The application process
Watch the University’s short overview film about applying for postgraduate admission and funding and then read below about specific requirements for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
A combined application form
Applicants submit their application for admission and funding (Gates Cambridge and other funding) via the University’s Graduate Application Portal.
To be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you must complete the section to apply for admission to a course and a College place and the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section. Gates Cambridge has access to the full application for admission and funding when reviewing applications.
The admission section
In this section you are applying to a specific graduate course and a College place. You will provide all of the usual details about yourself, your academic background, plans and suitability for the proposed course.
The funding section
In this section you can apply for a range of funding offered by the University and associated bodies, including the Gates Cambridge Scholarships, which has it’s own sub-section. When applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you will be asked to provide the following:
Gates Cambridge selection questions
For the 2025-6 application cycle, for entry in the 2026-7 academic year, the Trust has updated the format of this section of the funding application. This was previously known as the ‘Gates Cambridge statement’, but now has been separated out into individual questions.
In the application form, we ask four questions that each relate to a point on the Gates Cambridge Selection Criteria. Full details of the criteria can be found at: Criteria for Cambridge University Funding | Gates Cambridge. These four questions are:
- Please describe how, through your education and past experiences, you have displayed academic excellence. (200 words)
- Please explain why you want to study this specific course at the University of Cambridge, and how it will facilitate your future plans. (200 words)
- Please provide an example, or examples, of how you have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of others. Please explain why this is important to you and how it is relevant to your future plans. (300 words)
- Please provide an example, or examples, of how you have demonstrated a capacity for leadership. This could be by initiating a change or bringing others together to achieve a goal. How will this help you make an impact in the future? (300 words)
These questions will be used by Gates Cambridge to help distinguish between candidates who have been nominated by their academic departments. It helps us identify how candidates fit into each of the four Gates Cambridge selection criteria and is the only part of the application form where applicants are specifically asked about their fit for the Gates Cambridge programme.
Applicants should use specific examples from their background, achievements, experiences, and future plans to demonstrate the answers to these questions. There is no right answer to these questions – they should be used as a starting point to reflect widely and deeply on the applicant’s values and experiences.
Research proposal (PhD applicants only)
Gates Cambridge requires PhD applicants only to submit a research proposal as part of their application for funding. Most PhD applicants will upload a research proposal as part of their application for admission, but where this is not the case a research proposal is required to apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. If you are applying for a degree other than the PhD you do not need to submit a research proposal as part of your materials of the Gates Cambridge Scholarship .
Gates Cambridge reference
In addition to two academic references for admission, Gates Cambridge applicants must arrange for someone to submit a reference setting out how they meet the scholarship’s criteria.
In the application form we ask:
Please give your assessment of the applicant’s suitability for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. These are awarded on the following criteria: intellectual ability, justification for the choice of course, a commitment to improving the lives of others and leadership capacity.
We also ask:
- How highly would you rank the applicant for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship?
- On what overall group are you basing this ranking?
- What is the size of this group?
The Gates Cambridge reference is used in the same way as the Gates Cambridge statement – to help distinguish between those candidates who have nominated by academic departments.
Referees are also asked how they rate the applicant for the scholarship: exceptional, strong, not strong, weak. They may paste/type up to 4,000 characters into the on-line reference or upload a separate letter.
Who should write the Gates Cambridge reference?
You should ask someone of appropriate standing who is able to answer the question with authority and who understands the criteria and highly competitive nature of the Gates Cambridge programme and academic standards at the University of Cambridge.
Many applicants ask a current or former academic advisor who is aware of their personal attributes, a current or former employer, or a senior member of an organisation with whom they have volunteered – although this is by no means an exhaustive list. Some applicants ask one of their two academic referees to write the Gates Cambridge reference: this is fine, as long as that person has a good understanding of your personal qualities and writes specifically about how you meet the Gates Cambridge criteria (and does not provide a third academic reference).
You should not ask a friend or a family member, or someone who is unable to comment on your suitability for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
Some points to consider are:
- It is essential that the Gates Cambridge referee is fully briefed about the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, especially its selection criteria, so they can write the most appropriate reference for you;
- It is useful when referees use specific examples of how you meet the Scholarship’s criteria;
- You will need to ensure your Gates Cambridge referee understands the need to keep the reference focused on the Gates Cambridge criteria (and not, for example, rehash a standard or previous reference).
- You must ensure both your academic and gates Cambridge referees submit their references by the specified deadline
