Bill Gates Scholarship is a Scholarship program funded by Bill & Melinda Gates foundation (BMGF), formerly called the Williams H. Gates Foundation.
The Gates family is known to be a family that prioritize giving, they have over the years developed a strong desire to give back to the society, the family believes that the way out of economic poverty is when the next generation have access to good and quality education.
The Gates scholarship have invested in students over the years and have supported various other Scholarship program both undergraduate and post graduate student.
This article would provide you with everything you need to know about the Bill Gates Scholarship.
Who Is Bill Gate?
Bill Gate is an American businessman, software developer, investor and philanthropist, he is the cofounder of popular technology company Microsoft, an organization he founded in 1972 alongside his childhood friend Paul Allen.
Bill Gate was married to Melinda Gates and they were blessed with three children before they got divorced in 2021.
Bill Gates believes that the future of the next generation would be secured if quality education is made available for every kid.
The billionaire philanthropist has invested million of dollars in providing free and quality education for children not only in America, but across the globe.
His scholarship is been organized by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, a foundation he formed with his ex-wife to provide funding for less privileged kids.
Bill Gates Scholarships 2022/2023
Every year, the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation awards 300 scholarship to deserving overseas student for undergraduate courses.
The Bill Gates scholarship provide funding to cover tuition, accommodation and board, transportation, books as well as some other few academic logistics.
Also Read: How To Be Chosen For The Mandela Washington Fellowship
The Bill Gates scholarship program for 2022 is now open for undergraduate degrees from overseas students, any body can apply for this scholarship program not withstanding your academic background.
Are You A Displaced Student: Checkout Columbia University Scholarships To Displaced Students
Eligibility For The Bill Gates Scholarship
- To be eligible to apply for the Bill Gates scholarship, you must meet some criteria, interested applicants should go through the list below to see if you are qualified to apply.
- Applicants must be a senior in high school
- Applicants must be from one of the following ethnicities, Indian American/ Alaska Native, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American.
- Applicants must be a citizen of the United States or have a permanent residency in the country
- Applicants must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent.
- Applicants must show exceptional qualities in high school and must have excellent result, he or she must be among the top 10 graduating student in the graduating year.
- Interested applicants must also intend to enroll for a 4 year degree program in an accredited United states university.
- Pell-eligible
- Applicants must also show exceptional leadership qualities, e.g by participating in community service or extra curricular activities.
- Applicants must also show emotional maturity and other6 success abilities.
How To Apply for The Bill Gates Scholarships
Application for the Bill Gates scholarship is easy, all you have to do is to visit the official website of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and apply for the scholarship, the website is easy to navigate, as part of your application requirements you would be asked to list your special skills, all you need to do is exhibit your leadership qualities.
Gates Foundation Masters Fellowship
The Gates Foundation in collaboration with the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (IHE Delft), recently announced the introduction of a new masters of science program in sanitation, this is to carter for the needs of scholars looking for such kind of fellowships.
The Gates Foundation masters fellowship is located in the IHE headquaters in Delft, Netherlands, and its thesis work is usually done overseas with top institutions in various continents like Africa, and Asia.
Eligibility for the Gates Foundation Masters Fellowship
Anyone can apply for the Gates foundation masters fellowship, but special consideration is given to candidates from South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Candidates must poses a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in any of the listed courses below: Civil Engineering, environmental engineering, sanitary engineering. Applicants can also posses a degree in public health, medicine, urban planning, administration, finances, economics or other public related courses.
Age or gender isn’t a criteria, any gender can apply but you must be a Latin American, North American or an European citizen.
Benefit of the Gates foundation masters fellowship.
Only 15 qualified student would be picked in the inaugural session of the Gates foundation masters fellowship, the committee mandated to select student would pick 15 outstanding candidates and would offer them scholarships for that Msc.
Meanwhile from other editions up to 50 students would be selected to benefit from the Gates foundation masters fellowship and financing would be provided.
Other Types of Bill Gates Scholarships
1. Gates Cambridge Scholarship
The Gates Cambridge scholarship is a scholarship that was formed in 2000 by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation in partnership with the Cambridge university U.K, the foundation funded the scholarship with €210 million, which was the largest contribution to a UK university at the time it was made.
The primary purpose of the Gates Cambridge scholarship is to create leaders globally, the scholarship provides financing for 90 post graduate students and also comes with extra benefits like children allowance, maternity/parternity funds etc.
2. William H. Gates Public Service Law Program
The William H. Gates Public Service Law Program is specially dedicated to the university of Washington law students.
The scholarship was program was named after Bill Gates dad, William H. Gates and was presented as a 80th birthday gift to him by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation.
William H.Gates was a law student in the University of Washington, the foundation is meant to provide $33.3 million over the next 80 years.
3. The Gates Scholarship
This is one of the most competitive scholarship offered by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, it was established in 2018 and have supported over 3000 students since it’s inception.
The TGS as the Gates scholarship is fondly called selects 300 high school graduate every year, and provides tuition for the selected students, benefits like lodging, books and accommodation are also provided.
The scholarship assists you from your freshman year all through your year of graduation.
4. Gates Millennium Scholars Program
The Gates Millennium Scholars program is another top scholarship program offered by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, the scholarship program was established in 1999, its goal was to increase the number of Asian American, African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Pacific Islander American, and Hispanic American students in the following courses: mathematics, education, computer science, public health and library education.
The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation provided an initial budget of $1.6 billion to The Gates Millennium scholars program, however the scholarship program has been suspended after it meet its objective of sponsoring 20,000 students.
the scholarship was handled by the United Negro College Fund, there are high chances that the scholarship might soon be reopen, keep a tough with Smart scholars hub to get timely update to apply when the The Gates Millennium Scholars program would reopen.
5. DC Achievers Scholarship
DC Achievers scholarship is made specially to carter for the educational needs of low income students in the district of Columbia especially those in ward 7 and ward 8.
The College Success Foundation-District of Columbia was founded in 2006 as a non-profit educational agency and was supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation in 2007 to establish the DC acheivers scholarship program.
6. University Scholars Program
The University Scholars Program is another top scholarship program in which the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation are partners, it was established in 1998 by the office of the vice provost of interdisciplinary studies at Duke University which happens to be Melinda Gates alma mater.
The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation supports this scholarship program with a $20 million contribution.
The University scholars program (USP) carters for both undergraduates, and post graduate and professional school students, there is no fixed amount payable for this scholarship, each recipient gets paid depending on there departments initiatives.
Application for the university scholars program is not open for the public for post graduate courses, the candidates are nominated by the Director of Graduate Studies for graduates and the Admissions and Financial Aid offices for professional school students, however undergraduate student can apply directly for the scholarship by completing the necessary financial assistance paperwork’s.
Conclusion
The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation have continued to invest Billion of dollars in the education sector, to make sure standard and quality education is provided for every student, it is left for you to take grasp of the opportunity.
Most of this scholarship mentioned above are highly competitive, so you need to make your application stand out to have a higher chance of been picked.
