INTERNATIONAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS CAMBRIDGE
THE GATES CAMBRIDGE SCHOLARSHIP ARE YOU A LEADER? The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme was established in October 2000 when the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation donated $210 million to the University of Cambridge. This is the largest single donation made to a UK University. The Scholarships are awarded to exceptional applicants from outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject available at Cambridge. Becoming a Gates Cambridge Scholar offers students an extraordinary set of opportunities while studying at one of the best universities in the world. One of the principal aims of the programme is to create a global network of future leaders in all walks of life dedicated to improving the lives of others. This is already happening. We have already created an active Scholar community in Cambridge and beyond, with more than 1,000 past and present students from more than 90 different countries now proudly calling themselves Gates Cambridge Scholars. Could you be a Gates Cambridge Scholar? Do you have outstanding intellectual ability, leadership potential and a real commitment to improving the lives of others? And do your abilities and aspirations accord with what the University of Cambridge can offer in its postgraduate programme? If so, read on and meet some of our current Gates Cambridge Scholars. GatesCambridgehasgivenme anunbelievableopportunity tobringtogethersomeofthe smartestandmostengaged peopleontheplanet.together wearecreatingandputtingin placestrategiesfortackling globalpoverty. Toby Norman, USA Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate a clear ability to lead. Evidence of leadership can be expressed in a multitude of ways but the capacity of Gates Cambridge Scholars to take others with them is central to the success of the programme. Njoki Wamai, Kenya Whether helping shape the Kenyan government s youth policy, improving its human rights laws, or working with the UN on women s rights issues in Africa, Njoki is an experienced activist and influencer. Her leadership skills have been recognised in numerous ways, including an African Leadership Centre Fellowship which identified her as a next generation leader in peace and security in Africa. At Cambridge, Njoki is undertaking a PhD which looks at ways to develop sustainable peace processes that include often excluded groups like women. She continues to write on-line political commentary and undertake outreach to talented students in Africa. These prestigious and highly competitive Scholarships cover the full cost of studying at Cambridge, including all University and College fees and a living allowance. COVER IMAGE: SIR CAM 2 CHRIS LOADES BeingaGatesCambridgeScholaris bothhumblingandmotivating.iam constantlyinspiredbyourcommunity ofamazingchange-makers Scholars fromallovertheworldareworking ondifferentchallengesandarebound bythedesiretousetheirknowledge andskillstohelpothers. 3
DO YOU HAVE THE INTELLECTUAL ABILITY? DO YOU WANT TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS? Gates Cambridge Scholars are expected to be academically outstanding with the ability to make a significant contribution to their discipline while in Cambridge. At the start of the application process, potential Scholars are nominated by the Cambridge department they are applying to. Only the most outstanding candidates are considered further. John Ottem, Norway Before becoming a Gates Cambridge Scholar, John won both Fulbright and McKinsey & Co Scholarships to study Mathematics at the University of Oslo. There he won several prizes in mathematical olympiads and programming competitions and his master s thesis was awarded the Norwegian Computing Centre s prize for the best thesis in mathematics. Now in the second year of his PhD, John has already written five outstanding academic papers within his research field, algebraic geometry. His most recent paper has been published in Advances in Mathematics, one of the world s most prestigious mathematical journals. A defining characteristic of the Gates Cambridge Scholarships is the commitment of our Scholars to working for the greater good. Although broadly interpreted, this concept is nonetheless fundamental and sets this programme apart from others of its kind. Julia Fan Li, Canada Julia is studying for a PhD in Technology Management. Inspired by a public lecture given by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda at Cambridge, she co-founded the African Innovation Prize (AIP). AIP is a university-based competition running throughout Rwanda which awards seed funding to students starting their own business ventures. AIP is now moving into its second country in partnership with the University of Sierra Leone. Julia has also served on Cambridge University Council as graduate representative and she has started an Acumen Fund interest chapter, LONDON+Acumen, championing investment in developing country entrepreneurs. Most recently, she initiated and convened the Cambridge Global Health Commercialization and Funding Roundtable, a two-day conference on innovative financing for global health. Coming to Cambridge and working alongside some of the most brilliant minds in my field has been amazing. And it has been a privilege to be part of the Gates Cambridge network and meet some truly inspirational people from all around the world. 4 CHRIS LOADES SIR CAM Gates Cambridge is a community of brilliant people who care about their own research and global issues at large. Many of us are trying to use research to solve the grand challenges we face today. For me, that means continuing my work on integrating innovation and access in the life-sciences. 5
IS CAMBRIDGE RIGHT FOR YOU? HOW TO APPLY The University of Cambridge is one of the top research universities in the world and attracts the highest calibre of students. Candidates for the Gates Cambridge Scholarships need to know why they want to come to Cambridge in particular, and must be able to show that their abilities and aspirations fit well with what Cambridge has to offer. The Gates Cambridge Scholars are a great credit to the University and are highly regarded by their academic departments. Pro-Vice Chancellor and Professor of Information Engineering, Steve Young, has supervised a number of Gates Cambridge Scholars. Theyaretrulyoutstanding individuals.notonlyarethey exceptionallybrightbuttheyare alsoexcellentcommunicators, realteamplayersandalways willingtohelpothers. To be eligible for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you must be a citizen from outside the UK and must apply to, and be accepted by, the University of Cambridge to undertake a full-time postgraduate degree. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship application process runs from September to mid-october for US citizens who are based in the USA. Interviews take place in February in the USA. For non-us citizens and US citizens not living in the USA, a second round of applications run from September to early December. Interviews take place in Cambridge during March. For both rounds of interviews, candidates can choose to be interviewed in person, by telephone or Skype. You must apply for a postgraduate degree at Cambridge and for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship at the same time, using the same application form. It is the University that decides which students to admit. The application form and its supporting documents (personal and academic references, transcripts and other materials which are required by the department to which you are applying) must be submitted by the correct deadline. For more information on how to apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, visit our website at www.gatescambridge.org. If you have any questions, email us at info@gatescambridge.org. Gates Cambridge is the most prestigious postgraduate Scholarship at one of the world s leading universities. We have very high expectations of all our Scholars. 6 SIR CAM 7
T 44 (0) 1223 338467 F 44 (0) 1223 577004 E info@gatescambridge.org Ground Floor, The Warehouse, 33 Bridge Street, Cambridge CB2 1UW United Kingdom www.gatescambridge.org Honorary Patrons: Bill and Melinda Gates