The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is one of the most generous postgraduate awards in the world. Full tuition, a living allowance, airfare, visa costs, and more. Here's a detailed breakdown of everything that's covered — and the few things that aren't.
£24,000-47,000+
The full cost of your University Composition Fee (tuition) at the overseas rate. This varies significantly by programme — humanities courses tend to be lower, while lab-based sciences and clinical courses are higher.
£21,000/yr
A living allowance of approximately £21,000 per year (exact amount may be adjusted annually). Paid in termly installments. This covers accommodation, food, local travel, and personal expenses. Scholars report this is sufficient for a comfortable life in Cambridge.
Economy
One economy class return flight at the start and end of your course. For PhD students, this is covered for the full duration of the programme. Additional trips home are not covered.
Covered
The cost of your UK student visa application is covered. This currently runs around £490 for a Student visa. See our UK country guide for visa details.
Covered
The NHS Immigration Health Surcharge (currently £776/year for students) is covered for the full duration of your course. This gives you access to the UK's National Health Service.
Up to 4 yrs
PhD students are funded for up to 4 years. MPhil and LLM students are funded for the full duration of their course (typically 9-12 months). Funding continues as long as you remain in good academic standing.
These are additional funds you can apply for during your scholarship. They're not automatically provided — you need to make a case for why you need them.
£500 – £2,000
For conference attendance, workshops, research visits, or other academic activities that support your studies. You apply through the Gates Cambridge Trust with a justification for the expense.
Available
If you have dependent children who will live with you in Cambridge, additional funding may be available. The amount varies and is assessed on a case-by-case basis. This is particularly important for scholars with families.
Available
If your research requires fieldwork outside Cambridge, you can apply for additional funding to cover travel and living costs during your fieldwork period. This is especially relevant for social scientists and anthropologists.
Available
Gates Cambridge provides maternity and paternity leave provisions. Your maintenance allowance continues during approved leave, and your scholarship duration can be extended to accommodate the break.
Some science and engineering departments charge "bench fees" for lab access and equipment use. These are typically £2,000-5,000/year and are not covered by the Gates scholarship. Check with your department before accepting to understand potential out-of-pocket costs.
While college fees are generally covered as part of tuition, some colleges may have additional costs for specific activities, formal dinners, or society memberships. These minor extras come from your maintenance allowance.
Only one return flight at the beginning and end of your course is covered. If you want to visit home during term breaks, those flights come from your personal funds.
If your partner accompanies you to Cambridge, their visa costs and living expenses are not covered by the scholarship. The dependent children allowance does not extend to adult dependents.
Short answer: yes, comfortably — especially by UK postgraduate standards. Cambridge is significantly cheaper than London. College accommodation (if available) ranges from £400-700/month. Private rentals in Cambridge are £600-900/month for a room. Food, transport (cycling is free), and personal expenses round out the budget.
£21,000 / 12 = ~£1,750/month. Most scholars report having a surplus that allows for travel during breaks.
For more on what life in Cambridge actually costs, see our living in Cambridge guide.
The Gates Cambridge funding package removes virtually all financial barriers to studying at one of the world's greatest universities. If you're eligible, the application is worth your time.