Gates Cambridge Funding Package: What's Covered
One of the most generous postgraduate awards in the world: full fees, a £23,152 maintenance allowance (2026–27 rate), flights, visa and health surcharge, plus discretionary funding. Here's everything that's covered — and the few things that aren't.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
4 min read
Updated Oct 5, 2026
Core Funding: What’s Always Covered
| Item | Amount | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Full tuition | £24,000–47,000+ | The full University Composition Fee at the appropriate (overseas) rate. It varies a lot by programme: humanities courses tend to be lower, lab-based sciences and clinical courses higher. |
| Maintenance allowance | £23,152 for 12 months | 2026–27 rate for a single student, pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months; reviewed each year. Paid at the start of each academic quarter (October, January, April and, if relevant, July). It covers accommodation, food, local travel and personal costs. |
| Airfare | Economy | One economy single flight at the beginning and one at the end of your course, however long it lasts. Additional trips home are not covered. |
| Visa costs | Covered | Inbound visa costs are covered. A Student visa application from outside the UK currently costs £558 (from 8 April 2026). See our UK country guide for more. |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | Covered | The surcharge (currently £776 a year for students) is covered, giving you access to the UK’s National Health Service. |
| Duration | Up to 4 years | PhD students are funded for up to 4 years. MPhil and LLM students are funded for the full length of their course (typically 9–12 months). Funding continues as long as you remain in good academic standing. |
Discretionary Funding: Available on Application
These are extra funds you can apply for during your scholarship. They’re not automatic — you need to make a case for why you need them.
Academic development funding
From up to £750 to up to £4,000, depending on the length of your course. It’s for conference attendance, workshops, research visits and other academic activities that support your studies. You apply through the Gates Cambridge Trust with a justification for the expense.
Dependent children allowance
If you have dependent children living with you in Cambridge, you can apply for up to £12,793 a year for one child and up to £18,244 a year for two or more children. This is particularly important for scholars with families.
Fieldwork funding
If your PhD research requires fieldwork away from Cambridge, you can apply to keep up to your normal maintenance allowance while you’re on fieldwork. This is especially relevant for social scientists and anthropologists.
Maternity and paternity
You can apply to intermit (pause) your studies for up to 6 months and continue to receive your maintenance allowance during that time, with your scholarship extended to accommodate the break.
Hardship funding
Gates Cambridge also offers hardship funding for unforeseen difficulties facing a scholar.
What’s Not Covered
- Bench fees. Some science and engineering departments charge “bench fees” for lab access and equipment use. These are typically £2,000–5,000 a year and are not covered by the Gates scholarship. Check with your department before accepting so you understand any out-of-pocket costs.
- College extras. College fees are generally covered as part of tuition, but some colleges have extra costs for specific activities, formal dinners or society memberships. These minor extras come out of your maintenance allowance.
- Additional flights home. Only the flights at the beginning and end of your course are covered. Trips home during breaks come from your own funds.
- Partner or spouse visa and living costs. If your partner comes with you, their visa costs and living expenses are not covered. The dependent children allowance does not extend to adult dependants.
Can You Actually Live on It?
Short answer: yes, comfortably — especially by UK postgraduate standards. Cambridge is significantly cheaper than London. College accommodation (if available) ranges from £400–700 a month, and private rentals are £600–900 a month for a room. Food, transport (cycling is free) and personal spending round out the budget.
| Rough monthly budget | Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (college room) | £500–700 |
| Food and groceries | £250–350 |
| Transport (mostly cycling) | £20–50 |
| Phone and internet | £30–50 |
| Social, entertainment, misc. | £100–200 |
| Total | £900–1,350 a month |
£23,152 ÷ 12 ≈ £1,929 a month. Most scholars report a surplus that pays for travel during breaks. For more on what life in Cambridge actually costs, see our living in Cambridge guide.
Amounts are from the official Gates Cambridge scholarship page (2026–27 rates). Tuition ranges, bench fees and the budget are our estimates.
Worth the Effort?
How to apply →The Gates Cambridge package removes virtually every financial barrier to studying at one of the world’s great universities. If you’re eligible, the application is worth your time. Check your eligibility, then read how to apply.