Gates Cambridge funds around 70 postgraduate students a year at the University of Cambridge, about two-thirds of them PhD students. It is open to citizens of every country except the UK, so applicants from all Arab countries are eligible.
What it covers: the full University Composition Fee, a maintenance allowance (£23,152 for 12 months at the 2026-27 rate), a flight at the start and end of the course, visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge. Scholars can also apply for discretionary funding for academic development, fieldwork and children.
Which courses: PhD, full-time MLitt, and most full-time one-year master’s courses (MPhil, LLM, MSt and similar). MBA, MFin, PGCE, clinical courses and all undergraduate degrees are excluded.
How it works: there is no separate scholarship portal. You apply for your Cambridge course through the Graduate Application Portal and complete the Gates Cambridge section, which has four short essays of 200–300 words, plus a Gates-specific reference. PhD applicants also submit a research proposal. For non-US applicants the full application is due by 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, 11:59pm UK time, depending on the course. Everyone hears the outcome by 8 March 2027, interviews are on 22–23 March, and offers are made by early April.
The catch: first you have to win a place and a high departmental ranking on your course, and only then does the scholarship selection begin. The four criteria are academic excellence, reasons for choosing the course, commitment to improving the lives of others, and leadership. A top transcript without evidence of the last two rarely succeeds.
Tips for applicants from our region:
1. Check which of the two deadlines your course uses. Missing it removes you from Gates consideration.
2. Contact potential PhD supervisors in October. Departmental ranking depends heavily on their support.
3. For “improving the lives of others”, describe measurable work, such as a community programme you ran or a policy you influenced, rather than general intentions.
4. Brief your Gates referee on the four criteria. A generic academic letter weakens the application.
5. Register for IELTS or TOEFL now.