The Gates-Cambridge Scholarship Program was established in October 2000 following an enormous private donation of $210 million dollars from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge. This donation still holds the record as the largest single donation to a university sited in the United kingdom.
Since the establishment of this scholarship, it has awarded over 2,000 grants to scholars in over 100 countries in its mission to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others .
Since 1209, the University of Cambridge has attracted many bright and talented people.
Annually, the Gates Cambridge scholarship awards around 80 fully funded scholarships to carefully selected qualified applicants from countries outside the United Kingdom to pursue a postgraduate degree in courses available at Cambridge University. About two-thirds of these awards are offered to graduate students, with about 25 awards available for applicants in the United States and 55 for qualified international students.
The Gates Cambridge scholarship is an opportunity to study at a prestigious school with a long standing excellence record and a notable top ranking university in the world both nationally and internationally.
The university is also widely known for the quality of its graduate school programs and colleges. With a global focus, its mission is to serve society through the pursuit of teaching, learning and research at the highest international level.
Today the university has grown to over 30,000 students, with a staggering number of over 9,500 graduate students 50% of which come from abroad and more than 40% are women.
Below are the eligibility criteria for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship:
- Prospective scholars must show outstanding intellectual ability to be selected into the scholarship program through transcripts, passion for their chosen course and willingness to learn and grow. The academic criteria is highly strict and only the most outstanding applicants are considered for the scholarship. This is done to ensure the quality and the excellence of the selected awardees at cambridge.
- Prospective scholars must give passionate reasons for choosing a course. To be selected you must show proof of the ability to pursue a postgraduate degree in your chosen course. You will be scrutinized to ensure you have the academic capacity to and fortitude to excel if selected for a degree at cambridge. Therefore it is important to research and be ready to prove your reasons for applying to study a course.
- Prospective scholars must show commitment to improving the lives of others. The scholarship checks if the applicant has a history of commitment to helping the lives of others by looking at their past records.
- Prospective scholars must show leadership traits and ability to impact people. To be selected applicants must show leadership capacity through past records and how they have impacted their societies where they live and work.
- Citizens of countries other than the UK can apply for this scholarship.
- Prospective scholars must apply for one of the available courses at Cambridge University.
The Gates Cambridge scholarship sponsors over 250 scholars from fifty (50) nations to a fully funded scholarship at Cambridge all at the same time, scholars are expected to acquire their degree after completing their courses at the university, contribute to the university community across their respective faculties and department.
Gates Cambridge scholarship mission is to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others. Currently the scholarship has a community of over 1,700 Gates Cambridge alumni around the world.
It strives to continue and improve this mission by selecting outstanding academics, providing financial and non-financial support at the world’s leading universities, and fostering community building within and beyond Cambridge.
If you are currently studying at Cambridge and would like to apply for a new postgraduate course, you can apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. For example, if you are currently studying for an MPhil, you can apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship for a PhD.
Current Gates Cambridge Scholars can also apply for a second scholarship when applying for a new degree but cannot apply for a scholarship if they are in the middle of a degree and want the scholarship to fund the rest. All current Cambridge students are eligible for the international scholarship.
Becoming a Gates Cambridge Scholar at the University of Cambridge is an exciting life changing experience.
In addition to academic studies, it provides its scholars with international study, summer improvement programs, collaboration with other Gates Cambridge scholars and alumni around the world.
Whether these opportunities are offered by your faculty, university or the Gates Cambridge community, you are guaranteed a truly vibrant Cambridge experience.
How Gates Cambridge Scholarship Works (Requirements from a Gates Cambridge Scholar)
- Your Course
Your priority as a Gates Cambridge scholar at Cambridge is to concentrate on your studies and research. Whether you’re in a master’s or doctorate program, you have equal world class access to the excellent academic opportunities and resources the university offers, as such if you are selected into the scholarship it is your responsibility to make the most of these facilities and amenities. Your faculty will provide you with your essential academic resources and a lively and vibrant community during your stay at Cambridge.
- The Scholar community
The Gates Cambridge scholar community is filled with enthusiastic, vibrant and dedicated scholars who are passionate about their studies. The community hosts numerous events throughout the year including orientation for new scholars, welcome dinners, professional development events, annual talks, research weekends, annual galas, graduation dinners, and lots more. In addition to many informal activities throughout the year. The Scholar community has a Council which takes the responsibility to host many of these events and offer support to scholars in hosting their own events. Scholars are also provided with access to a well-equipped Scholars Room, which is a physical venue for many of the Gates Cambridge scholar activities.
- Your College
Evry graduate student becomes a member of one of Cambridge’s prestigious colleges, the colleges which number 31 are each unique with its own characteristics and offerings. This system is unique to Cambridge and Oxford and offers a more fulfilling experience where students and scholars from diverse disciplines meet, discuss and create networks beyond cambridge.
- Alumni Network
As an alumni/NA of the Gates Cambridge scholarship program, you remain a part of the Gates Cambridge community in many ways, including remote collaborations online, informal link ups and large alumni events. Together, the Trust and the Alumni Association offer a range of exciting opportunities to stay connected to the Gates Cambridge community beyond your time as a Cambridge Scholar.
