Ninety new scholars - citizens of 37 different countries - have been awarded a Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
The new scholars truly embody the values our University cherishes – excellence, a global outlook and an aspiration to contribute to society.
Stephen Toope
Ninety of the most academically outstanding and socially committed postgraduates have been awarded a Gates Cambridge Scholarship to study at the University of Cambridge, including the first from Mongolia and Burundi.
The 90 scholars who make up the Class of 2019 are citizens of 37 different countries and this year 27 universities have produced their first Gates Cambridge Scholar.
Two-thirds will pursue PhDs and their subjects range from cybersecurity, human trafficking and the heritage and identity of the Caribbean to early detection of oesophageal cancer and the genetics of TB resistance.
The international postgraduate scholarship programme was launched in 2000 with a $210 million donation to the University of Cambridge from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation which remains the largest single donation in history to a UK university.
Since the first cohort of Gates Cambridge Scholars in 2001, more than 1,600 scholars have been selected from over 100 countries.
Stephen Toope, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge and Chair of the Gates Cambridge Trustees, said: “The Gates Cambridge Scholars are an extraordinary group of people. Not only have they demonstrated outstanding academic abilities in their field, but they have also shown a real commitment to engaging with the world – and to changing it for the better. They truly embody the values our University cherishes – excellence, a global outlook and an aspiration to contribute to society.”
Professor Barry Everitt FRS FMedSci ScD, Provost (CEO) of the Gates Cambridge Trust, said: “The Scholars-elect have been selected to reflect the mission of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s generous and historic gift to the University of Cambridge. Like their predecessors, they are an extraordinary and diverse group who have already made their mark in their academic studies and demonstrated impressive leadership qualities.
"We are particularly delighted that we were able to offer awards to a large number of PhD scholars. We are sure that our 2019 cohort will flourish in the vibrant, international community at Cambridge as Gates Cambridge Scholars and beyond, making a substantial impact in their fields and the wider global community."
More details about the Gates Cambridge programme and the full class of 2019 scholars are available here. The official announcement can be found here.
