Meeting the first Gates Cambridge Scholars

William H Gates Sr, co-chair and CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has been in Cambridge this week to meet the first generation of Gates Cambridge Scholars.

151 of the brightest young people in the world joined the University this month through the scheme, which is one of the largest scholarships programmes ever established for university education. The students have come from 51 countries to pursue study across the whole field of knowledge: arts, sciences, humanities, social sciences, technology and medicine.

Establishing a trust worth US$210 million, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation set up a scheme that will run in perpetuity and enable gifted graduate students to study at Cambridge.

Students from every country in the world outside the UK are eligible to apply for scholarships; the scholarships cover all costs, including tuition, maintenance and travel.

The Gates Cambridge Scholars have been selected on grounds of academic ability and leadership potential. The programme is being built up over the next three years and, eventually, it is expected that at any one time there will be more than 250 Gates Cambridge Scholars in residence.

Through this initiative the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation hopes to create a network of future leaders who will bring new vision and commitment to improving the life circumstances of citizens in their respective countries. The programme will draw talented applicants from around the world, people from a wide array of backgrounds, representing a span of interests.

Over time, it is anticipated that Gates Cambridge Scholars will take a lead in addressing global problems related to health, equity, technology, and learning - all areas in which the foundation is deeply engaged.

"This first class of scholars brings some of the best and brightest students from around the world to Cambridge," said William H Gates, Sr. "In years to come, we hope they will be leaders in their fields and contributors to their home countries."

For Cambridge, the benefaction is the largest single sum that the University has ever received. Sir Alec Broers, University of Cambridge Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of the Gates Cambridge Trust, is delighted to welcome the Scholars to Cambridge.

"We have always tried to bring in as wide a range of international students as possible through our independent trusts. However, this amazingly generous benefaction takes things to an entirely new level and will eventually bring over 250 more students here to study, primarily at graduate level. We are very grateful to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for their vision in establishing a scheme that ensures some of the brightest young people in the world will have the chance to study here."

The scholarships are for a tenure of one to three years, with the possible extension of a fourth year.

Students can apply now for entry in October 2002 through the Gates Scholarship web site or by telephoning the Gates Cambridge Trust Office on (00 44) 1223 338467.