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Gates Cambridge 2026: eligibility, amount, selection and how to apply

Fully funded Study in United Kingdom Sources include non-government documents, named below

Gates Cambridge Scholarship (University of Cambridge), given by Gates Cambridge Trust (a charitable trust, not a government body). Fully funded: Cambridge fee, maintenance, flights and visa.

Given byGates Cambridge Trust
LevelPostgraduate, PhD and research
MoneyFully funded: Cambridge fee, maintenance, flights and visa
How many get itAbout 70 a year, worldwide
This year8 Dec 2026 or 6 Jan 2027, by course

Gates Cambridge: how to applyCheck if you can applyLetter of recommendation helperVisa

Who can apply for Gates Cambridge

You can apply if

  • A citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom
  • Applying for a full-time or part-time PhD, a full-time MLitt, or a full-time one-year postgraduate course at Cambridge

Not eligible

  • Undergraduate degrees, MASt courses, part-time degrees other than the PhD
  • MBA, MFin, PGCE and some other professional degrees
  • Students who have already started the course they want funded

Check if you can apply

Answer from your own documents. The questions are the scholarship's published rules; your answers stay in this browser.

Are you a citizen of a country other than the UK?
Are you applying for a PhD, a full-time MLitt or a one-year full-time postgraduate course at Cambridge (not an MBA, MFin or PGCE)?
Can you show academic excellence, a clear reason for the course, commitment to improving others' lives, and leadership?

Answer the questions to see if you meet the published conditions.

How many get it: About 70 full-cost scholarships a year; about two-thirds go to PhD students and about one-third are awarded in the US round. Source: Gates Cambridge Trust.

JanWatchdog does not give a percentage chance: the scholarship does not publish one. Meeting every rule makes you eligible to apply; selection then depends on the steps below.

What Gates Cambridge pays

Fully funded: Cambridge fee, maintenance, flights and visa. The University Composition Fee, a maintenance allowance of GBP 23,152 for 12 months (2026-27 rate), one economy flight at the start and end of the course, and inbound visa costs with the Immigration Health Surcharge.

What it covers

How Gates Cambridge selection works

  1. Cambridge departments nominate a small number of the most academically outstanding applicants
  2. Nominated candidates have a 25 to 30 minute interview before a subject panel
  3. Four criteria: academic excellence, reasons for the choice of course, commitment to improving the lives of others, and a capacity for leadership
  4. No feedback is given to unsuccessful applicants

How to apply for Gates Cambridge, step by step

  1. Apply for your course on the University of Cambridge Graduate Application Portal and fill in the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section.
  2. Write the Gates Cambridge statement: about 200 words on academic excellence, 200 on your course choice, 300 on improving others' lives and 300 on leadership.
  3. PhD applicants upload a research proposal (contact a likely supervisor first).
  4. Arrange two academic references for admission and a separate Gates Cambridge reference.

Dates: Entry 2027-28, international round: applications opened 11 September 2026; deadline 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027 depending on the course's funding deadline; outcome by 8 March 2027; panels 22 and 23 March 2027; offers by early April 2027.

Documents to keep ready

Gates Cambridge: how to apply

Letters of recommendation for Gates Cambridge

How many1 Gates Cambridge reference, plus 2 academic references for the course
From whomSomeone of standing who can judge you against the scholarship's criteria: a current or former academic adviser, an employer, or a senior member of an organisation where you volunteered
How they are sentThe referee submits it online; they rate you (exceptional, strong, not strong or weak), rank you within a group they name with its size, and write up to 4,000 characters or upload a letter

Who should write them: Someone of standing who can judge you against the scholarship's criteria: a current or former academic adviser, an employer, or a senior member of an organisation where you volunteered. One of your academic referees can write it if they address the criteria. Not a friend or family member.

How they are sent: The referee submits it online; they rate you (exceptional, strong, not strong or weak), rank you within a group they name with its size, and write up to 4,000 characters or upload a letter.

What the letter should cover

Prepare notes and a starting draft for your referee

Fill in what you can. The helper puts your examples under each point the scholarship asks about and writes notes and a plain starting draft. Your referee must write the letter in their own words, check every fact and sign it: scholarships check references, and a letter your referee does not stand behind can cost you the scholarship.

Visa: UK Student visa

  1. Get an offer of a place from your UK university (it must be a licensed student sponsor).
  2. Apply online from India no earlier than 6 months before your course starts.
  3. Pay the application fee: GBP 558 from outside the UK.
  4. Pay the immigration health surcharge: GBP 776 a year for students.
  5. Show money for your course fees for one year and living costs of GBP 1,529 a month in London or GBP 1,171 a month elsewhere, for up to 9 months. If a scholarship or sponsor pays, show evidence from the sponsor.
  6. Take a tuberculosis (TB) test at a clinic approved by the UK Home Office: India is on the list of countries that need one.
  7. After approval, set up a UKVI account to use your eVisa.

Fees and rules change: check the official visa pages before you apply.

Visa sources

Sources

Everything on this page comes from these documents and pages. Checked 18 Oct 2026.

JanWatchdog is not connected with any scholarship. Apply only on the official website; applying is free and no agent is needed.

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