[5] The scholarship covers the cost of a postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge and includes funding for academic and professional development.

The application process begins with prospective students applying to study for an eligible degree at the University of Cambridge, either during the U.S. or the global round.

The list of departmental nominees is then forwarded to the Gates Cambridge Trust, where it is divided into broad subject areas and passed to the Shortlisting Committees.

Each Committee reviews the entirety of a departmental nominee and applies the Gates Cambridge selection criteria to shortlist applicants for interview.

[6] The aim of the Gates Cambridge programme is to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others.

[10][11] The Foundation gave Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi its 2019 Global Goalkeeper Award for the Swachh Bharat Mission[12] and the "progress India has made in providing safe sanitation under his leadership.