Applications are now open for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship Programme 2018 in Cambridge University

 

How to apply

Applicants must submit an application for graduate admission, a College place and funding - including a Gates Cambridge Scholarship - via the University’s Graduate Applicant Portal.

In addition to the section for admission, the University's graduate application form includes a specific Gates Cambridge section which asks applicants to submit the following:
A 3,000 character (500 word) statement about their fit with the Gates Cambridge programme

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The statement is used by the Gates Cambridge shortlisting committees to distinguish between candidates who have been highly ranked by departments on academic grounds. It helps the our committees identify those candidates who, as well as being academically outstanding, possess a capacity for leadership and commitment to improving the lives of others. This is the only part of the application form where applicants are specifically asked about their fit with the Gates Cambridge programme.
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A (non-academic) reference about their fit with Gates Cambridge
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The Gates Cambridge reference is used in the same way as the statement - to reduce the large number of well-qualified applicants to those who best match the Gates Cambridge criteria.
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Referees may paste/type up to 4,000 characters into the on-line reference or upload a separate letter; they are also asked some specific questions about how they rate the applicant for the scholarship.
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Your referee should be someone of appropriate standing who is able to answer the question with authority and who will and fully understand the Gates Cambridge criteria. Applicants often ask academics (who can comment on their fit with Gates Cambridge, not just offer a third academic reference), employers, senior figures in voluntary organisations for whom they have worked and others who can comment on their suitability for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Applicants should not ask family, friends or those unqualified to provide a useful and appropriate reference.
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The Gates Cambridge reference is in addition to the two academic references required by the University for admission.
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Other materials
All applicants must submit an up to date CV/resume.
For PhD applicant only a research proposal is also required - if it has not already submitted as part of the application for the course. Where there is specific guidance from the department about word length and format for the research proposal applicants should follow this. If you are a PhD applicant but your department does not require a research proposal then you should submit a document af roughly two pages outlining your research plans to be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
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