Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027: Fully Funded Master's and PhD at Cambridge

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027 is open for international applicants, and it remains one of the most generous postgraduate awards anywhere. It pays the full cost of a PhD, an MLitt or a one-year master's degree at the University of Cambridge for students from any country outside the UK. Around 70 scholarships are awarded each year, and roughly two in three go to PhD students.

The US round already closed on 14 October 2026. If you are applying from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America or the Middle East, you are in the international round, which closes on 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on the course you choose. Check the funding deadline on your course page before you plan your writing time.

What the scholarship pays for

This is a full award, not a fee waiver. For the 2026–27 academic year it covers:

• The University composition fee at the overseas rate
• A living allowance of £23,152 for 12 months, paid pro rata for shorter courses
• Visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge
• One economy flight at the start of the course and one at the end
• Academic development funding, typically between £750 and £4,000, for conferences, fieldwork and short courses
• Family allowance for scholars who bring children

For a PhD student, this adds up to several hundred thousand pounds over the course of the degree.

Who can apply

You can apply if you are a citizen of any country other than the United Kingdom and you are applying to one of these at Cambridge:

• A full-time PhD
• A part-time PhD under the current pilot
• An MLitt
• A one-year postgraduate course, such as an MPhil, MSc or LLM

Some professional and part-time master's programmes are excluded, so confirm your course appears as eligible on the Gates Cambridge website before you apply.

The Trust looks for four things: outstanding intellectual ability, leadership potential, a commitment to improving the lives of others, and a good fit between your background and the course you have chosen. Grades alone will not win this award. Many strong applicants with first-class degrees are turned down because the panel cannot see why the course matters to their plans or how they intend to use it.

How to apply

There is no separate Gates Cambridge form. You apply through the University of Cambridge's postgraduate application portal and tick the box for Gates Cambridge funding. That one application is used for both admission and the scholarship.

1. Choose an eligible course and note its funding deadline (8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027).
2. Open the University of Cambridge online application for that course.
3. In the funding section, select the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
4. Write the Gates Cambridge statement, a short essay on why you are applying and how the degree fits your plans.
5. Arrange your references. One should be able to speak to your leadership and your commitment to others, not only your academic record.
6. Upload transcripts, a CV and, for PhD applicants, a research proposal.
7. Submit before your course's funding deadline. Late applications are not considered for Gates funding.

Documents you will need

• Academic transcripts for every degree
• A CV
• The Gates Cambridge statement
• Academic references, including one suited to the Gates criteria
• A research proposal if you are applying for a PhD
• English language test results if your department requires them

Tips for a stronger application

Make the course choice obvious. Reviewers want to see that you picked this course at Cambridge for a reason. Name the supervisor, research group or module that drew you in, and explain what you will do with it.

Show leadership with evidence. You do not need to have founded an organisation. Running a lab project, leading a student society, organising a community clinic or building a tool other people use all count. Say what you did, who it affected and what changed.

Write about others, not just yourself. The commitment to improving lives is the criterion that sets Gates Cambridge apart. Connect your study plans to a specific group of people or a specific problem in your country or field.

Brief your referees. Send each referee your statement and a short note on what you hope they can speak to. Generic letters hurt more applicants than weak grades do.

Start now. With the earliest deadline on 8 December 2026, you have about seven weeks. Departments can take time to process documents, and referees need warning.

Key facts at a glance

• Host: University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
• Funded by: Gates Cambridge Trust
• Level: PhD, MLitt and one-year master's
• Eligible nationals: Any country except the UK
• Funding: Fully funded
• International deadline: 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on course
• Awards per year: About 70

Apply through the official channel only: gatescambridge.org/apply. For more funded study options, browse our scholarship listings.