Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2025

• No. of Scholarships - Approximately 80-100 Scholarships
• Host Country - United Kingdom
• Study Level - Postgraduate: Master's and PhD.
• Courses - All Postgraduate Courses
• Benefits - Fully Funded
• Application Window - September to January annually

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a well-known and respected scholarship that gives people from outside the UK a chance to study at Cambridge University with full funding for their postgraduate studies. It started in October 2000 thanks to a donation from the Bill &Melinda Gates Foundation. The scholarship is all about helping build a network of future leaders who want to make a difference in the world. For Pakistani citizens looking to further their education at a top-tier university, this scholarship is an incredible opportunity.

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship isn’t just about money; it’s about backing the next generation of leaders. Every year, around 80 full scholarships go to exceptional folks from outside the UK. This program covers almost all postgraduate courses at the University of Cambridge, allowing students to hit the books and tackle big global issues. They’re looking for people who aren’t just smart but also show they want to make a real difference in the world.

 

Benefits

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship aims to take away financial worries so that scholars can focus on their studies and personal growth. For 2025, here's what the scholarship usually offers:

• University Fees: Covers the full tuition cost, no matter what you're studying.
• Living Stipend: An annual amount to help with living costs like rent, food, and personal expenses. For 2025, this is expected to be about £18,744 for the year (less for shorter courses).
• Travel Costs: You get one economy flight at the start and end of your course.
• Visa and Health Costs: It covers all your visa application fees and the UK's health surcharge.
• Academic Development Fund: You can get between £500 and £2,000 (based on your course length) for things like attending conferences or extra courses.
• Family Support: If you have dependent children, you can get up to £10,944 for one child and up to £15,612 for two or more.
• Maternity/Paternity Leave: There’s help to take a break for up to six months without losing your living allowance.
• Hardship Fund: This is there for those unexpected financial challenges that may pop up during your scholarship.

 

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship in 2025, Pakistani residents must complete the following requirements:

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of any country other than the United Kingdom.
• Course of Study: Please apply to join one of the full-time residential courses at the University of Cambridge:
  • PhD (full-time or part-time; part-time is a pilot scheme)
  • MLitt (full time)
  • A one-year postgraduate course (full-time), with some exclusions (for example, MBA, MFin, PGCE, undergraduate degrees, certain part-time degrees other than PhD, and non-degree courses are often excluded). It is critical to visit the official Gates Cambridge website for the most recent list of acceptable and ineligible courses.

• Selection Criteria: We look at four main things when assessing applicants:
  • Strong intellectual skills: This is shown through your grades, research ideas, and references from your professors.
  • Reasons for choosing the course: We want to see a clear explanation of why you picked this particular program at Cambridge and how it fits with your career goals.
  • Commitment to helping others: Share any experiences that show you care about social causes and community work.
  • Leadership potential: We’re interested in any leadership roles you've taken on and how you've inspired or motivated others.