Last verified: 17 October 2026 · Entry: 2027–28
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is one of the most respected postgraduate awards in the world. It pays your full fees at the University of Cambridge, a living allowance of £23,152 a year, your flights and your visa costs. About 70 people from across the world win it every year, and Nigerians and Ghanaians are eligible.
For international applicants, the deadline is either 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on your course. You apply through the normal Cambridge postgraduate application, so you are really doing two things at once: getting admitted to Cambridge and convincing the Gates Cambridge Trust. Here is everything you need, from the official Gates Cambridge and Cambridge pages.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027
| Provider | Gates Cambridge Trust, University of Cambridge |
|---|---|
| Destination | United Kingdom (Cambridge) |
| Level | PhD, MLitt and one-year full-time postgraduate courses (for example most MPhils) |
| Funding | Full University Composition Fee + £23,152 a year living allowance (about ₦41 million / GH₵360,600) + flights, visa and Immigration Health Surcharge |
| Eligible | Citizens of any country outside the UK, including Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia |
| Status | Open · Apply by your course deadline |
| Deadlines | International applicants: 8 Dec 2026 or 6 Jan 2027 (by course) · Interview invites by 8 Mar 2027 · Interviews 22–23 Mar 2027 |
Scam alertGates Cambridge has no separate application fee and no agents. You apply only through the University of Cambridge’s own Graduate Application Portal. The only payment is Cambridge’s normal application fee, made on the university’s website.
In this guide
What the scholarship covers
| Item | Official rule (2026–27 rates) | In naira and cedis (about) |
|---|---|---|
| University Composition Fee | Paid in full at the correct rate for your course | — |
| Living (maintenance) allowance | £23,152 for 12 months; shorter courses get a pro rata amount | ₦41 million / GH₵360,600 a year |
| Flights | One economy airfare at the start and one at the end of your course | — |
| Visa and health | Inbound visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge | — |
| Children | Up to £12,793 a year for one child, up to £18,244 for two or more | ₦22.6 million / ₦32.3 million |
| Partner | Not funded | — |
Gates Cambridge also has discretionary funding for academic development such as conferences, and support during approved PhD fieldwork and family leave. A PhD award can last up to four years. Exchange rates checked on 17 October 2026 (about ₦1,769 and GH₵15.6 to one pound).
Who can apply
- Citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom. Nigerians, Ghanaians and all West Africans qualify.
- Eligible courses: a full-time or part-time PhD, a full-time MLitt, or a one-year full-time postgraduate course (with some exceptions).
- Not eligible: undergraduate degrees (including a second BA), MASt courses, part-time degrees other than the PhD, the MBA and the PGCE.
- A second master’s does not make you ineligible.
You must also be admitted to Cambridge. Gates Cambridge only funds students who receive an offer from the university, so a strong academic application is the foundation of everything.
Deadlines and timeline for 2027 entry
| Stage | International applicants (all non-US) |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 11 September 2026 |
| Application deadline | 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on your course |
| Departments rank candidates | December 2026 to February 2027 |
| You hear if you are invited to interview | By 11:59 pm UK time on 8 March 2027 |
| Interviews and final panel | 22 and 23 March 2027 (online interviews are possible) |
| Scholarship offers | By early April 2027; you have 72 hours to accept |
How do you know which deadline applies? Gates Cambridge says to use the Course Funding Deadline shown for your course in the University of Cambridge Course Directory. Check it today. Your referees must also submit their references by that deadline. US citizens living in the US have a separate, earlier round that closed on 14 October 2026.
De Auditor’s tip
Write the Course Funding Deadline for your course on a sticky note, then subtract two weeks. That is your personal deadline. Do this to keep yourself on your toes and well prepared ahead of time. Send your three referees the request at least four weeks before it, with your CV, your course and one short paragraph on what you want each of them to highlight, make it clear and vivid for them to understand.
How to apply, step by step
- Choose your course in the Cambridge Postgraduate Course Directory and confirm it is eligible for Gates Cambridge.
- Find your Course Funding Deadline (8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027).
- Start the Cambridge application on the University’s Graduate Application Portal. This one application covers both admission and funding.
- Complete the admission sections, including your academic documents and, for a PhD, your research proposal.
- Complete the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section, including the four Gates questions.
- Arrange three references: two academic references for admission, plus a separate Gates Cambridge reference about how you meet the scholarship criteria.
- Pay the application fee (unless you qualify for a waiver) and submit before your deadline.
The Gates Cambridge questions and reference
In the funding section, you answer four questions set by Gates Cambridge. The first two are about 200 words each (up to 1,400 characters) and the last two about 300 words each (up to 2,100 characters). They are your chance to show the four criteria below in your own words, with real examples from your life.
The Gates Cambridge reference is different from your two academic references. It should come from someone who can speak about your leadership and your commitment to improving other people’s lives, not just your grades. Referees can type up to 4,000 characters or upload a letter. Our recommendation letter guide shows how to brief a referee, and our statement of purpose guide helps with the personal writing.
What the selectors look for
Gates Cambridge chooses scholars on four criteria:
- Outstanding intellectual ability
- Reasons for choice of course
- A commitment to improving the lives of others
- Leadership potential
Every part of your application should point back to these four. A first-class result alone is not enough; the panel wants to see what you have already done for other people and how a Cambridge course fits a clear plan.
Application fee and English test
| Cost | Official amount | In naira and cedis (about) |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridge application fee, most postgraduate courses | £85 per application | ₦150,000 / GH₵1,320 |
| Cambridge application fee, doctoral courses | £20 per applicant per year of entry (up to seven applications) | ₦35,000 / GH₵310 |
| Gates Cambridge application | No separate fee | ₦0 |
These are the fees Cambridge lists from September 2025; check the current amount when you apply. For 2026 entry, Cambridge waived the fee automatically for nationals of Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia, but Nigeria and Ghana were not on that list. Check the waiver page for the current list. Gates Cambridge does not pay the application fee.
Gates Cambridge has no English test requirement of its own, but the University of Cambridge does, so meet the university’s English requirement for your course. Our English test guide explains your options.
De Auditor’s note
James Christian Unya, founder of Scholarship Auditor
Gates Cambridge no be for only person wey get first class. Na for person wey don already dey lift other people up, and wey get clear plan for why Cambridge and why that course. If you never do anything for your community, start now, but no form am; the panel go see. A true leader doesn’t form, genuinely do things for your community, lift others and make genuine and glaring impact, things like this are what the panel want and respect.
Find your course deadline today, brief your three referees early, and write those four answers with real stories wey only you fit tell. Remember, na only you fit tell your story.
Never miss a deadline again
Join the Scholarship Auditor Telegram channel. We post every verified scholarship, deadline reminder and new guide there first, straight to your phone. It is free.
Related guide: Scholarship calendar 2026–2027: every major scholarship deadline in one place, in Lagos and Accra time.
Frequently asked questions
Can Nigerians and Ghanaians apply for Gates Cambridge?
Yes. The scholarship is open to citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom.
What is the Gates Cambridge deadline for 2027?
For international applicants it is either 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on the Course Funding Deadline for your course in the Cambridge Course Directory.
How much does Gates Cambridge pay?
Your full University Composition Fee, a maintenance allowance of £23,152 for 12 months at the 2026–27 rate (about ₦41 million or GH₵360,600), economy flights at the start and end of your course, inbound visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Is there an interview?
Yes, for shortlisted candidates. International applicants hear by 8 March 2027 whether they are invited, and interviews take place on 22 and 23 March 2027. They can be held online.
Does Gates Cambridge fund the MBA?
No. The MBA, PGCE, MASt courses and undergraduate degrees are not eligible.
How many Gates Cambridge scholarships are there?
Around 70 full-cost scholarships a year, across all countries.
Sources and verification
Checked on 17 October 2026 against official pages: Gates Cambridge timeline, the scholarship, eligibility, how to apply and FAQs, and the University of Cambridge pages on the application fee and fee waivers. Exchange rates are approximate. Read how we check scholarships.
See all our UK scholarships, including Chevening and Commonwealth.
Yes, It is me. I’m the De Auditor
James, known as the De Auditor, is the founder and editor of Scholarship Auditor and the Founder and Group CEO of De Auditor Group Ltd, based in Benin City, Nigeria. He checks every scholarship against the provider’s official website before it is published, and corrects posts when providers change their rules. Contact: info@scholarshipauditor.com