1. Gates Cambridge Scholarships
25 minute presentation followed by Q&A
Overview (last updated 17 August 2018)

2. Presentation sections
The basics
Application & selection
Scholars & alumni
Q&A
Basics – very quick run through
Application and selection - nuts and bolts with important updates
Scholars and Alumni – short section about life as a Gates Cambridge Scholar and the Alumni network
Q&A

3. The basics

4. The basics
Overview
What: highly competitive, prestigious full-cost scholarships for a postgraduate degree in any subject at the University of Cambridge
History: established in 2000 by US$210m donation from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to University of Cambridge
Aim: to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others
What –one of most prestigious and open scholarships in the world
History – largest ever single donation to a UK university
Aim – more than just a cheque – creating a community and expectation is to give back

5. Gates Cambridge in numbers
The basics
Gates Cambridge in numbers
90 new awards each year
c. 35 USA
c. 55 all other countries

6. The basics Who is eligible
All citizens are eligible except UK citizens
Must gain admission to one of the following full-time graduate programs at Cambridge:
PhD
MSc/MLitt
Masters
No age limit
Openness – any citizen can apply for any subject at Cambridge (except those from UK)
Age - many applicants straight out of university, but plenty of mature applicants with industry experience and/or families also apply

7. The basics Value Core components (per year)
University and College fees
Living allowance of £17,500 for 12 months
Return airfare
Visa & associated costs
Discretionary components
Family allowance
Academic Development
Partial fourth year funding for PhD Scholars
Hardship funding
Headline: One of, if not, the most generous international scholarships for study in the UK.
Visa costs – Trust reimburses inbound visa costs and visa extension costs for PhD students
Discretionary components (upon application):
Family allowance – to bring your total income into line with the University’s suggested funding guidelines for families.
Academic Development – up to £500 per year for conferences, language courses, etc.
Fourth year funding for PhD Scholars – term by term application reviewed on case by case basis
Hardship funding – for unforeseen difficulties

8. Application & Selection

9. Application & selection Selection criteria
intellectual ability
a good academic fit with Cambridge
leadership capacity
a commitment to improving the lives of others
No one ‘template’ for a Gates Cambridge Scholar
Website and promotional material
These are our four selection criteria and how we interpret them.
Intellectual ability
Applicants must be intellectually outstanding
University minimum GPA for admission is 3.5
Average GPA of those selected after interview = 3.92; range = 3.7 to 4.0
Important point: that those selected must be likely to succeed at Cambridge
Academic fit
Gates Cambridge – NOT Gates Oxford/London/Newcastle – Trust deed says “to benefit from an education at Cambridge”
Should be a synergy between what Cambridge offers and what the applicants wants to do at and beyond Cambridge
E.g. supervisor, resources, the course and link to career aims, etc.
Leadership
Broad view and self-defined - nurture leaders in every field of human endeavour - Anglo-Saxon – Zoology, applied & theoretical, right across the spectrum
Leadership can be expressed in multitude of ways - applicant should use their own story to showcase their capacity of leadership
A commitment to improving the lives of others
Fundamental and sets this programme apart from others of its kind.
Broad view and also self-defined – we want to see evidence of a genuine commitment to help to others
Expect applicants to be aware of responsibility that higher education at one of the world’s leading universities brings.
Flip it round, someone who is an academic star but without any evidence of leadership and improving the lives of others is unlikely to get a Gates
No one template
Huge diversity in terms of experience, background, area of interest and ways in which the Scholars meet the selection criteria.
Important applicant use our criteria to bring highlight their individual stories and achievements.
Overall: active engagement with real problems – whether in college, volunteering, in the work place - and showing some evidence of a capacity to bring people with them in their projects
Lots of other examples on our website and in our promo materials

10. Shortlisting committees review Interview panels interview and select
How we select
Work flow
Departments nominate
Shortlisting committees review
Interview panels interview and select
c.80 academic departments
Arts
Biological Sciences
Arts
Biological Sciences
Physical Sciences
Social Sciences
Physical Sciences
Social Sciences
Stage 1: Nominated by dept
First hurdle is academic – Gates Cambridge only looks at applicants who are nominated by academic departments in Cambridge
Stage 2: Shortlisting
Second phase involves four broadly subject based committees using three criteria to create interview list
Stage 3: Interviews
Third phase involves 4 interview panels using three criteria to recommend winners
Full details on the website
Academic ability & academic fit
Academic ability Commitment to improving the lives of others Leadership potential

11. Application & selection Numbers by selection stage
US round
International
round
Total applications
c.800
c. 5,700
Departments nominate & shortlisting Committees review
200
250
Shortlisting Committees
put forward for interview 90
110
Interview Panels select
c.35
c. 55
Success rate
4.5% 1%
Two application rounds per year
US citizens normally resident in the USA
Citizens of all countries other than the USA (except the United Kingdom), and US citizens normally resident outside the USA
Competitive
Highly competitive but those who meet the criteria are strongly encouraged to apply
Many Scholars thought they would not be successful and have been

12. Application & selection What you apply for
One application form for:
Postgraduate admission to the University
College membership
A Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Other Cambridge funding
Gates Cambridge does not place/admit
Full details about how to apply on
One application pack with multiple uses

13. Application & selection The application pack
Parts of the application
Application form
3 References (2 academic, 1 for Gates)
Academic transcripts
CV/resume
If PhD applicant a research proposal
Any other documents required by University
No institutional nomination required
The application pack
Must complete a full application pack for admission and funding
Gates Cambridge: must tick Gates box in funding section, write a Gates Statement and ensure Gates Reference is submitted; upload CV (and research proposal if PhD)
Some further documents may be required – e.g. English Language test score if not first language; some departments ask for writing sample etc. Check websites
No institutional nomination is required – open application
Submitting and managing your application
University and Gates encourage to submit on-line as more efficient for everyone, although paper application is available
University application fee is £100; Gates does not charge an additional application fee
Once submitted there is an on-line area - Self Service - to manage your application: upload documents, see progress, etc.

14. Application & selection Personal statement
“If you wish to apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, please describe below – in not more than 500 words – how your interests and achievements, both academic and extra-curricular, demonstrate a capacity for leadership and a commitment to improving the lives of others. Please also set out why you think there is a good fit between your professional aspirations and the graduate programme at Cambridge for which you are applying.”
Vital
Must be targeted
Vital
Only part of application which asks applicant about their fit with Gates Cambridge
Read by shortlisting committee and interview panels
Used to reduce larger group of academic superstars to small group who meet all four criteria
Targeted
Must hit all four Gates Cambridge buttons
Should NOT be a re-hash of personal statement for another scholarship
Need to give interviewers something to talk about – allow them to draw out applicants Gates Cambridge qualities
Distinguish
Anything that shows an interesting or unique way they fit the Gates Cambridge profile is useful
Key points
Applicants chance to convince us they are a good fit with the Gates Cambridge programme
Look through website for help and inspiration

15. Application & selection
Personal reference
Ranking questions
Reference: “Please give your assessment of the applicant’s suitability a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, which are awarded on the following criteria: Outstanding intellectual ability, Leadership potential, A commitment to improving the lives of others, A good fit with the postgraduate programme at Cambridge for which they are applying.”
Guided to Gates website for more information.
Who should write it?
Vital
Must be targeted
Standard/template references not helpful
Ranking
How highly would you rank the applicant for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship?
On what overall group are you basing this ranking?
What is the size of this group?
Who
Not a friend or family member
Appropriate standing who is able to answer the question with authority and who understands what Gates Cambridge is
Academic who is familiar with applicants personal qualities
Current of former Employer
Internships
OK to use one of academic referees BUT must be able to comment on Gates Cambridge criteria
Not a third academic reference
Vital
Only chance for referee to comment on suitability for Gates Cambridge
Read by shortlisting committee and interview panels
Used to reduce larger group of academic superstars to small group who meet all four criteria
Targeted
Must hit all four Gates Cambridge buttons
Specific examples
Must not rehash reference for admission to another scholarship
Distinguish
Why is applicant more deserving of a Gates Cambridge Scholarship more than the next applicant?
Concrete examples very helpful
Advice
Applicant provide referee with key details about the scholarship and make clear we are not after templated reference.

16. Application & selection October 2019 entry – deadlines only
Round 1: US citizens living in the USA
Applications open: 3 September
Deadline: 10 October 2018
Round 2: all other applicants [NEW}
Applications open early September
Deadlines: dependent on course, either:
5 December 2018 OR
3 January 2018
Application deadlines
Must submit application form by this date
One or two departments run very early deadlines which are before scholarship deadlines (e.g. LLM Law is 15 November 2017 for 2018 entry) – if dept deadline is earlier applicant must apply by the earlier deadline
Strongly encourage applicants not to leave everything until the last minute
Interviewees contacted – by

17. Application & selection October 2019 entry – entire process
Application deadlines
Must submit application form by this date
One or two departments run very early deadlines which are before scholarship deadlines (e.g. LLM Law) – if dept deadline is earlier applicant must apply by the earlier deadline
Strongly encourage applicants not to leave everything until the last minute
Interviewees contacted – by

18. Scholars & alumni

19. Gates Cambridge Scholars
Diverse community
Integrated with University
Scholars’ Council and events
Many opportunities
Scholars’ Common Room
A vibrant & diverse community integrated with the University
Diverse community – community is a big part of the Gates Cambridge experience. That community is very diverse - country, subject, educational background, interests
Scholars’ Council and events - Council of 12 current Scholars organises a number of events during the year including: Orientation for new Scholars, lectures, termly colloquia, academic clusters, social activities for Scholars and their families/guests to underpin the Gates community at Cambridge. Professional Development programming by Council now an important part of the Scholar experience.
Scholars’ Common Room – physical space and focus of much Gates Cambridge activity, computer lab
Integrated– Gates Cambridge has its own distinct community but is also part of the broader Cambridge community -- College, department, societies.
Many opportunities – in all communities – Colleges, departments and wider University offer a lot; Gates Cambridge also full of events and the capacity to organise them – e.g. GSS

20. Engaging with global challenges
Our scholars
Engaging with global challenges
Timothy Kotin (Ghana)
As an undergraduate developed an on-line platform to increase educational opportunities for young Africans.
John Ottem (Norway)
Won Fulbright and McKinsey Scholarships and prizes in mathematical Olympiads in Oslo; published five high-impact papers at Cambridge.
Isaac Holeman (USA)
Named one of top 30 social entrepreneurs in Forbes magazine; co-founder of MobileMedic.
Rajiv Chowdhury (Bangladesh)
15 high-impact publications on heart disease at Cambridge; Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health; inaugural recipient of Bill Gates Sr. Prize.
Stan Wang (USA)
Recognised by U.S. Department of State, UNESCO and others for work on maternal-child health in Ghana; currently researching non-embryonic stem cells supervised by Nobel Prize Winner Sir John Gurdon.
Libby Blanchard (USA)
Raised several million dollars for sustainable coffee farming in Latin America before coming to Cambridge.
Just a few examples of how our Scholars met our four selection criteria, and some achievements during their time at Cambridge – information on all Scholars and Alumni available from

21. Our alumni A global network
A global network with increasing recognition and influence
Aim – a global network with a positive impact
1,300+ alumni from 90 countries spread across the globe
Gates Cambridge Alumni Association (GCAA)
See website for examples the impact of our Scholars and Alumni
Aim to have a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others = heavily reliant on alumni
Spread – alumni are young and widely diffused across the globe
GCAA - grass roots organisation funded by the Trust which helps maintain a global alumni community through various events.

22. Our alumni Making an impact Noa Epstein (Israel)
MBA woman of the year at Cambridge; CEO of Middle East Education through Technology.
Joe Bonneau (USA)
Fellow, Center for information Technology Policy at Princeton University; regularly quoted in media on cyber security.
Robyn Scott (New Zealand)
Author, social entrepreneur and Co-founder of OneLeap and Mothers for All.
Siza Mtimbiri (Zimbabwe)
Advised government of Togo on education; currently leading a project to build top-flight school in Zimbabwe.
Chandler Robinson (USA)
Developed, manufactured and sold a potentially therapeutic drug for Wilson’s Disease.
Julia Fan Li (Canada)
Director of $94m Global Health Investment Fund underwritten by Gates Foundation and sponsored by other major organisations and governments.
Most alumni still in early career but are becoming leaders in their fields.
All bound by the notion of giving back in some way.

23. Further information
Website
Need more information?
All Cambridge funding opportunities
‘Funding search’ page
QUESTIONS