OpenFieldGates Cambridge Scholarships & Cambridge Trust Awards
Prestigious global scholarship awarded to approximately 80 outstanding students outside the UK annually to pursue full-time postgraduate research degrees at the University of Cambridge.
Application checklist & requirements
These requirements reflect published university guidelines available at the last review. Review official department guidelines before submission.
- Academic degree / Prerequisites
- First Class Honours undergraduate degree (or international equivalent A / 3.9+ GPA) with outstanding intellectual ability.
- English language proficiency
- Cambridge Higher requirement: IELTS 7.5 overall with minimum 7.0 in all elements.
- Standardized testing (GRE/GMAT)
- Not required.
- Thesis / Research statement
- Demonstrated academic excellence, leadership potential, and commitment to improving the lives of others.
- Recommendation letters
- Two academic referee letters and one specific personal Gates reference on leadership.
How much will it cost? How much funding is available?
- Financial support / stipend
- Fully funded: Full university and college tuition fee coverage plus annual tax-free maintenance stipend of £21,000 per year, airfare, visa costs, and discretionary funding
- Application fee
- £50 to £75 application fee
- Tuition / joining costs
- Full tuition completely covered for the entire 3-to-4 year doctoral duration.
Dates and verification
- Application deadline
- December 3, 2026 (Annual international deadline for Michaelmas 2027 entry; October 15 for US citizens)
- Last source review
- 2026-10-14
Important verification note
Facts reflect official University of Cambridge documentation reviewed 2026-10-14. Admissions, funding allocations, and eligibility thresholds are evaluated by the university.
Reviewed 2026-10-14 · Editorial standards · Report an issue