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Fully Funded

Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027 Fully Funded Master's/PhD at Cambridge

Comprehensive guide to financial benefits, eligibility requirements, and official application steps.

Scholarship Program Overview

One of the world's most prestigious postgraduate scholarships — fully funding Master's and PhD study at the University of Cambridge for outstanding international students, with around 80 awards granted every year.

This award is officially open for international applicants seeking full-time higher education programs. Selected candidates receive financial support throughout the standard duration of their degree.

Scholarship Benefits:

Full University Composition Fee (tuition) at the appropriate rate 🔹 Maintenance allowance: £21,000/year for a single student (pro-rata for shorter courses); PhD scholars receive this for up to 4 years 🔹 One economy single airfare at both the start and end of the course 🔹 Visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge 🔹 Academic development funding of up to £2,000 🔹 Family allowances of up to £16,548 (where applicable)

Eligibility Requirements:

Non-UK citizen (or a US citizen studying/working overseas at time of application, for the International Round) 🔹 Applying for a full-time residential course at Cambridge: PhD, MSc/MLitt (research-only), or a one-year postgraduate course (MPhil, LLM, MASt, Diploma, etc.) 🔹 Outstanding academic record and demonstrated leadership potential 🔹 A clear, genuine commitment to improving the lives of others 🔹 Two academic references for admission, plus one additional Gates-specific reference assessing fit with the scholarship

Application Rounds & Deadlines (2027/28 Academic Year):

US Round (US citizens resident in the US): 16 October 2026 🔹 International Round (all other eligible applicants, including US citizens living/studying outside the US): 3 December 2026 or 7 January 2027, depending on your specific course — check the Cambridge Course Directory for your exact date 🔹 Applications for the 2027/28 cycle expected to open around September 2026

Application Process:

Select an eligible full-time postgraduate course at the University of Cambridge Confirm your course and nationality are eligible for Gates Cambridge Complete the University of Cambridge's standard graduate admissions application Within the same application, indicate you wish to be considered for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship and complete the additional funding section Submit a personal statement addressing your fit with the scholarship's mission Arrange your two academic references plus the additional Gates Cambridge reference — all must be submitted by the deadline; late references are not accepted Submit your complete application before your applicable round deadline

Frequently Asked Questions

3 December 2026 or 7 January 2027, depending on your specific course — always check the official Cambridge Course Directory to confirm your exact date.
Around 80 in total — approximately 25 in the US Round and 55 in the International Round.
No — the Gates Cambridge application is fully integrated into the standard University of Cambridge graduate admissions application. You complete both in one process.
Yes — but only if they are studying or working overseas at the time of application. US citizens resident in the US must apply in the earlier US Round (16 October 2026 deadline).
Late references will not be accepted, so it's critical to arrange your referees well in advance of the deadline.

Quick Summary

Host CountryUnited Kingdom
Funding TypeFully Funded
Verification Manually Verified
Last UpdatedUpdated Aug 2026

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