Scholarships·United Kingdom & Ireland· 9 min read

Gates Cambridge Scholarship Guide: Eligibility and Application

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship fully funds outstanding non-UK postgraduates at Cambridge. Learn eligibility, what it covers, and how the rounds work.

Last updated 3 July 2026

Key facts

Awarding body: Gates Cambridge Trust, University of Cambridge (gatescambridge.org)
Who it is for: Outstanding applicants who are citizens of any country outside the UK (Indian nationals are eligible)
Level / courses: Full-cost postgraduate study at Cambridge — the PhD (full or part time), the MLitt, and eligible one-year full-time postgraduate courses; confirm your course on the official eligibility page
Approx. number: Around 80 scholarships per year across a US round and an International round — verify current numbers officially
India round: Indian applicants apply in the International round (the US round is for those applying from the USA)
Funding: Full cost: tuition, a maintenance allowance, one economy airfare each way, inbound visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge — confirm amounts officially
Application: Made as part of the standard Cambridge graduate application by the relevant deadline — no separate portal

What the Gates Cambridge Scholarship is

Gates Cambridge is a prestigious, full-cost scholarship programme for outstanding students from outside the UK who want to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge. It funds around 80 scholarships each year and is open across the full range of subjects Cambridge offers.

The programme looks for more than academic brilliance. Selectors assess intellectual ability, a clear justification for the chosen course, a commitment to improving the lives of others, and leadership potential. It is a mission-driven award as much as an academic one.

The exact number of awards, the funding amounts and the deadlines are set each year, so use this guide for the overall picture and verify the current details on the official Gates Cambridge site.

Full-cost postgraduate scholarship at the University of Cambridge
For outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK
Around 80 awards per year across all subjects
Selects on ability, fit, social commitment and leadership

Who is eligible (Indian students included)

Gates Cambridge is open to citizens of any country outside the UK, so Indian nationals are eligible. You apply to Cambridge for an eligible postgraduate course and, if you meet the criteria and deadline, you are considered for the scholarship.

Eligible courses include the PhD, the MLitt, and eligible one-year full-time postgraduate courses (such as many taught master's programmes). The PhD can be taken full time or part time, while the one-year courses must be full time. Some course types — for example certain professional or executive programmes — are not eligible, so it is important to check your specific course.

Because the finer points of eligibility (including which of your intended courses qualify) are defined on the official site, confirm your specific course and situation on the Gates Cambridge eligibility page before applying.

Open to citizens of any country outside the UK — Indian nationals are eligible
Eligible degrees: PhD (full or part time), MLitt, and eligible one-year full-time postgraduate courses
Some professional/executive programmes are excluded — check your course
Confirm your specific course's eligibility on the official site

The two rounds — where Indian applicants apply

Gates Cambridge runs two application rounds. The US round is for people applying from the United States, with roughly 25 awards; the International round covers everyone else — including India — with roughly 55 awards. Around two-thirds of all awards go to PhD students.

For an Indian applicant, this means you apply in the International round. The deadline for that round is one of the most important dates to get right, and it is tied to Cambridge's own funding deadlines for your course.

The split between rounds and the number of awards can be adjusted year to year, so treat the ~25/~55 figures as indicative and confirm the current rounds and deadlines on the official Gates Cambridge and Cambridge admissions pages.

US round (~25 awards): for applicants applying from the USA
International round (~55 awards): everyone else, including India
About two-thirds of awards go to PhD students
Round numbers are indicative — verify current figures and deadlines officially

What it covers

As a full-cost scholarship, Gates Cambridge is designed to cover the complete cost of studying at Cambridge. The Trust describes this as including tuition fees, a maintenance allowance for a single student, one economy single airfare at the start and end of the course, inbound visa costs, and the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Additional discretionary funding may be available for specific needs (such as academic development or family support), subject to the Trust's rules. The precise stipend and any add-ons are set each year.

We do not publish the current amounts here. For the exact value of the maintenance allowance and any additional elements, check the official Gates Cambridge scholarship page for the relevant year.

Tuition fees plus a maintenance allowance for a single student
One economy airfare each way, inbound visa costs and the IHS
Possible discretionary funding for specific, approved needs
Exact amounts change yearly — verify on the official site

How to apply

There is no separate Gates Cambridge application portal. You apply through the standard University of Cambridge graduate application, complete the Gates Cambridge section of the funding part, and submit by the relevant funding deadline for your course and round. Being considered depends on meeting the deadline and the eligibility criteria.

Because selection values purpose and leadership, the Gates Cambridge questions (where you explain your fit and your commitment to improving others' lives) and the additional Gates reference carry real weight alongside your academic record. Prepare them carefully rather than treating them as an afterthought.

Apply early, meet the correct International-round funding deadline, and confirm every step on the official Gates Cambridge "how to apply" page and Cambridge's graduate admissions pages — the details are set each cycle and should be checked directly.

Apply within the standard Cambridge graduate application — no separate portal
Complete the Gates Cambridge section by the correct funding deadline
The Gates Cambridge questions and dedicated reference matter a lot
Verify current deadlines and steps on the official pages each cycle

Frequently asked questions

Are Indian students eligible for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship?

Yes. Gates Cambridge is open to citizens of any country outside the UK, so Indian nationals are eligible and apply in the International round. You must gain a place on an eligible Cambridge postgraduate course as part of the process.

Which round do I apply in from India?

The International round. The US round is only for people applying from the United States. Indian applicants use the International round, which has its own funding deadline tied to your Cambridge course — confirm the exact date officially.

What courses does Gates Cambridge fund?

Full-time postgraduate courses at Cambridge, including the PhD, the MLitt, and eligible one-year full-time postgraduate courses (many taught master's). The PhD can be full or part time; the one-year courses must be full time. Some professional and executive programmes are excluded, so check your specific course on the official eligibility page.

Do I apply to Gates Cambridge separately?

No. You apply through the standard University of Cambridge graduate application and complete the Gates Cambridge section by the relevant funding deadline. There is no separate application portal.

How is Gates Cambridge different from the Cambridge Trust scholarships?

Gates Cambridge is a separate, full-cost programme with its own criteria and rounds. The Cambridge Trust runs a broader range of scholarships that are considered within the same admission application. Many applicants are considered for both — check each programme's official page.

Can I pay to improve my chances of a Gates Cambridge Scholarship?

No. The scholarship cannot be bought and no service can guarantee it. Anyone promising a Gates Cambridge award for a fee is not legitimate. Apply directly through Cambridge's official application and rely on your own record and statement.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: Gates Cambridge — The Scholarship; Gates Cambridge — How to Apply; Gates Cambridge — Eligibility.

Last verified: 3 July 2026.