Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027-28

Applications are open for the Gates Cambridge Scholarships 2027–28. The deadline depends on your application round and chosen course. Check the official application timeline.

The scholarship supports postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge for applicants who combine academic achievement with leadership and a commitment to improving other people’s lives. Its selection criteria assess both your preparation for study and the contribution you hope to make.

This is a Cambridge postgraduate award. Admission to your course and selection for Gates Cambridge funding are separate decisions, although you apply through the Cambridge Applicant Portal. A course offer does not automatically include scholarship funding. See the official FAQs.

Opportunity at a glance

• Institution: University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
• Entry year: 2027–28.
• Study: Eligible full-time postgraduate courses and full-time or part-time doctoral study.
• Citizenship: Applicants holding citizenship outside the UK, including eligible dual nationals.
• Funding: Fees, maintenance and specified additional costs.
• Application route: Cambridge Applicant Portal, including the Gates funding section.
• US round deadline: 14 October 2026.
• Other applicants: 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on the course.

Review the eligibility rules, application instructions and round definitions before applying.

The Trust currently describes around 70 scholarships annually; this is an approximate annual allocation. See the scholarship overview.

Funding and benefits

The scholarship’s published core support includes:

• The University Composition Fee.
• Maintenance of £23,152 for 12 months at the 2026–27 rate, adjusted for shorter courses.
• Economy airfare at the beginning and end of the course.
• Inbound visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge.

The maintenance figure is a 2026–27 rate, not a confirmed 2027–28 amount. The scholarship page lists doctoral funding for up to four years; part-time applicants should confirm their award arrangements with the Trust.

Additional support requires approval and may cover academic development, dependent children, parental leave and hardship. No partner allowance is provided. Approved doctoral fieldwork may retain maintenance payments, but other fieldwork costs are excluded. Approved parental study interruptions may receive maintenance for up to six months.

Bench fees and scientific equipment are excluded. Employment income or substantial other scholarships may reduce maintenance support; disclose additional funding to the Trust.

Read the full funding conditions.

Eligibility: who can apply?

You must hold citizenship of a country outside the United Kingdom. Dual citizens of the UK and another country can apply.

Gates sets no separate minimum grade-point average or English-test requirement. You must still satisfy your chosen Cambridge course’s academic and language requirements. These distinctions are explained in the official FAQs.

Current Cambridge students

You may apply for funding for a new postgraduate course, including progression from a master’s degree to a doctorate. Existing Gates scholars may also seek a second award for a new degree.

You cannot obtain funding for the remainder of a course already started. Current Cambridge students enter the international round. See the eligibility guidance.

Eligible courses and exclusions

Eligible categories include:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), full-time or part-time.
• Master of Letters (MLitt), full-time.
• Eligible one-year postgraduate courses, full-time.

Part-time PhD funding remains a pilot scheme. Other part-time degrees are excluded.

The published exclusions also include:

• Undergraduate and affiliated bachelor’s degrees.
• Master of Advanced Study (MASt).
• Master of Business Administration, Executive MBA and Global Executive MBA.
• Master of Finance, Executive Master of Accounting and Business Doctorate.
• Postgraduate Certificate of Education.
• Specified clinical medicine courses, the Doctor of Medicine and Graduate Course in Medicine.
• Master of Conservation of Easel Painting.

Consult the eligibility page. The FAQs additionally identify postgraduate certificates, postgraduate diplomas, Master of Studies and Doctor of Education as ineligible.

Check the exact qualification in the Cambridge Course Directory; similar course titles can have different eligibility.

Selection criteria

Gates Cambridge uses four criteria:

• Academic excellence: Evidence that your academic record, experience and potential prepare you to succeed.
• Reasons for choice of course: A convincing explanation of why this particular Cambridge course suits your preparation and future plans.
• A commitment to improving the lives of others: Evidence of contributions you have made and intend to continue.
• A capacity for leadership: Examples of how you have influenced others or achieved change, and how you may develop that contribution.

Selection does not depend on financial need. Meeting basic eligibility makes you eligible for consideration; it does not guarantee selection. Read the official criteria.

Application materials

Cambridge course documents

Check your course’s requirements before preparing your application. Documents may include academic transcripts, a curriculum vitae or résumé, a statement of interest, a research proposal and other course-specific materials.

Documents in another language require an English translation prepared by a registered translator. English-test requirements and submission timing depend on the course. Follow Cambridge’s supporting-document guidance.

Two course references

Cambridge requires two admission references, alongside the additional Gates reference.

Academic references are normally required for current students and recent graduates. Professional references are permitted in specified circumstances, depending on when you left higher education and your course’s rules.

Referees submit directly through the online system. You can submit your application before their references arrive, but the references must also meet the relevant deadline. See Cambridge’s reference requirements.

Four Gates Cambridge responses

The current Gates application requires four responses:

1. Academic achievement and experience: 1,400 characters, approximately 200 words.
2. Course choice and future plans: 1,400 characters, approximately 200 words.
3. Commitment to improving others’ lives: 2,100 characters, approximately 300 words.
4. Leadership experience and future impact: 2,100 characters, approximately 300 words.

Follow the character limits and exact questions in the current form. See the official application instructions.

Additional Gates reference

This reference should address your suitability against the scholarship criteria. Friends and relatives are unsuitable referees.

A course referee may also provide your Gates reference, but the two assessments must be distinct and address their different purposes. Read the Gates reference guidance.

Research proposal for doctoral applicants

PhD applicants must provide a research proposal, including when the course itself does not request one. Non-doctoral applicants need a proposal only where their course requires it. See the Gates application requirements.

If your PhD application has no proposal field, ask the Postgraduate Admissions Office for the current submission route before the deadline. Do not omit the proposal because the course form lacks a field.

How to apply

1. Choose an eligible course in the Cambridge Course Directory.
2. Check your application round and the course’s admission and funding deadlines.
3. Create or access your Cambridge Applicant Portal account.
4. Complete the course application and upload its required documents.
5. Request funding consideration, select Gates Cambridge and complete its additional requirements.
6. Arrange your references early and track their submission.
7. Review and submit the complete application by the earlier applicable deadline.

The Gates funding request forms part of your Cambridge application. Follow the Gates instructions alongside Cambridge’s funding application guidance.

Application fees and waivers

Cambridge currently publishes these course-application fees:

• Doctoral courses, including combined research-master’s and PhD courses: £20 per applicant for the academic year of entry, covering up to seven applications.
• Other postgraduate degree courses: £85 per application.

These are the current published rates, effective from September 2025. Check the application-fee page before submitting.

Gates does not cover Cambridge’s application fee. Eligible applicants may obtain a University waiver; some requests require at least 10 working days. Review the waiver conditions before paying.

Application rounds and deadlines

US citizens resident in the United States

Deadline: 14 October 2026, at 11:59 pm UK time.

Applicants meeting both the citizenship and residence conditions must use this round; they cannot switch to the later round.

All other eligible applicants

Deadline: 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, at 11:59 pm UK time, depending on the course.

This round includes US citizens studying or working overseas. The official Gates timeline confirms the round definitions and closing times.

Which course deadline applies?

Use the earlier of your course admission deadline and the applicable funding deadline. A later course closing date does not extend scholarship consideration.

Your supporting documents and references must meet the relevant deadline. Check your course page and Cambridge’s application-deadline guidance.

Selection process and timeline

Gates selection has two stages: departmental nomination followed by a scholarship interview. Departments consider all four scholarship criteria, and nominated applicants are invited to interview.

Interviews normally last 25–30 minutes and may take place in person or virtually. They are distinct from any course-admission interview. Read how Gates selects scholars.

US round

• Departmental ranking: Late October–November 2026.
• Application-outcome notifications: By 11:59 pm UK time on 14 December 2026.
• Panel review and selection: 22–23 January 2027.
• Scholarship offers: By early February 2027.

Other eligible applicants

• Departmental ranking: December 2026–February 2027.
• Application-outcome notifications: By 11:59 pm UK time on 8 March 2027.
• Panel review and selection: 22–23 March 2027.
• Scholarship offers: By early April 2027.

The published acceptance period is 72 hours after an offer. These dates come from the current Gates timeline.

Before you submit

• Confirm your citizenship eligibility and application round.
• Check the exact degree and study mode against the exclusions.
• Record the earlier applicable deadline and its UK closing time.
• Complete all four Gates responses within their character limits.
• Confirm that both course references and the Gates reference will arrive on time.
• Include the required research proposal for doctoral applications.
• Review the application fee or obtain an approved waiver.
• Keep a copy of your completed application and submission confirmation.

Official information and application links

Applications remain open for 2027–28 entry as of the verification date below. Begin with your course requirements and use the official portal.

• Gates Cambridge scholarship and funding.
• Eligibility and excluded courses.
• Application instructions.
• Application rounds and timeline.
• Cambridge Course Directory.
• Start or continue your Cambridge application.