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The Gates Scholarship: All You Need To Know to Study in the USA

The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is now opening its doors for 300 students looking to study in the USA. Here's all you need to know., Post a Comment

Provider
Various
Host country
USA
Region
Americas

About this scholarship

![The Gates Scholarship for Study in the USA](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/gates-scholarship.jpg) [starportillo](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/author/beyondstellar/) [August 3, 2021August 3, 2021](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/2021/08/03/) The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is now opening its doors for 300 students looking to study in the USA. Since 2018, the scholarship scheme has been providing top students the opportunity to reach their full potential. TGS is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households. **Application deadline: September 15, 2021** ### Table of contents - [About The Gates Scholarship](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/the-gates-scholarship-all-you-need-to-know-to-study-in-the-usa/#h-about-the-gates-scholarship) - [What is Covered by The Gates Scholarship?](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/the-gates-scholarship-all-you-need-to-know-to-study-in-the-usa/#h-what-is-covered-by-the-gates-scholarship) - [Eligibility Criteria for Students](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/the-gates-scholarship-all-you-need-to-know-to-study-in-the-usa/#h-eligibility-criteria-for-students) - [Application Process to Study in the USA](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/the-gates-scholarship-all-you-need-to-know-to-study-in-the-usa/#h-application-process-to-study-in-the-usa) YouTube Tap to unmute This video is private If the owner of this video has granted you access, please sign in. [Visit YouTube to search for more videos](https://www.youtube.com/) 1x ## About The Gates Scholarship With the launch of this program in 2017, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation continues its long-standing commitment to helping outstanding minority students who come from low-income backgrounds realize their maximum potential. This prestigious scholarship program is based on evidence that by eliminating the financial barriers to college, a last-dollar scholarship can enable high-potential, low-income minority students to excel in their course work, graduate college, and continue to be leaders throughout their lives. In addition to funding, The Gates Scholarship will provide further support to scholars, by engaging with them and their institutions in a variety of ways, to ensure they have access to the resources and services they need, from their first to last day of classes, through graduation and the transition to their chosen careers. ## What is Covered by The Gates Scholarship? Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance\* that is not already covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or the methodology used by a Scholar’s college or university. These include: - Tuition Fee - Other Miscellaneous Fees - Room - Board - Books - Transportation, and may include other personal costs _\*NOTE: Cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, and transportation, and may include other personal costs._ ## Eligibility Criteria for Students Persons interested in applying for the opportunity must meet the basic eligibility requirements of The Gates Scholarship. These are as follows: - The student applicant must be a high school senior. - They should also be from at least one of the following ethnicities: African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native\*, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American. - Next, students looking to study in the USA must be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant. This is usually awarded to undergraduates who have a high degree of unmet financial need, including students whose families have a total income of up to $50,000 may be eligible for the need-based funding. Although, most Pell grant money goes to students with a total family income below $20,000. - The applicants must be a US citizen, national, or permanent resident. While there are various **Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation scholarships** and internships for international students, The Gates Scholarship is for the students who are ready to pursue a full-time four-year degree program at the US accredited, not-for-profit, private or public college or university. - Lastly, prospects must have good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent). Although the Gates scholarship seeks minorities and people of race, only US citizens, national, or permanent residents are eligible for the scholarship. While you hope to win the Gate and Melinda scholarship award, the foundation requires you to have certain qualities. An ideal candidate will have: -  An outstanding academic record in high school (in the top 10% of his/her graduating class), - Demonstrated leadership ability (e.g., as shown through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities), and - Exceptional personal success skills (e.g., emotional maturity, motivation, perseverance, etc.). ## Application Process to Study in the USA Applicants for The Gates Scholarship may start their application process by [creating a MyTGS account](https://www.thegatesscholarship.org/sign-up) on the [official scholarship website](https://www.thegatesscholarship.org/scholarship). **\| READ MORE: [Student Visas 101 – USA Admissions](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/student-visas-101-for-us-schools/)** * * * _brought to you by Scholarships for Africans_ [**Scholarships for Africans**](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/) is a premier scholarship information blog committed to bringing more opportunities for Africans globally. 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Eligibility criteria

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

  • Citizen or permanent resident of an eligible African country
  • Willing to study in USA
  • Strong academic record — typically a minimum GPA equivalent to a UK 2:1 / US 3.3
  • English-language proficiency demonstrated by IELTS, TOEFL or an MOI letter
  • Two academic or professional references able to speak to your potential

Required documents

A planning baseline drawn from how 90%+ of African scholarship sponsors structure their checklist. The sponsor's portal is the source of truth for any single application.

  • Valid international passport (bio page scan)
  • Most recent academic transcripts (sealed or e-verified copies)
  • Curriculum vitae / résumé (1–2 pages, reverse-chronological)
  • Personal statement or motivation letter (500–1,000 words, tailored to the sponsor)
  • Two to three reference letters (academic for students, professional for working applicants)
  • Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo) — Medium-of-Instruction letter may substitute for Anglophone-Africa graduates
  • Passport-sized photograph meeting ICAO biometric standards
  • Country-of-origin proof (national ID or birth certificate) — required by many Africa-focused funders

Deadline timeline

The sponsor has not published a fixed deadline yet. Use the milestones below as a generic 12-month plan; substitute dates once the intake window opens.

  1. 12 months out

    Register for tests (IELTS/TOEFL/SAT/GRE), shortlist 3–5 universities, identify referees.

  2. 6 months out

    Sit your tests, draft a personal statement, request transcripts and confirm reference letters.

  3. 3 months out

    Finalise essays, upload supporting documents, complete the online application portal.

  4. 1 month out

    Final review, double-check uploaded files, submit a week before the deadline to avoid portal issues.

  5. Application deadline

    Submit by 23:59 in the sponsor's stated time zone — usually local to the sponsor, not your country.

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for the The Gates Scholarship: All You Need To Know to Study in the USA?+

Applicants must be eligible African nationals applying at the the stated level level, meet the academic and English-language requirements set by Various, and be able to relocate to USA for the duration of the programme.

Is the The Gates Scholarship: All You Need To Know to Study in the USA fully funded?+

Funding model: Funding type varies — check the official site. Where listed as fully funded, the award typically covers tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance and round-trip airfare. Always confirm the latest funding breakdown on the sponsor's official page.

When is the application deadline?+

The application deadline is varies by intake — see the official site. Submit at least one week early — sponsor portals frequently slow or fail in the final 24 hours, and late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.

What documents do I need to apply?+

At minimum: passport bio page, academic transcripts, CV, personal statement, two to three references, and an English-language test score (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo). Research-led Masters and PhD applications also require a research proposal and a writing sample.

How can I improve my chance of winning?+

Apply early, tailor every essay to the specific sponsor (do not recycle a generic statement), secure at least one reference who knows your work in detail, and apply to two or three additional scholarships in parallel — never rely on a single application.