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Gates Cambridge Scholarship
In October 2000, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation of
Seattle, Washington, donated $210 million to the University
of Cambridge for establishing the Gates Cambridge Trust, administrators
of the Gates Cambridge Scholarships
Up to four years study &/or research at Cambridge University
in England.
BEGIN APPLICATION AS EARLY SPRING JUNIOR.
The most advantageous time to register for a fellowship
is in the spring, starting mid February. Statistics show that
those who register earlier fare far better. The deadline to
register for the Gates Cambridge is the end of August. Petitions
to register later may be considered from students who show
exceptional promise to be successful in fellowships competitions
Graduating seniors. On track to gain a first-class or high
second-class with honours Bachelor degree. Relatively high
level of specialized knowledge for Masters or Doctorate, or
Second Bachelors, that ties specifically to what Cambridge
colleges have to offer and to what the student will bring
to Cambridge especially in terms of substantiated intellectual
rigor and enthusiasm. In the UK students don't normally go
straight into a PhD, but instead complete a Masters first
which then counts towards the PhD.
Academic excellence. Scholarly promise. Potential for leadership
in advancing the greater good. Commitment to contribute to
her discipline or use it creatively for humankind. Bright,
talented, lively minds. Minimum 3.7 GPA.
Covers full cost of studying or conducting research while
living in Cambridge. Up to about 80 new scholars from American
colleges elected each year. Gates Cambridge Trust will support
up to 100 American scholars in Cambridge at only one time
out of up to 300 international Gates scholars in all. In 2002,
there were 89 American Gates scholars at Cambridge of which
55 were selected in 2001 from 110 interviewed from about 500
applications = 11% chance or 1 in 9 odds. In 2002, from a
field of 500 applicants, 130 students were short-listed for
interview in 2003 and 42 scholarships were offered = 8.4%
chance or 1 in 12.
To be eligible for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, you
must be accepted by Cambridge University for graduate study.
Your application for a Gates Scholarship is submitted together
with your Cambridge University admission application. You
can also apply for other funds in addition to or instead of
the Gates Scholarship.
Admission applications for a Second Bachelors are not directed
to the University itself but to one or more of the 31 largely
autonomous Colleges that make up the University, which finds
a College only for students accepted for a Masters or Doctorate.
Once accepted by a College, the Second Bachelors student then
applies to the University for a Gates Scholarship. Obviously,
therefore, it is essential to begin this process many months
in advance. More info below. To be eligible for a Gates Cambridge
Affiliate (undergraduate) Scholarship, you must be accepted
by a Cambridge University college by applying directly to
any number of colleges separately.
Check www.gatesscholar.org
for variations in Gates eligibility criteria and application
procedure. To find a College (for Second Bachelors) and ascertain
a suitable match with the University, explore www.cam.ac.uk.
Email addresses of professors to contact are available.
PROFILES OF SCHOLARS Click on Latest News, followed by The
Gates Cambridge Scholarship Year Book 2003.
Further information about other awards offered by the Cambridge
Trusts is available via the Graduate
Studies Prospectus on-line.
International Students must complete a Preliminary Application
before August.
For Gates Cambridge application strategies from past winners,
look at the Live to Learn
website.
