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Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2024: Your Complete Guide

Updated on 12 September, 2024

Gates Cambridge Scholarship for International Students: Key Details

The University of Cambridge grants the international postgraduate award, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, to students pursuing higher studies at the university. 

Every year, Gates Cambridge provides full-cost Cambridge scholarships to 80 deserving candidates from non-UK nations so they can attend the University of Cambridge for a postgraduate degree in any discipline. PhD students will be eligible for around two thirds of these scholarships; there will be about 25 awards available in the US round and 55 in the international round.

2,156 scholarships have been awarded to Cambridge students till date. Since the inaugural class in 2001, Gates Cambridge has invested £142 million in scholar assistance. 

A total of 112 countries with a 50:50 gender balance represent the awardee community of Cambridge University. It provides financial and non-financial assistance to prospective students to facilitate community development at and outside Cambridge. 

Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2024 

The table below offers a quick look at an overview of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship program. This will give you an idea regarding the major details like eligibility, available courses, and more. 

Highlights

Details

Name of the Program Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Provider of the Scholarship The University of Cambridge
Eligible Beneficiaries
  • Non-UK citizen
  • Applied to PhD/MLitt/One year post graduation course
  • Every current student at Cambridge will be regarded as part of the second international round.
Available Courses PhD, MLitt, or a one year postgraduate course from the University of Cambridge.
Number of Available Scholarships 80
Last Date of Application Wednesday , October 11, 2023 (Time 12:00, noon in local US time zone)
Official Website https://www.gatescambridge.org/ 

What is the Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The University of Cambridge grants the Gates Cambridge Scholarship for international students to pupils pursuing higher studies at the university. Every year, Gates Cambridge provides full-cost Cambridge scholarships to 80 deserving candidates from non-UK nations so they can attend the University of Cambridge for a postgraduate degree in any discipline. 

Building a worldwide network of future leaders dedicated to enhancing the lives of others is the goal of Gates Cambridge. Its objective will be accomplished by the selection of exceptional scholars, the provision of both financial and non-financial assistance at one of the top institutions in the world, and the facilitation of community development both inside and outside of Cambridge.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship: Eligibility Criteria

The following conditions make you eligible to apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2024:

  • A citizen of any nation outside of the United Kingdom wishing to enroll in any of the following University of Cambridge courses:
  • PhD programs (full- or part-time*)
  • MLitt (full-time)
  • Full-time, one-year postgraduate program, with a few exceptions 
  • You can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship if you are a current Cambridge student and would like to apply to a new postgraduate program. 
  • Gates Cambridge is extending its experimental program that enables candidates to seek financing for a part-time doctorate (PhD) beginning in October 2024.

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Gates Cambridge Scholarship: Application 

All students must go through the following application process in order to be considered for the Gates Cambridge scholarship-

  • Through the university's Graduate Application Portal, candidates submit their applications for admission and financing (Gates Cambridge and other funds).
  • You must fill out the sections pertaining to applying for admission to a course, a college spot, and the Gates Cambridge portion of the financing form in order to be eligible for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
  • You are then applying to a college and a particular graduate program.
  • Applying is possible for a number of financial opportunities provided by the university and affiliated organizations, such as the Gates Cambridge Scholarships.
  • Please describe your motivation for applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship and how you fit the four primary requirements in no more than 3000 characters, or around 500 words. 
  • Submit two academic references. 
  • Submit your application.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship: Selection Process

These are the two steps for selecting prospective candidates for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. 

1. Nomination by the department: Gates Academic departments at Cambridge are asked to nominate a few qualified candidates who fully satisfy all four of the scholarship's requirements.

2. Interview: To determine whether an applicant satisfies all four Gates Cambridge requirements, academic departments will propose them for a brief (20–25 minute) interview. Interviews are then conducted to choose the scholars.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship: Documents Required

The completed application form must be submitted with the following transcripts:

  • Statement of Personal Mission (about 500 words)
  • A research proposal submitted by a PhD 
  • Candidates must receive an academic advisor's endorsement (It can be a writer of one of the recommendation letters). 

Gates Cambridge Scholarship: Benefits

To know what are the benefits of Gates Cambridge Scholarship, let’s look into the information below. This will give you a better understanding of the benefits that you can expect to obtain. 

  • The whole expenses of attending Cambridge University.
  • £20,000 in maintenance allowance for a 12-month period (rates may change). This stipend is given to PhD applicants for up to four years.
  • One round-trip (economy) ticket for air travel at the beginning and end of the course.
  • The cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge and inbound visa fees.

The following are a few examples of the optional components that the scholarship might cover:

  • Depending on the length of the course, funding for academic advancement ranging from £500 to £2,000 is available for conferences and courses.
  • Allowance of up to £11,604 for a single dependent child and up to £16,548 for 2 or more dependent children. There is no funding provided to support partners.
  • Costs associated with fieldwork are also reimbursed, as long as it is done in conjunction with the PhD program.
  • Funding for maternity or paternity leave, if appropriate.
  • Financial assistance for unforeseen needs.

What is the importance of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The goal of GATES Cambridge is to build a global network of future leaders dedicated to enhancing the lives of others. It aims to make this possible through the selection of exceptional scholars, the provision of both financial and non-financial assistance at one of the top universities in the world, and the facilitation of community development both inside and outside of Cambridge.

The University of Cambridge received a landmark US$210 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in October 2000, which launched the Gates Cambridge Scholarship program. In October 2001, the inaugural group of scholars moved into their house. Since then, scholars from more than 100 countries have received over 2,000 scholarships from the Trust.

What is the acceptance rate of Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The average acceptance rate for the very prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship undergraduate is 0.3%, with a total of 90 students accepted.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship: How to Apply

Here is a snapshot of the application procedure to help prospective aspirants. The overall procedure is simple and does not involve unnecessary complexities. You should however ensure that you’re applying well before the deadline. 

  • Through the University's Graduate Application Portal, candidates submit their applications for admission and funding (Gates Cambridge and other funds).
  • For Gates Cambridge scholarship eligibility, you must fill out the sections pertaining to applying for admission to a course, a college spot, and the Gates Cambridge portion of the funding for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. When examining applications, Gates Cambridge has access to the complete application for financing and admission.
  • You are applying to a certain graduate course and a college spot in the admissions area. You will include all the standard information about yourself, your plans, your educational history, and your suitability for the suggested course. The Gates Cambridge scholarship 2024 deadline is either December 5, 2023 or January 4, 2024, depending on the course.

The following documents of the Gates Cambridge scholarship of undergraduate programs must be submitted with your application for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship:

  • GATES Cambridge Statement
  • Research proposal (PhD applicants only)
  • GATES Cambridge reference

Financial Support Offered by the Gates Foundation Scholarship 2024 

A very competitive last-dollar grant, the Gates Scholarship (TGS) is awarded to exceptional minority high school seniors from low-income families. The scholarship is given to outstanding student leaders each year with the goal of assisting them in reaching their full potential. 

For the Gates Cambridge scholarship 2024 fully funded optionthe Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the procedures followed by a Scholar's college or university will be utilized to establish the amount of support that will be provided to them for the full cost of attendance that is not already covered by other financial aid as well as the projected family contribution.

Tuition, fees, lodging, board, books, transportation, and possibly other personal expenses are all included in the cost of attendance.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship Grant Details

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship offers financial assistance to meet all the uncontrollable study expenses of the scholar. This would normally come to between £30,000 and £45,000. The precise amount will vary depending on the length of the course, the course fee, and whether or not the student is receiving additional financing.

One of the Gates Cambridge scholarship requirements, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship offers a broad spectrum of grants that could total approximately £60,000 annually in funding.

PhD Scholars are initially awarded a maintenance allowance for up to four years under the Gates Cambridge Scholarships. If the scholar becomes ill or experiences an intermission that prevents them from finishing their studies within the initial term of their award, extensions are evaluated individually.

Conclusion

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship unites individuals from various fields and around the globe with the goal of bettering the lives of others. About 75 new scholars are chosen each year to benefit the community, and this year is no exception. 

There are seventy-five new scholars in this year's cohort who are researching anything from how the spread of combat photos affects perception to how climate change affects tropical biodiversity.

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FAQs

Who is not eligible for a Gates Cambridge scholarship?

Candidates applying for certain courses at the University of Cambridge, such as BA, EMBA, MBA, MFin, BusD, etc., are not eligible for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. 

Can current students at Cambridge apply for the Gates Cambridge scholarship?

You can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship if you are a current Cambridge student and would like to apply to a new postgraduate program. 

Is there an age limit for the Gates Cambridge scholarship?

There is no age limit for applying to the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. and scholars come from all academic fields.

What are the four main criteria of Gates Cambridge Scholarship?

The Gate Cambridge Scholarship is given out based on the following factors: leadership potential, academic aptitude, rationale for course selection, and dedication to enhancing the lives of others.

What GPA do you need for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship?

Candidates need to have an exceptional academic background. Gates scholars have an average GPA of 3.92.

Who is eligible for Gates Cambridge Scholarship for Indian students?

PhD (three-year research-only degree) MSc or MLitt (two-year research-only degree) One year postgraduate course (e.g. MPhil, LLM, MASt, etc.)

How much is the Gates Cambridge Scholarship worth?

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship offers financial assistance to fully cover the scholar's uncontrollable study expenses. This would normally come to between £30,000 and £45,000. 

What is the stipend of Gates Cambridge Scholarship?

It is a fully-funded award that pays for tuition at the university and gives a single student a maintenance income of GBP 18,744 a year. The entire course length—one year for a master's and four years for a PhD—is funded.

Is there an age limit for Gates Cambridge?

There are no age limits on Gates Cambridge Scholarships for aspirants. This is a major benefit for candidates without a doubt. 

What does the Gates Cambridge Scholarship cover?

The full cost of attending Cambridge is covered by the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Moreover, it offers extra, discretionary funding.

What are the key qualities the selection committee looks for?

  • Exceptional intellectual capacity.
  • Justification for the course selection.
  • Dedication to enhancing other people's lives.
  • Capacity for leadership.
  • An excellent match exists between the applicant's goals and qualifications and the Cambridge postgraduate program for which they are seeking.
Did you find this article helpful?

Jyotsna Singh

With over a decade of expertise in international education, Jyotsna has held impactful roles at the British Council, Unilodgers, a prominent UK university, and IDP Education, empowering countless students by not only enhancing their educational experiences but also by offering them guidance in securing essential scholarships and financial aid. She is dedicated to helping students achieve their academic goals through tailored guidance and financial support.

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