Gates Cambridge Scholarship at Stanford University 2025

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship program was established in October 2000 by a 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.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirments
• Interview Process
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineDecember 31, 2025
• Study LevelMasters , PhD
• SponsorStanford University
• City to studyCalifornia
• Eligible CountryUnited States

Benefits

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.

Requirements

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is largely  interested in applicants who wish to study for the Ph.D. Those applying for taught Masters should pay special attention to explaining why this is the optimal course for them and how it is critical to their future academic or professional training plans. 

If you are interested in a Ph.D. or, even, a one or two year research degree, then we strongly encourage you to focus on a possible research supervisor at Cambridge and make contact with this faculty member. 

Interview Dates and Process

The selection criteria are: 

• Outstanding intellectual ability
• Reasons for choice of course
• Commitment to improving the lives of others
• Leadership potential
• Good fit between the applicant's qualifications and aspirations and the postgraduate program at Cambridge for which they are applying 

Application Documents

Application Materials: (please review the Gates Cambridge website will have more details on these materials):

• Gates Cambridge Statement (approximately 500 words)
• CV/Resume
• Research proposal (PhD applicants only)
• 3 references In addition to two academic references for admission, Gates Cambridge applicants submit a reference about their fit with the scholarship. The two academic references must be from faculty who can advocate for your admission to the program you have chosen and should, therefore, be from faculty in the same field.

Application Deadline

How To Apply

The Gates Cambridge requires you to be accepted to the academic program first. Only after acceptance to the program will they review your materials. It is important to have a strong recommendation from your department to the Gates Cambridge. 

There are two application deadlines for the Gates Cambridge:

• US citizens living in the USA only - Mid-October
• All other eligible applicants - either December or January, depending on your course.

For more details, visit Stanford University Scholarship webpage