PostgraduateFully Funded

Gates Cambridge Scholarship

Last verified 8 May 2026 by the Scholarships for Africans editorial team

Heads up — this listing may be outdated. The dates and details below reference a year that has already passed and our editorial team has not re-verified this scholarship is still open. Always confirm the current intake on the sponsor's official website via the button below before you invest time in an application.

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is one of the world's most prestigious awards, funding outstanding international postgraduates — including Africans — to pursue a master's or PhD at the University of Cambridge with full tuition and stipend.

Provider: Gates Cambridge
Host country: United Kingdom
Deadline: October (US) / December (international)
Region: Europe

Official source Track this application

Topics

Applying from your country? See your edition: Kenya · Nigeria · Ghana · Ethiopia · Uganda · Tanzania · Rwanda · Angola · Mozambique · São Tomé & Príncipe · Senegal · Cameroon · Ivory Coast · Benin · Togo · DR Congo

Eligibility & requirements at a glance

Review the recorded eligibility, funding and deadline information below. Confirm the current award conditions on the provider's official source.

Who can apply: Gates Cambridge is an international scholarship programme at the University of Cambridge for outstanding postgraduate students who share a potential for social leadership and a desire to improve the lives of others.
Funding: Fully Funded
Study level: Postgraduate
Deadline: October (US) / December (international)

Key eligibility criteria

Gates Cambridge is an international scholarship programme at the University of Cambridge for outstanding postgraduate students who share a potential for social leadership and a desire to improve the lives of others.

Recorded funding information

Fully Funded

About the Gates Cambridge Scholarship (2026)

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a fully funded postgraduate award established by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2000. It supports outstanding international students (non-UK) to pursue a full-time master's or PhD at the University of Cambridge. About 80 scholarships are awarded each year worldwide, with consistent representation from African applicants. ## Why this scholarship matters for African applicants Gates Cambridge looks for a track record of leadership and a commitment to improving the lives of others — not just academic excellence. That focus on 'social commitment' makes it one of the most accessible global awards for African applicants whose work is already grounded in tangible community or sector impact. ## What the award covers Full University Composition Fee and college fees, annual stipend of approximately £20,000+ for living costs, return airfare, inbound visa costs and the immigration health surcharge. Additional discretionary funding for academic development, conference attendance, family allowance for partners and children, and fieldwork. ## How the selection process works There are two rounds — Round 1 (US applicants, October deadline) and Round 2 (everyone else including African applicants, December–January). You apply through the standard Cambridge graduate application and tick the Gates Cambridge box. Departments rank candidates, the Gates Cambridge Trust shortlists, and shortlisted candidates are interviewed in March–April. ## Application tips that move the needle Write the 'Gates Cambridge statement' as a separate, focused 500-word essay (not a copy-paste of your personal statement). Lead with the leadership-and-impact narrative, then connect it directly to the specific Cambridge course and faculty you want to work with. Strong, recent academic references are non-negotiable. ## Deadlines and intake windows Round 2 (the African applicant route) closes in early December for some courses and early January for the rest. Check the course-specific deadline in the Cambridge Postgraduate Application Portal — they are firm and not extended. ## Useful internal reading - Browse open scholarships: https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/scholarships - How to write a winning scholarship essay: https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/blog/how-to-write-winning-scholarship-essay - Scholarship interview questions for African students: https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/blog/scholarship-interview-questions-african-students Always confirm the live intake on the sponsor's official site before you build a timeline around it.

Funding information

The funding information below is recorded in this listing; it does not establish additional covered components. Check amounts, caps, exclusions and conditions on the official source.

Fully Funded

Gates Cambridge Scholarship eligibility

Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.

Gates Cambridge is an international scholarship programme at the University of Cambridge for outstanding postgraduate students who share a potential for social leadership and a desire to improve the lives of others.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship document information

No explicit document checklist is recorded here. If an application is required, prepare only the materials the provider requests.

How to apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2026

Follow the provider's stated process. The checks below are guidance, not additional application requirements. Any original editorial instructions remain in the description above.

1
Check the provider's process
Consult https://www.gatescambridge.org/ to confirm whether consideration is automatic or requires an application, and follow only the process stated there.
2
Check eligibility and any requested materials
Listed eligibility: Gates Cambridge is an international scholarship programme at the University of Cambridge for outstanding postgraduate students who share a potential for social leadership and a desire to improve the lives of others.. Confirm the current criteria and, if submission is required, use the provider's own checklist.
3
Check dates and next steps
Listed deadline information: October (US) / December (international). Confirm any cutoff, time zone and follow-up process with the provider.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship deadline & application timeline

Provider deadline information: October (US) / December (international). This text cannot be safely converted to a countdown; check the official source for its meaning. The earlier milestones are optional planning suggestions only.

Planning suggestion: 12 months out
Check the current call and decide whether this opportunity fits your plans.
Planning suggestion: 6 months out
If the provider requires tests or documents that take time, plan for them using its published instructions.
Planning suggestion: 3 months out
If an application is required, review the provider's process and prepare only the materials it requests.
Planning suggestion: 1 month out
If submission is required, allow time to check your materials and any stated cutoff.
Provider deadline
October (US) / December (international)
Provider deadline information: October (US) / December (international). Confirm the current instructions and any cutoff or time zone on the official source; no additional time is assumed here.

Ready to apply?

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Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship?+

Gates Cambridge is an international scholarship programme at the University of Cambridge for outstanding postgraduate students who share a potential for social leadership and a desire to improve the lives of others.

What funding does the Gates Cambridge Scholarship offer?+

Listed funding: Fully Funded. Confirm amounts, exclusions and conditions on the official source. This label does not establish any additional benefit components.

When is the application deadline?+

Provider deadline information: October (US) / December (international). Confirm the current cutoff and any time zone on the official source; no additional cutoff or late-submission policy is assumed here.

What documents do I need to apply?+

No explicit document checklist is recorded here. If an application is required, prepare only the documents requested by the provider; requirements may differ from admission requirements.

How do I check the application process?+

Consult https://www.gatescambridge.org/ to confirm whether consideration is automatic or requires an application, and follow only the process stated there. Listed eligibility: Gates Cambridge is an international scholarship programme at the University of Cambridge for outstanding postgraduate students who share a potential for social leadership and a desire to improve the lives of others.. Confirm the current criteria and, if submission is required, use the provider's own checklist. Listed deadline information: October (US) / December (international). Confirm any cutoff, time zone and follow-up process with the provider.

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