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The Smuts Fund and the Cambridge Commonwealth, European & International Trust annually fund up to two international students on PhD courses. This scholarship is available to PhD applicants whose research relates to a Commonwealth country or countries (excluding the UK), normally in the fields of Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences.  

Each scholarship will be awarded for three years, and will pay the University Tuition Fee and an annual stipend sufficient for a single person. The scholarships are tenable at any College within the University of Cambridge.

No separate application is required for this scholarship, only the  application for admission  to the University of Cambridge, which must be submitted by the  funding deadline  specific to your course (please refer to the  Postgraduate Course Directory )

Further information:  https://www.cambridgetrust.org/scholarships/smuts-cambridge-scholarship 

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Cambridge Trust

Search our scholarships

These are the Cambridge Trust scholarships currently available for courses starting in the academic year 2025/26.

Please read the information for each scholarship carefully as some awards may have additional criteria and/or require a separate application.

Please note: as we often review our agreements, the list of available scholarships in any academic year is subject to change. We would advise you to check the list regularly.

Results showing: 61 Any level scholarships in region "Any"

Aker Cambridge Scholarship

This scholarship is available to Norwegian students and students with a strong link to Norway, who are taking a Masters or PhD degree in any subject

ANID-Chile Cambridge Scholarship

This scholarship is available to Masters and PhD applicants from Chile in any subject

Beit Cambridge Scholarship

This scholarship is available to Masters applicants normally resident in Zambia, Zimbabwe or Malawi in any subject

Bhutan King's Scholarship at the University of Cambridge

This scholarship is available to Masters-level applicants from Bhutan

Boustany Cambridge Pembroke Scholarship in Philosophy

This scholarship is only tenable at Pembroke College, and is offered every three years to a PhD applicant in Philosophy

BP Cambridge Scholarship for Egypt

This scholarship is available to Masters applicants from Egypt, in various subjects. It is tenable at any College.

Brockmann Cambridge Scholarship

This scholarship is available to Masters applicants from Mexico, in any subject. It is tenable at any College.

Bseisu-University of Cambridge Scholarship

This scholarship is available to Masters applicants who are citizens of Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine or Syria

Cambridge Africa Changemakers Scholarship

This is a full-cost scholarship for PhD students in any subject, open to candidates from any country in Africa

Cambridge Australia Scholarships

These scholarships are available to Masters and PhD applicants from Australia, in all subjects

University of Cambridge

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PhD studentships

Please note that there are firm deadlines for applying for funding opportunities, any application received after the stated funding deadline will not be eligible for consideration for an award.

The University coordinates the majority of funding for students, from a range of funders, meaning that students of all nationalities and circumstances are eligible for funding and encouraged to apply.

Before you apply:

Within your application, you will be invited to select which funding sources and other scholarships for which you wish to be considered. These include scholarships from Gates Cambridge, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Cambridge Trusts. Some of these funding routes have restrictions by subject or the nationality of the applicant, and it is worthwhile to check for which you will be eligible. Further details about these funding sources and further possible sources are available on the Postg raduate Admissions funding webpages , including a search for funding page, which is available here Cambridge Funding search

POLIS participates in the ESRC doctoral training partnership, and information on studentships available through that route. The Cambridge ESRC DTP is organised into inter-disciplinary clusters whose themes may be engaged in your research proposal.

Information about applying for AHRC funding , which involves a separate application form, is available here .

Gates Cambridge offers funding in two rounds: the deadline for US citizens living in the USA is in October; applicants from all countries except the UK and US will be evaluated after the departmental deadline. 

In your application:

Make clear to which funding opportunities you would like to be considered, and how your proposal, preparation and background qualify you for these opportunities. Your application materials will be evaluated according to the funding criteria, all of which include a focus on the quality of the research proposal, its methodology and engagement of the relevant literatures, your academic background, fit with the department, and letters of recommendation. Some other funders also consider your record of public service and your future professional plans.

Timelines and Notification:

Admissions and funding decisions are, except in exceptional circumstances, announced separately. Please consult the Postg raduate Admissions website

You can find full information about course fees on the Postg raduate Admissions website .

As a graduate student at the University you are liable to pay a University Composition Fee (UCF) and you are also expected to have 'maintenance' funds to support your living costs whilst you are studying. The value of the UCF is dependent on your 'fee status', which is determined according to your nationality and place of permanent residence.

If you are made a conditional offer of admission to Cambridge, you will need to obtain sufficient funding for the full duration of your course. Evidence of funding is required before your admission to the University can be confirmed. This is known as a financial undertaking. 

The Department of Politics and International Studies, The Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DP

Contact: [email protected]

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PhD studentship: Mapping cellular trajectories in the senescence spectrum

Supervisor: Professor Masashi Narita

Deadline for application: 31st October 2024

Course start date: 1st October 2025

Professor Masashi Narita wishes to recruit a student to work on the project entitled: "Mapping cellular trajectories in the senescence spectrum".

For further information about the research group, including their most recent publications, please visit their website at https://www.naritalab.com/

PhD studentship: Immune Hedgehog signalling dynamics in health and disease

Supervisor: Dr Maike de la Roche

Dr Maike de la Roche wishes to recruit a student to work on the project entitled: "Immune Hedgehog signalling dynamics in health and disease".

PhD studentship: Unlocking the code within the code: Using AI to decipher the role of codon usage in protein synthesis and gene regulation

Please note: This PhD opportunity does not come with a funding award. The successful applicant will need to need to secure their own funding to finance the course.

Supervisor: Dr Susanne Bornelöv

PhD studentship: Delineating piRNA-guided silencing of transposable elements

Supervisors: Professor Greg Hannon and Dr Ben Nicholson

Professor Greg Hannon and Dr Ben Nicholson wish to recruit a student to work on the project entitled: "Delineating piRNA-guided silencing of transposable elements".

PhD Studentship in Data-driven mechanics

Mechanical properties of materials are usually measured by simple one-dimensional tests. The growing field of data-driven mechanics requires development of experimental methods to obtain large quantities of multi-axial data from a single test. To complement this data is the requirement to develop computational methods that can deal with the inevitable measurement noise.

AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award (CDA) PhD studentship for "Structured inter-religious encounter and anti-discrimination education: a study"(Faculty of Divinity and The Faith & Belief Forum)

Applications are invited for an AHRC CDA doctoral studentship offered by the Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership, to start in October 2025.

AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award (CDA) PhD studentship for "A phonetic investigation of speaker attribution and its implications for legal contexts" (Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics and The Forensic Voice Centre)

The studentship will be based in the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics. The successful applicant will work on a collaborative project co-led by Dr Kirsty McDougall ( [email protected] ), University of Cambridge and Dr Richard Rhodes, co-supervisor, and Forensic specialist in speech and audio at The Forensic Voice Centre.

Project Overview

Junior Clinical Training Scholar (JCTS) in Small Animal Studies x 6

SCHOLARSHIP AWARD: £18,370.00 PER ANNUM INCLUDING ACCOMMODATION (BILLS INCLUDED IN PACKAGE)

Applications are invited for this one-year post-graduate training programme based in the Queen's Veterinary School Small Animal Hospital to start in December 2024.

AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award (CDA) PhD studentship for " The Portraiture of Rowland Lockey (c.1566-1616): A Historical and Technical Examination" (Department of History of Art and National Trust)

Ahrc collaborative doctoral award (cda) phd studentship for "common ground: exploring methods of communication at a system and landscape level for floods and other risks in the uk" (department of architecture and arup), postgraduate admissions office.

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Pedro Vallejo Ramirez - igniting the curiosity of the young in science >>

Pedro Vallejo Ramirez

Pedro Vallejo Ramirez

  • 2016 PhD Biotechnology
  • Robinson College

Born in Colombia but raised in Panama, I grew up playing with Legos. I rendered my thoughts in the form of colored bricks, building until my fingertips hurt from pushing pieces together. This passion for building translated into a love for science, which resulted in a Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering at the University of Rochester. During my studies I explored the ray, wave, and quantum natures of light and I fell in love with its inherent duality. There’s no absolute definition to light’s character, it depends on the context in which it interacts with its surroundings. Science and technology inspire me, and management and entrepreneurship are my driving passions. I truly enjoy working with people, especially to push forward new technologies to improve our society’s living standards. At Cambridge I will work with Professor Clemens Kaminski’s group to pioneer new trade-offs between optical and digital complexity in super resolution microscopy to better understand chemical reactions in the human body at a nanometer scale. This could allow scientists to better understand protein aggregation in the brain for early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. In the long term I want to become involved in international public policy on technological innovation and energy awareness; I want to bridge the gap between technical knowledge, management decisions, and policy making in the optics and photonics industry.

Previous Education

University of Rochester

The application process

Watch the University’s short overview film about applying for postgraduate admission and funding and then read below about specific requirements for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.

A combined application form

Applicants submit their application for admission and funding (Gates Cambridge and other funding) via the University’s Graduate Application Portal.

To be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you must complete the section to apply for admission to a course and a College place and the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section. Gates Cambridge has access to the full application for admission and funding when reviewing applications.

The admission section

In this section you are applying to a specific graduate course and a College place. You will provide all of the usual details about yourself, your academic background, plans and suitability for the proposed course.

The funding section

In this section you can apply for a range of funding offered by the University and associated bodies, including the Gates Cambridge Scholarships, which has it’s own sub-section. When applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you will be asked to provide the following:

Gates Cambridge statement

In the application form we ask:

In no more than 3000 characters (approximately 500 words) please explain why you are applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship and how you meet the four main criteria. Full details about how to apply, including selection criteria and guidance on completing this statement, can be found at:  www.gatescambridge.org

The statement is used by Gates Cambridge to help distinguish between those candidates who have nominated by academic departments. It helps us identify those candidates who, as well as being academically outstanding, possess a capacity for leadership and commitment to improving the lives of others. This is the only part of the application form where applicants are specifically asked about their fit with the Gates Cambridge programme and you should use your background, achievements, experiences and future aims to show how you specifically meet the programme’s criteria.

Research proposal (PhD applicants only)

Gates Cambridge requires PhD applicants only to submit a research proposal as part of their application for funding. Most PhD applicants will upload a research proposal as part of their application for admission, but where this is not the case a research proposal is required to apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. If you are applying for a degree other than the PhD you do not need to submit a research proposal as part of your materials of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship .

Gates Cambridge reference

In addition to two academic references for admission, Gates Cambridge applicants must arrange for someone to submit a reference setting out how they meet the scholarship’s criteria.

Please give your assessment of the applicant’s suitability for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. These are awarded on the following criteria: intellectual ability, justification for the choice of course, a commitment to improving the lives of others and leadership capacity.

We also ask:

  • How highly would you rank the applicant for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship?
  • On what overall group are you basing this ranking?
  • What is the size of this group?

The Gates Cambridge reference is used in the same way as the Gates Cambridge statement – to help distinguish between those candidates who have nominated by academic departments.

Referees are also asked how they rate the applicant for the scholarship: exceptional, strong, not strong, weak. They may paste/type up to 4,000 characters into the on-line reference or upload a separate letter.

Who should write the Gates Cambridge reference?

You should ask someone of appropriate standing who is able to answer the question with authority and who understands the criteria and highly competitive nature of the Gates Cambridge programme and academic standards at the University of Cambridge.

Many applicants ask a current or former academic advisor who is aware of their personal attributes, a current or former employer, or a senior member of an organisation with whom they have volunteered – although this is by no means an exhaustive list. Some applicants ask one of their two academic referees to write the Gates Cambridge reference: this is fine, as long as that person has a good understanding of your personal qualities and writes specifically about how you meet the Gates Cambridge criteria (and does not provide a third academic reference).

You should not ask a friend or a family member, or someone who is unable to comment on your suitability for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship.

Some points to consider are:

  • It is essential that the Gates Cambridge referee is fully briefed about the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, especially its selection criteria, so they can write the most appropriate reference for you;
  • It is useful when referees use specific examples of how you meet the Scholarship’s criteria;
  • You will need to ensure your Gates Cambridge referee understands the need to keep the reference focused on the Gates Cambridge criteria (and not, for example, rehash a standard or previous reference).
  • You must ensure both your academic and gates Cambridge referees submit their references by the specified deadline

Our Scholars

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There are a number of funding opportunities for prospective postgraduate students available with the department and the University, which can be applied for via a number of different routes. Some funders require separate applications, whilst for other funding opportunities you only need to tick a box indicating that you wish to be considered for funding on the online application form for admission, without needing to submit further information. Further details can be found on the Postgraduate Admissions website .

Search for funding opportunities

The University Funding Search allows you to search for funding opportunities across the University and its Colleges, although it is currently not completely comprehensive. Details of how to apply for each source of funding, including deadlines, can be found within the database.

Sources of funding

The majority of postgraduate students in the Engineering Department are funded via one of the sources listed below.

University Postgraduate Funding Competition (Cambridge Trusts and Gates)

EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTP)

EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs)

Other funding for Engineering students

Tips for finding funding

Research early

Start researching funding opportunities at least a year before your course begins.

Apply early

Many scholarship deadlines are around early December, for admission in the following year. If your course starts in January you may need to apply for funding 18 months in advance.

Get funding or financing before you start studying

Without proof of finances you will not be admitted to the University and will not be able to study here. Do not expect to be able to find funding after your course starts.

Apply for many funding opportunities

Apply for all the funding sources you’re eligible for, both internal and external to the University. If you’re applying for a departmental award or funded place do also apply for other funding schemes – so that you won’t miss the deadlines for other funding opportunities if the department does not offer you an award.

If you are awarded more than one full scholarship, you have to choose just one and reject the others. But you are allowed to hold multiple scholarships for smaller amounts that total a full award.

University Postgraduate Funding Competition

The annual Postgraduate Funding Competition is coordinated by a dedicated student funding team within the University, and awards students through a variety of sources, including;

  • Gates Cambridge
  • ​Cambridge International Scholarships
  • Vice-Chancellor's Awards
  • College studentships (note that some Colleges run their own funding competitions outside of the University funding competition)
  • Many other smaller sources of funding
  • Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholarships 

In order to be considered you need to ensure that you complete the relevant funding section on your application form, and select 'Yes' for each funding option you wish to apply for. Please note that if you wish to apply for funding from the Gates Cambridge Trust, you will need to supply some additional information as part of your application. Further information can be found on the Gates Cambridge website .

The department will review your application, score it based on internal criteria and submit this information to the funding bodies.

These deadlines encompass both Michaelamas Term 2023 and Lent Term 2024;

*Please note that if you have not received any notification of funding by the end of July you should assume you have not been successful in this funding round. 

If your application is not completed and submitted by the published deadlines, we will not be able to include you in the funding competition. It is crucial that you ensure  ALL of your supporting documents are submitted by the deadline, including your references. Remember, you can check on the Applicant Portal whether these have been submitted, and chase them if not.  

Epsrc doctoral landscape awards .

The EPSRC provides funding for Doctoral Landscape Awards (DLA) studentships to support doctoral training in engineering and physical sciences. The Engineering Department DTP funds up to 10 new students in the department per year. 

The awards are usually 3.5 years in duration, and provide an annual stipend at the minimum UKRI rate, in addition to covering home fees and providing a small contribution towards additional training costs, such as attendance at conferences. 

A number of our DTP studentships are offered in collaboration with an industrial partner, giving students with this type of award the opportunity to take up a placement with the industrial partner during the PhD, to broaden their experience. 

Eligibility 

EPSRC DTP funding is predominantly available to Home (UK) students. Home students who meet the residency requirements (resident in the UK for three years before the start date of the course) are eligible for a full, ie fees and maintenance, award. A limited number of DTP awards are available each year for international students, but these may not cover the full international fee rates. In 2025/26, the University is offering a fee waiver for these students, so that the award covers their full financial commitment.

The department allocates studentships to specific projects under named academic supervisors. The available projects are advertised on the University jobs website . Most adverts are published between October and March, although they may close early if a suitable candidate is identified. It is therefore advisable to keep checking the listings, and to apply early if you see an opportunity that interests you. Details of how to apply will be given on the advert. Any offer of funding will be dependent on you being made an offer of admission and meeting all its associated conditions.

All applications must be made via this route, it is not possible to make an application for the PhD and automatically be considered for our DTP funding. 

Each studentship has its own application deadline to observe, and these are advertised year round, so if you are interested in applying please keep checking the jobs website. 

EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training

The EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training (CDT) offer four year studentships which provide funding for both for the initial MRes year and the first three year of the PhD. Students are encouraged to ensure that they submit their PhD thesis within the funded period.

Eligibility

As with the EPSRC DTP studentships, Home (UK) students who meet the residency requirements (resident in the UK for three years before the start date of the course) are eligible for a full, ie fees and maintenance, award. There are a very limited number of funded CDT places available for international students, and these may not cover the full international fee rates.

Applicants to the CDT can also apply for funding from the Cambridge Trusts and other sources.

Applicants to the CDT programmes will be automatically considered for funding by the CDT. Information on  how to apply  can be found on our website.

Other funding opportunities for Engineering students

Wd armstrong studentship.

The School of Technology also administer the W.D Armstrong studentship, a three year award that is usually open to home, EU and overseas students.The studentships are offered for full-time postgraduate work in a field related to the application of engineering in medicine. Each Armstrong scholar will be co-supervised jointly by academics from the School of Technology and the School of Clinical Medicine.

The W D Armstrong managers offer studentships to specific projects that are managed by the academic members of staff in the department. The studentships are then advertised on the University jobs website. 

Usually interested applicants will need to contact the supervisor with a CV and discuss the opportunity further, and if successful will conditional upon submitting an application for the PhD via the applicant portal.

Supervisors

Some supervisor have funding available for projects that they are working on, although this is usually partial funding. Opportunities may be advertised on the  University jobs website  or may be directly offered by supervisors in discussion with applicants.

Industrial partners

Applicants may be able to secure funding directly from industrial partners to sponsor projects of interest to them.

The Cambridge ESRC DTP usually fund one or two Engineering Department students per year who are working under the remit covered by the research council. These students are generally based within the Institute for Manufacturing and Management. Studentships are allocated by the DTP grant managers directly to supervisors and projects, who may advertise them on the  University jobs website , or they may be offered directly by supervisors in discussion with applicants. 

Self-funding

Many students self-fund, either through savings, family support or through postgraduate loans (especially Masters students). Almost all of the funding competitions are only open to applicants, not to current students. Once you have commenced a course of study, there are no internal sources of funding available that would cover fees and maintenance, so it is important to ensure that you have full funding in place at the outset. You will be asked to sign a declaration to confirm that you have funding in place for the duration of the course, as a condition of your offer.

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Study at Cambridge (Scholarships)

Information for africans applying to study at the university of cambridge .

Applications can be submitted by individuals who would like to study for degrees at the University of Cambridge. To apply for postgraduate courses at the University of Cambridge, you must submit an online application through the Applicant Portal. For undergraduate courses submit an application through the UCAS portal (along with the My Cambridge Application form). The list of undergraduate and postgraduate courses are listed on the following websites which also have links to the application process and advice on applying to the University of Cambridge.

For further information on applying to the University of Cambridge visit:

  • The Graduate Admissions website at:  www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/how-do-i-apply
  • The  Undergraduate Admissions website at:  http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying

Note: Charge for accessing the graduate application form

There is an application charge of (GBP sterling) £50 per application for postgraduate courses other than doctorate programmes  , unless you are from a (low-income) country which is eligible for fee waiver . A list of other eligible courses and further information can be found at https://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/how-do-i-apply/application-fee . You can make the payment by providing your credit card details to a secure server when you submit your online application. Apparently, there are alternatives to the credit card payment, and this is available on request from the Graduate Admissions Office , if people come from countries where credit cards are not used.

Scholarships Available for African Applicants to Study at the University of Cambridge

To be considered for funding from the main scholarship providers, you must complete the funding section of the relevant application form (undergraduate or graduate) and submit to the University of Cambridge by the following deadlines:

  • Undergraduate applications - Deadline to be announced but usually in early October 
  • Graduate applications - Open now for application but best to check specific course deadlines. Search the course directory  for more information. Some deadlines are as early as mid-November (LLM Law) and there will be two general course deadlines in  December 2024  and  January 2025 .

The list below has been compiled to help African applicants identify scholarships at the University of Cambridge that they are eligible to apply for.

1) Gates Cambridge Scholarships: https://www.gatescambridge.org/apply

2) Cambridge Trust Scholarships:   https://www.cambridgetrust.org/scholarships .  Do note that there is a searchable facility on this website that can help to narrow down available scholarships by country, degree level, subject and the Cambridge College, etc. These are now open for applications.

3) Various Cambridge College bursaries (see examples below)

4) Mastercard Foundation African Scholars Programme   https://www.mastercardfoundation.fund.cam.ac.uk/ The prestigious Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cambridge was established in 2022 as a collaboration between the University and the Mastercard Foundation. Over 500 Scholars from the African continent will be enrolled in the program between 2023 and 2030 to undertake a wide range of fully funded Master's courses contributing to climate resilience and sustainable futures in Africa. 

Examples of scholarships that are specific to applicants from Africa:

Cambridge Africa ChangeMakers Scholarship : https://www.cambridgetrust.org/scholarships/cambridge-africa-changemakers-scholarship   This is a programme of full-cost scholarships for PhD students in any subject, open to candidates from any country in Africa . To be considered for funding, complete the standard University Graduate Students' Application Form and complete the 'funding' section. You can then be considered for all scholarships you are eligible to apply for. The deadline for Cambridge-Trust scholarships is usually the first week in December. 

  • BP Cambridge Scholarship for Egypt
  • Wolfson OCS Kenya Scholarship
  • Beacon Scholarship at Cambridge (Kenya)
  • Beit Cambridge Scholarship (Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe)
  • CSIR South Africa Cambridge Scholarship
  • Skye Cambridge Scholarship (South Africa)
  • Mandela Magdalene College Scholarship (South Africa - offered by Magdalene College, Cambridge)
  • Trinity College Bursary: https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding-awards/

Examples of scholarships that are available to applicants of many nationalities, including Africans:

  • Cambridge International Scholarship (PhD)
  • Yousef Jameel Scholarship (PhD)
  • Commonwealth Scholarship and Commonwealth Shared Scholarship (Masters and PhD)
  • Chevening/Cambridge Scholarship (Masters)
  • John Stanley Gardiner Trust Fund studentship in the Department of Zoology (open to any British subject or Commonwealth citizen who is ordinarily resident outside Europe but within the Commonwealth of Nations. Visit  https://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/intranet/professional-services/introduction/trust-funds/john-stanley-gardiner-studentship  for more information)

  

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phd in cambridge university scholarship

Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme was established in October 2000 by a donation of US$210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge; this is the largest ever single donation to a UK university.

Each year Gates Cambridge offers c.80 full-cost scholarships to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. Approximately two-thirds of these awards will be offered to PhD students, with approximately 25 awards available in the US round and 55 available in the International round.

There are at least 225 Scholars from c. 50 countries studying in Cambridge at any one time who pursue the full range of subjects available at the University and are spread across its departments and Colleges.

The Gates Cambridge mission is to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others. It aims to achieve this mission by selecting outstanding scholars, providing them with financial and non-financial support at one of the world’s leading universities and facilitating community building at and beyond Cambridge.

Award details

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship provides a wide range of funding beyond fees and maintenance. This includes: a return flight to the UK, visas costs and the NHS health surcharge; scholars are also eligible to apply for a range of discretionary funding during the tenure of their award such as Academic Development Funding for conferences and Child Allowance if bringing their child (children) with them to Cambridge. Full details can be found at  https://www.gatescambridge.org/programme/the-scholarship/ . Research costs (such as consumables) are not covered as these should be covered by the University fee paid by the Trust.

Gates Cambridge Scholarships provide a maintenance allowance for up to 4 years for PhD Scholars at the outset. 

Candidates are assessed based on four criteria:

  • Outstanding intellectual ability,
  • Reasons for choice of course,
  • Commitment to improving the lives of others,
  • Leadership potential

More information can be found at https://www.gatescambridge.org/apply/criteria/

During the tenure of their award, students will be required to sign in with the Trust each quarter to receive their maintenance payment and they will be asked to provide an annual Gates Cambridge progress report.

Eligibility

Application process.

US Round - US nationals living in the USA should apply by Wednesday 13 October 2021.

International Round - all other nationalities should apply by the funding deadline for their course (either 2 December 2021 or 6 January 2022).

US Round - successful candidates will be informed by 01 February 2022.

International Round - successful candidates will be informed by 01 April 2022.

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COMMENTS

  1. Postgraduate Cambridge University Scholarship

    The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme was established in October 2000 by an historic donation of US$210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge. The first class of scholars came into residence in October 2001. Since then, the Trust has awarded over 2,000 scholarships to scholars from more than 100 countries.

  2. Gates Cambridge Scholarship

    The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme was established in October 2000 by a donation of US$210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge; this is the largest ever single donation to a UK university. ... Approximately two-thirds of these awards will be offered to PhD students, with approximately 25 awards ...

  3. Postgraduate funding

    You can apply for funding to help cover your postgraduate study costs. Students can be: About 66% of our doctoral students and 14% of our Masters students are fully funded. To find out more about how students are funded at Cambridge, see Postgraduate funding statistics 2023/24.

  4. Cambridge International Scholarship

    About. These prestigious scholarships are offered to applicants who are from countries other than the United Kingdom or Ireland, in any subject, who are highly ranked by their prospective Departments within the University, and are awarded on the basis of academic ability and research potential, examination results, and references.

  5. Apply for Cambridge University Funding

    You can apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship if you are: a citizen of any country outside the United Kingdom. applying to pursue one of the following courses at the University of Cambridge: PhD (full-time or part-time*) MLitt (full-time) One year postgraduate course (full-time), with some exceptions - see below.

  6. Applying for University funding

    There are 3 main University funding deadlines for the 2025/26 academic year: 16 October 2024 (for US citizens applying to the Gates Cambridge Scholarship) 3 December 2024; 7 January 2025; Deadlines are course-specific so check the Course Directory to see which funding deadline applies to your course.

  7. Criteria for Cambridge University Funding

    To be competitive for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship candidates must show evidence of academic excellence (through their transcripts, references, experience and the potential to succeed on the chosen course). Academic departments at the University of Cambridge nominate only the most academically outstanding applicants for a Gates Cambridge ...

  8. PhD Scholarships

    The Smuts Fund and the Cambridge Commonwealth, European & International Trust annually fund up to two international students on PhD courses. This scholarship is available to PhD applicants whose research relates to a Commonwealth country or countries (excluding the UK), normally in the fields of Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences.

  9. Cambridge Trust Scholarship (postgraduate)

    Yes. Trust scholarships do not automatically fund the optional writing-up period (if applicable). Scholars will be able to apply for a brief period of extension funding, should it be required at the end of their scholarship (PhD only). Basis of award grant. Financial need (including Hardship) Academic merit.

  10. Doctor of Philosophy

    The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the University's principal research degree for graduate students and is available in all faculties and departments. A Cambridge PhD is intellectually demanding and you will need to have a high level of attainment and motivation to pursue this programme of advanced study and research. In most faculties ...

  11. Gates Cambridge Scholarship

    The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme was established in October 2000 by a donation of US$210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge; this is the largest ever single donation to a UK university. ... Approximately two-thirds of these awards will be offered to PhD students, with approximately 20 awards ...

  12. Scholarships listing

    Cambridge Australia Scholarships. These scholarships are available to Masters and PhD applicants from Australia, in all subjects. Scholarship details. These are the Cambridge Trust scholarships currently available for courses starting in the academic year 2025/26. Please read the information for each scholarship carefully as some awards may ...

  13. Search

    Use this search to find funding at Cambridge. It lists most University funding for postgraduates. ... Gates Cambridge Scholarship £35,000 ~ £66,000 (annual) ... Wellcome Sanger Institute 4-Year PhD Studentships £36,000 ~ £65,000 (annual ...

  14. Fees and Funding

    Fees. You can find full information about course fees on the Postg raduate Admissions website. As a graduate student at the University you are liable to pay a University Composition Fee (UCF) and you are also expected to have 'maintenance' funds to support your living costs whilst you are studying. The value of the UCF is dependent on your 'fee ...

  15. Funded Research Projects

    Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute. Thursday, 31 October, 2024. Please note: This PhD opportunity does not come with a funding award. The successful applicant will need to need to secure their own funding to finance the course. Supervisor: Dr Susanne Bornelöv. Deadline for application: 31st October 2024.

  16. How to Apply for a Cambridge Scholarship

    Applicants submit their application for admission and funding (Gates Cambridge and other funding) via the University's Graduate Application Portal. To be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you must complete the section to apply for admission to a course and a College place and the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section.

  17. Funding opportunities for applicants

    Sources of funding. The majority of postgraduate students in the Engineering Department are funded via one of the sources listed below. University Postgraduate Funding Competition (Cambridge Trusts and Gates) EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTP) EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) Other funding for Engineering students.

  18. Study at Cambridge (Scholarships) :: Cambridge-Africa

    Cambridge-Africa PhD Scholarship Scheme. Cambridge-Africa Scholars 2021-22; Cambridge-Africa Scholars 2020-21; Cambridge-Africa Scholars 2019-20; Cambridge-Africa Scholars, 2018-19 ... The list below has been compiled to help African applicants identify scholarships at the University of Cambridge that they are eligible to apply for. 1) Gates ...

  19. Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholars Programme

    Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholarships provide the most talented PhD students with life-changing opportunities to research and study at the University of Cambridge. These fully funded Scholarships support academically outstanding PhD students from any part of the world, and in any discipline, to contribute to society by producing ...

  20. Gates Cambridge Scholarship

    The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme was established in October 2000 by a donation of US$210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge; this is the largest ever single donation to a UK university. ... Approximately two-thirds of these awards will be offered to PhD students, with approximately 25 awards ...