Last Updated on November 7, 2025
Gates Cambridge releases around 80+ scholarships for post-graduate and doctorate courses for international students. The popular scholarships awarded by the University of Cambridge are full-funded and awarded to the most meritorious students. Almost 1,700 Gates Cambridge scholar alumni are spread across the globe today. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship signifies academic excellence and was established from a huge donation of $210 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000. Apart from academic requirements, students also get non-academic benefits from the scholarship.
In this comprehensive guide, international students, especially from India will be able to know about the eligibility, benefits, and application process for the scholarship. So, if you are looking forward to study in uk, get ready to discover some valuable insights on the same.
Key Highlights – Gates Cambridge Scholarship
- The applications for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship are accepted in two rounds.
- Almost 65% of international awardees are PhD students.
- The scholarship has already been awarded to 2,000 students from across 100 countries.
- The courses for which the Gates Cambridge Scholarship is mostly awarded are M.Sc., M.Litt, Ph.D. and many one-year PG courses.
- Those international students who are currently pursuing courses at the University of Cambridge, can also apply for the scholarship before starting PG courses.
- An award of £21,000 is granted as maintenance allowance, on and above the main scholarship amount. The duration is 12 months.
Eligibility For Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Those students who are aiming for the Gates Cambridge scholarships 2025 2026, should know about the eligibility criteria. This helps in early preparations. For now, let us go through the same.
- Students who do not hold UK citizenship, are eligible to apply for it.
- The scholarship is only for students who apply for full-time residential courses at the University of Cambridge.
- You must be enrolling in one of the following courses:
- PhD
- M.Sc. or M. Litt.
- 1-Year PG Courses
- You may be a current student of the university, planning to enrol for the above courses next year. You should not enroll yourself in any course, in between.
There are certain courses, not considered under the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. You should know about them as well, to avoid confusion.
- Undergraduate courses
- MBA
- PGCE
- Master of Finance
- Doctorate in Business
- MBBChir Clinical Studies
- Graduate Course in Medicine
- MD
- Part-time Courses
- Diploma Courses
However, this should not be a concern for meritorious students, as other scholarships like Commonwealth Scholarship are also available for miscellaneous subjects.
Read more: Cost of Studying In UK For Indian Students 2026
Application Process Gates Cambridge Scholarship
You have to be very meticulous while crafting your scholarship application statement for 2025-26.
- The University of Cambridge requires the applicant to submit a scholarship application statement of 500 words. You must explain why you are applying for the said course, and what contribution you want to make towards the society, after completing it.
- You must submit your research proposal for doctorate, along with the scholarship application. In case it is a post graduate degree course, a research proposal is not required.
- The Gates Cambridge Scholarship body requires the applicant to give references from their academic or professional sphere, wherever applicable.
The applicant must fill in the application form for the Gates Cambridge Scholarships 2025 2026, online and submit the documents, asked for. Every minute detail is to be filled in, while applying for the same, through the unified portal.
Selection Process For Gates Cambridge Scholarships 2026
There is huge competition for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, as there are a limited number of seats. The panel of experts often include representatives from the academic sphere, the trust, and the Gates Cambridge alumni. Let us go through the selection process, to make things easy for you.
- Departmental ranking is considered as an important step in the selection process. The trust asks for the opinion of the academic representative at Cambridge. Based on that, the aspirants are ranked for the year.
- Shortlisting of candidates takes place next. The shortlisting committee sorts the candidates further based on the four parameters – intellect, justification for choosing a particular course, commitment to society after course completion, and leadership skills.
- The interview stage comes next. The interview session is of 20-25 minutes duration, and comprises four main sections. They are welcome and introduction, a summary of the candidate’s expectations from the scholarship, career plans, and final thoughts.
- The interview covers questions on Physical Sciences, Biology, Social Sciences, and Arts.
Breakdown Of The Gates Cambridge Scholarships
Here is a breakdown of the Gates Cambridge scholarships, for you.
- University Composition Fee
- Maintenance Allowance (£21,000)
- Travel Costs
- Cost of Visa and Immigration Health Surcharge
In addition to the above costs, there are certain discretionary components, which we have listed underneath as well.
- Academic Development Fee of (£500-2,000)
- Family Allowance (£10,120 for 1 child, £14,440 for 2 or more children)/ No funding for spouse
- Fieldwork Allowance
- Maternity/ Paternity Allowances for a maximum of 6 months
- Hardship Funding for emergencies
For more detailed understanding, international students can always get in touch with a study abroad consultant like Admissify. Get to know every nitty-gritty of the scholarship.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship Application Timeline 2026 For Indian Students
| Application Opens | September 2025 |
| Application Deadline | Early December 2025 or Early January 2026. |
| Nomination from Department | January 2026 |
| Interviews | March 2026 |
| Scholarship Offering | Late March 2026 |
| Scholarship Acceptance | Within 72 hours of getting the offer letter |
If you need more detailed information on intakes and scholarship timelines, then you should connect with a study abroad consultant.
Read more: PG Courses In UK For Indian Students 2026
Tips To Get Through Gates Cambridge Scholarship
- You should focus on all-round impact, apart from the grades.
- During the interviews, tell the authorities how you would like to impact the society.
- Connect with alumni via professional channels, and seek insights into their journey.
- You must choose your referees with great care. They should be able to endorse your personal, academic, as well as professional skills.
How Admissify Can Help
Admissify is your one-stop solution provider which can give you information on all available scholarships. You also stand to get complete information about the programs offered by the University of Cambridge. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is one of the prestigious aids offered in the UK for international students. You will be able to get all the processes streamlined, to apply according to your eligibility and get through the same. Connect with Admissify for all round study in UK assistance.
Conclusion
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is truly a life-transforming opportunity that creates future leaders. For Indian students, it is an exceptional opportunity and an exclusive platform, where the competition is fierce. If you believe that you can create a lucrative career out of the courses available at the University of Cambridge, then go for the scholarship now, and lessen your financial burden!
FAQs
To be considered for the scholarship, you must be a citizen from a country, outside the UK. Additionally, you must be pursuing a full-time masters or doctorate. Apart from academics, you must showcase your soft skills, to be chosen by the authority.
Applicants from any country outside the UK are eligible to apply for the same.
Yes, citizens from India are eligible to apply for the same.
Yes, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship is hard to get. It has an acceptance rate of 1.2-1.3%.
Abhrajita Mondal, is a Content Writer who has dabbled in numerous genres including education since the last five years, and has a deep interest in Holistic Wellness & Lifestyle practices. She is an Ex-HR with over 10 years of corporate experience. For a voracious reader and consumer of information, which finds a way of expression through writing, she does that with elan. Abhrajita loves to travel and is a complete foodie. She has a thirst for the unknown, and loves to read esoteric books.
