GATES CAMBRIDGE TRUST - 2014
OVERVIEW
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Gates Cambridge Scholarships are full-cost awards for graduate study and research in any subject
available at the University of Cambridge. A small number are also available for study towards a
second undergraduate degree.
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The scholarships are highly competitive and are awarded to citizens of any country outside the
United Kingdom.
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Scholarships are awarded on the basis of the candidate’s academic excellence, a good fit between
the Scholar and the University of Cambridge, evidence of leadership potential and a commitment to
improving the lives of others.
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The Trust seeks to elect approximately 100 new Gates Scholars annually (although the exact
number of awards may change from year to year). Approximately 40 of the 100 new scholarships
each year will be awarded to US citizens.
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All candidates shortlisted for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship attend a brief interview.
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Decisions on awards are made on different timetables for different parts of the world. The majority
of US Gates Scholars are selected in early February; Gates Scholars from all other countries are
selected in mid-April.
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The award of a scholarship is absolutely conditional on the student gaining admission to Cambridge
through the University's regular procedures. The Gates Cambridge Trust is not able to admit
students.
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There are usually about 250 Gates Scholars in residence at any one time, about 100 of whom will
be from the USA. While in residence, Gates Cambridge Scholars become fully integrated into the
University and its Colleges and engage in full-time intensive academic work.
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Upon graduation Scholars join Cambridge's widespread and influential alumni network. There are
over 550 Gates Alumni spread throughout the world, all of whom are members of and are
represented by the Gates Scholars' Alumni Association.
The scholarship programme is in its 12th year. Since the inaugural class of Gates Scholars in
2001, there have been 1000 Gates Cambridge Scholarships from 90 different countries.
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See http://www.gatesscholar.org for details.
QUALIFICATIONS
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may be citizens of any country outside the United Kingdom.
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may apply to study any subject available at the University of Cambridge.
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must apply to pursue one of the following full-time residential courses of study:
o
Research leading to the PhD degree
o
One-year post-graduate courses (e.g. MPhil, LLM, Diploma, MBA etc.)
o
2 year MSc degree
o
Second Bachelor degree as an Affiliated Student
o
MBBChir Clinical Studies
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must be admitted to Cambridge through the University's normal academic procedures. The Trust
cannot admit students.
must have a first class or high second class honours degree, or its equivalent, from a recognised
university. For universities which work according to the North American pattern, candidates will be
expected to have excellent transcripts with high GPA scores showing evidence of sustained
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achievement in study, together with the type of academic references which speak of the candidate's
leadership potential, social commitment, intellectual ability and why further study at Cambridge is
particularly appropriate. The Gates Cambridge Trust does not require candidates to take a GRE test,
although some Departments in Cambridge may do so; candidates should check the relevant section
of the Graduate Studies Prospectus.
GRADUATE STUDY
All applicants from countries other than the United States of America (except the UK) who wish to apply
for admission as a graduate student and for awards offered by the Cambridge Trusts must complete and
submit a Graduate Admission and Scholarship Application Form (GRADSAF) to the Board of Graduate
Studies by the following deadlines:
Research leading to the degree of PhD14: December, 2014
One-year postgraduate course (e.g. MPhil, Diploma, LLM, CASM*) - January, 2015 (or course deadline,
whichever is earlier)
By submitting one GRADSAF form per course applied for, applicants will be considered for:

admission to a course of graduate study or research by the Board of Graduate Studies

admission to a College by one or more of the Cambridge Colleges

funding offered by the Cambridge Trusts
However, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply to all other sources of funding (whether from
sources in Cambridge, the UK or the applicant's home country). Applicants who are citizens of countries
of the European Union are reminded to apply, where eligible, for awards offered by the Research
Councils.
The GRADSAF form is available in hard copy from the printed version of the Graduate Studies
Prospectus 2014-15; it can also be accessed electronically in the following ways:

by downloading the GRADSAF form as a pdf document
www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/gradstud/admissions/forms/

by completing the GRADSAF form online (£25 fee)
PERSONAL STATEMENT
The graduate application form includes an application for all trusts, including the Gates Trust. This portion
of the application requires a personal statement of not more than 500 words describing how your interests
and achievements, both academic and extra-curricular, demonstrating a capacity for leadership,
commitment to using your knowledge to serve your community and to applying your talents to improve
the lives of others. Candidates who wish to be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship MUST
complete this section. Please note that this information is taken into account for candidates who wish to
be considered for awards offered by the Cambridge Trusts but is NOT considered as part of your
application for the course.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
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Investigate the graduate programs available at Cambridge. www.cam.ac.uk/
Begin filling in the application form well in advance, noting the required statements, references
and qualifications.
For assistance, you should contact Elsie Nisonen, Student Awards Coordinator, 416-979-5000
*3145 enisonen@ryerson.ca as soon as you determine that you are interested in applying to
establish a timeline for the development of your application package.
Discuss your list of referees, personal statement, and other application details.
Ensure that the application is submitted by the appropriate deadline. Note that deadlines may
vary depending on the course of study you choose.
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