section. You will give the typical information about yourself, your academic history, your plans, and your suitability for the suggested course.

The Funding Section

You can submit applications for a variety of financial aid programs sponsored by the university and affiliated organizations in this section, including the Gates Cambridge Scholarships, which has its own subsection. In order to be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, you must submit the following information:

Gates Cambridge Scholarship Essay

You are questioned the following:

In no more than 3000 characters (approximately 500 words) please explain why you are applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship and how you meet the four main criteria. 

Gates Cambridge uses the claim to assist in distinguishing between individuals who have been recommended by academic departments. This process aids in identifying people who are not just highly qualified academically but also committed to enhancing the lives of others.

You should use your background, accomplishments, experiences, and future goals to demonstrate how explicitly you satisfy the requirements of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship because this is the only section of the application where candidates are asked about how they fit with the program.

Study Proposal (Ph.D. Applicants only)

Only a research proposal must be submitted as part of a Ph.D. applicant’s funding application at Gates Cambridge. When this is not the case, a research proposal is required to apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. The majority of Ph.D. applicants will upload a research proposal as part of their application for admission. You are not required to submit a research proposal as part of your Gates Cambridge Scholarship application materials if you are applying for a degree other than the Ph.D.

Gates Cambridge Reference

Applicants for the Gates Cambridge scholarships must arrange for someone to submit a reference on their behalf, outlining how they fit the scholarship’s requirements in addition to two academic references for admission.

Selection Process

As the number of scholarships is limited, hence, the organizer takes acute measures to filter the best candidates among all.

Each 3 or 4-person panel includes representatives from academics, trust, and Gates Cambridge alumni.

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Frequently Asked Questions