The Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027-28 is open to Pakistani postgraduate applicants. The deadline is either 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on the Cambridge course. Applicants submit one University of Cambridge postgraduate application and complete the Gates Cambridge funding section within it.
Quick Overview
| Scholarship | Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027-28 |
|---|---|
| Current status | Open |
| Pakistan deadline | 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on course |
| Study start | October 2027 |
| Study level | Eligible postgraduate courses at Cambridge |
| Awards | Around 70 full-cost scholarships each year |
| Citizenship | Citizens of countries outside the UK, including Pakistan |
| Official timeline | Gates Cambridge application timeline |
About the Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Gates Cambridge supports outstanding postgraduate students from outside the United Kingdom at the University of Cambridge. The programme selects applicants who combine academic excellence with a strong reason for choosing the course, a commitment to improving the lives of others and leadership capacity.
The scholarship is linked to Cambridge admission. A funding application cannot be submitted as a separate form after the course application deadline. Course availability and eligibility must be checked in the University of Cambridge Course Directory.
Financial Benefits
The scholarship covers the University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate and a maintenance allowance for one student. The published 2026-27 maintenance rate is GBP 23,152 for 12 months, adjusted proportionally for courses shorter than 12 months. The final 2027-28 rate may change.
Core support also includes an economy airfare at the beginning and end of the course, inbound visa costs and the UK Immigration Health Surcharge. Approved discretionary support may be available for academic development, dependent children, parental leave, hardship or doctoral fieldwork. These additional components are not automatic.
Research consumables or bench fees are not covered as a separate scholarship benefit. Applicants should confirm any course-specific costs before accepting an offer.
Application Structure
- Choose an eligible Cambridge postgraduate course.
- Check the course deadline, entry requirements and supporting-document rules.
- Start the University of Cambridge postgraduate application.
- Request the required academic references and the separate Gates Cambridge reference.
- Complete the Gates Cambridge funding questions and personal statement.
- Submit the full course and funding application by the funding deadline shown for the course.
- Cambridge departments rank eligible applicants before the Trust’s interview and final selection stages.
Pakistani applicants use the round for all other eligible applicants. The United States round is separate and does not apply merely because an applicant studied at a US institution.
Eligibility Requirements
A Pakistani citizen is eligible to apply because Gates Cambridge accepts citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom. Applicants must apply for an eligible postgraduate course at Cambridge and meet that course’s academic and English-language requirements.
The Trust assesses four published criteria:
- academic excellence;
- strong reasons for the chosen Cambridge course;
- a commitment to improving the lives of others; and
- a capacity for leadership.
Undergraduate degrees are not funded. Not every postgraduate programme is eligible, so applicants must confirm the current course rules instead of assuming that every master’s route qualifies.
Required Documents
The exact course checklist varies. A typical application includes:
- academic transcripts and degree information;
- a CV or academic resume where required;
- a course statement, research proposal or writing sample where required;
- two academic references for Cambridge admission;
- a Gates Cambridge statement responding to the scholarship questions;
- one Gates Cambridge reference from a person who can assess fit with the selection criteria; and
- English-language evidence if requested by the course.
All references must arrive by the stated deadline. A submitted form with missing required references may not be considered complete.
How to Apply
- Review the official eligibility rules and 2027-28 timeline.
- Find a suitable programme in the Cambridge Course Directory.
- Open the University of Cambridge postgraduate application for that course.
- Select Gates Cambridge funding and complete every scholarship question.
- Submit by 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, according to the funding deadline attached to the selected course.
Admission and scholarship selection are competitive. Meeting the minimum conditions does not guarantee admission, an interview or funding.
Further Scholarships for Pakistani Students
- Compare the Clarendon Scholarship at Oxford.
- Prepare for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship.
- Check the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship timeline.
Related scholarship: University of Leeds International Excellence Scholarships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Pakistani students apply for Gates Cambridge?
Yes. Pakistani citizens meet the nationality rule because the scholarship is open to citizens of countries outside the United Kingdom.
What is the deadline for Pakistan?
The deadline is course-dependent: either 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027. The Cambridge Course Directory identifies the correct deadline for each programme.
Is there a separate scholarship application portal?
No. Applicants request Gates Cambridge funding inside the University of Cambridge postgraduate application.
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