International students seeking postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge can apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship for the 2027/2028 academic year.
The prestigious scholarship provides funding for eligible postgraduate students from outside the United Kingdom to study at the University of Cambridge.
The programme is open to international applicants, including qualified candidates from Nigeria and other African countries.
## What the scholarship covers
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a fully funded award designed to cover the major costs associated with studying at Cambridge.
The scholarship generally covers the University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate and provides a maintenance allowance for the student.
Depending on the circumstances of the successful scholar, additional funding may also be available for expenses such as airfare, visa costs, health-related expenses and other approved academic or family-related costs.
Applicants should check the current scholarship terms for the exact benefits applicable to their programme and circumstances.
Who can apply?
The scholarship is available to citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom who are applying for an eligible postgraduate course at the University of Cambridge.
Applicants must first apply for admission to Cambridge and indicate that they wish to be considered for funding through the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
The scholarship is highly competitive and is intended for applicants who demonstrate outstanding academic ability, a clear reason for choosing their proposed course, a commitment to improving the lives of others and strong leadership potential.
Eligible study programmes
The scholarship supports a wide range of postgraduate programmes at Cambridge, including eligible PhD, master’s and other postgraduate courses.
Applicants should note that not every course at Cambridge is eligible for Gates Cambridge funding. Prospective applicants should therefore check the official scholarship eligibility requirements before beginning their application.
The scholarship is not available for undergraduate study.
What applicants need
Applicants will need to submit their postgraduate application through the University of Cambridge’s application system.
Those seeking consideration for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship must complete the relevant funding section of the application and provide the additional information required for the scholarship.
For PhD applicants, this can include a research proposal where required by the programme, as well as the Gates Cambridge reference.
Applicants should also prepare their academic records, references, personal statements and other documents required by their chosen Cambridge course.
Selection criteria
According to Cambridge, Gates Cambridge assesses candidates using four main criteria:
* Outstanding intellectual ability
* Reasons for the choice of course
* A commitment to improving the lives of others
* Leadership potential
Candidates therefore need to demonstrate more than strong academic results.
A competitive application should clearly explain why the proposed programme is important to the applicant’s academic and professional goals, how their work could contribute to society and how they have demonstrated leadership or positive impact.
Application deadline
There is no single deadline that applies to every Gates Cambridge applicant.
The University of Cambridge states that the application deadline is the same as the funding deadline for the course being applied for. The current Cambridge funding database lists the Gates Cambridge award for eligible applicants with the deadline tied to the relevant course.
Applicants should therefore identify their preferred Cambridge course first and check its specific funding deadline.
Some courses have earlier deadlines, so prospective applicants should not wait until the final date associated with another programme.
How to apply
Applicants should begin by selecting an eligible postgraduate course at the University of Cambridge.
They must then complete the Cambridge postgraduate application and indicate that they wish to be considered for funding.
The University advises applicants to provide the required Gates Cambridge information as part of the application.
Official application and scholarship information
Gates Cambridge Scholarship – Official University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge postgraduate application portal
Prospective applicants should use only the official University of Cambridge and Gates Cambridge websites when applying and should be cautious of third parties claiming to guarantee scholarship awards.
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship offers a major opportunity for high-achieving international students who want to pursue postgraduate study at one of the world’s leading universities.
For Nigerian and other African applicants, the key to a competitive application will be starting early, selecting an eligible course carefully and demonstrating not only academic excellence but also a clear commitment to creating positive impact.
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