University College London — Gatsby Bridging Programme Scholarship For Undergraduates & Master’s — 2026

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Looking to strengthen your maths so you can move into theoretical neuroscience or machine learning? UCL’s Gatsby Bridging Programme is the place to do it. Below is a practical, comprehensive guide for prospective penultimate/final-year undergraduates and Master’s students (including recent grads) aiming at the 2026 cohort: eligibility, what’s covered, how to apply, common mistakes to avoid, deadlines, real-life examples, and final takeaways. I base the key facts on UCL’s official Gatsby Bridging Programme page and related Gatsby materials.

What the Gatsby Bridging Programme is

  • A seven-week intensive mathematics summer school (full-time, Mon–Sat) run by UCL’s Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit. It teaches foundations used in theoretical neuroscience and machine learning: calculus, linear algebra, probability, ODEs, Fourier analysis, convolution, etc.
  • Target audience: penultimate- or final-year undergraduates, Master’s students or recent graduates whose prior degree does not provide strong mathematical training but who want to pursue postgraduate research in theoretical neuroscience and/or machine learning. UCL explicitly encourages applicants from groups under-represented in STEM.

Key dates for the 2026 Programme

  • Programme dates: June–August 2026 (exact dates TBC).
  • Application opens: early January 2026.
  • Application deadline: early February 2026 (applications may close earlier if capacity is reached).
  • Outcome communicated: by early April 2026.
  • Offer acceptance deadline: 1 week after outcome notification.

Important: those dates are published by UCL on the Gatsby Bridging Programme page — check that page again when you’re preparing to apply because exact days and capacity rules can change.

Eligibility — who should apply

You should consider applying if you meet all the following (summary from UCL):

  1. Strong interest in postgraduate research in theoretical neuroscience and/or machine learning.
  2. Currently taking or recently completed an undergraduate or Master’s degree that lacks the type of mathematical training covered by the programme. (If you already have the necessary math foundation, they suggest other routes.)
  3. Background in a relevant field (biological sciences — neuroscience or cognitive psychology — or computer science).
  4. Have A-level (or equivalent) mathematics.
  5. Evidence of academic excellence and a good command of English.
  6. Willingness to abide by programme terms and attend in person full-time.
    UCL also gives positive priority to applicants from widening-participation groups (e.g., certain ethnic minorities, care background, first-generation university, low-income backgrounds, refugees, caring responsibilities).

What The Scholarship Covers

  • No programme fees. The course itself does not charge tuition. However, students are normally expected to cover travel, accommodation and subsistence
  • To broaden participation, UCL offers a limited number of bursaries to help with accommodation, travel to/from London and the UK Standard Visitor visa application fee (6-month). Bursaries are awarded on assessed need.

(If you’re comparing with other UCL scholarships for degree programmes — e.g., UCL Global scholarships — those are separate schemes that fund Master’s or undergraduate degree study and have different rules.)

How to apply

Below is a practical breakdown:

  1. Read the full UCL Gatsby Bridging Programme web page and the “full list of questions” for the form before you start — the online form can’t be saved mid-progress. (UCL warns the form is best viewed on a computer.) (University College London)
  2. Prepare documents & evidence typically requested:
    • Degree transcripts (undergrad/Master’s).
    • Evidence of A-level (or equivalent) maths.
    • Short CV (academic background, research experience if any).
    • Motivation/personal statement addressing: why you want to do research in theoretical neuroscience/ML; why you lack the maths background now; what you hope to gain; and any widening-participation circumstances.
    • Supporting documents for widening-participation claims (if relevant) — e.g., proof of low income, care status, refugee status.
    • Contact details for an academic referee (if the form asks) — check the form ahead of time.
  3. Complete the online application form in one session (because you cannot save and return). Use the drive/google doc link on the UCL page that shows every question in advance so you can draft answers offline first.
  4. Be explicit about maths experience: list courses, modules, self-study (textbooks, online courses, projects), and any programming/math software familiarity. The selectors want to see potential as well as current gaps.
  5. If you need financial help, request a bursary in the application and attach supporting evidence. Bursaries are limited and means-tested.
  6. Submit before the deadline — UCL may close early if applications exceed review capacity.

What the selectors look for (so you can tailor your application)

  • Motivation and clarity about why you want to move into theoretical neuroscience / ML research.
  • Evidence of academic potential even if your mathematics background is limited (good grades, relevant coursework, research curiosity).
  • Concrete examples of a sustained interest (projects, reading, coursework, clubs, online courses).
  • Widening participation information where relevant — UCL uses positive action to increase diversity and encourages applicants to provide supporting docs if appropriate.

Common mistakes applicants make — and how to avoid them

  1. Waiting to start the form on the deadline day. The form cannot be saved; draft answers offline first and paste them in. (Avoid last-minute upload/format errors.)
  2. Under-selling non-math strengths. If you’re from biology or psychology, explain how your background prepares you for research and why you need the math bridge. Give concrete examples (lab work, coding, data analysis).
  3. Not supplying evidence for widening-participation claims. If you ask for bursary or positive action, attach clear documents (e.g., evidence of care leaver status, income support). Without support documents your request is harder to assess.
  4. Not being specific in the motivation statement. Generic lines (“I love machine learning”) won’t help — state what research questions interest you, what gaps you hope the programme fills, and how you plan to use the skills afterward.
  5. Ignoring logistics (visa, travel). If you’ll need a visa, factor that into timelines; bursary cover for visa fee is possible but limited. Apply well ahead for travel/visa planning.

Relatable Examples

  • Example A — Biology undergraduate (Nigeria): Final-year BSc in Neuroscience; strong lab grades but limited calculus. Wrote a motivation statement linking lab experience on synaptic plasticity to curiosity about mathematical models of learning; listed online coursework in linear algebra and small coding projects; requested a bursary for travel and provided documentation of low family income. Result: shortlisted (hypothetical example illustrating strong framing).
  • Example B — Computer science student (Kenya): Penultimate-year CS student with programming experience but limited formal probability/statistics. Focused statement on transitioning to theoretical ML, cited a small personal project implementing basic Bayesian models, and emphasized first-in-family university status under widening-participation. Asked for no bursary. (Hypothetical but typical pattern.)

These are illustrative ways of translating non-math strengths into a compelling case; reviewers want to see realistic preparedness and commitment. (UCL encourages widening-participation applicants.)

Quick application checklist

  • Read the full UCL Gatsby Bridging Programme webpage and the “full list of questions” document.
  • Draft your motivation statement offline (address research interest + maths gap + what you’ll do next).
  • Gather transcripts, A-level/equivalent maths proof, CV, and any widening-participation evidence.
  • Prepare referee contact details (if asked).
  • Prepare bursary evidence if you need funding.
  • Fill the form on a computer in one session; double-check attachments before submitting.
  • Submit well before the early-Feb 2026 deadline (or earlier if the quota fills).

Additional context on Gatsby and the research pathway

The Gatsby Charitable Foundation funds and supports theoretical neuroscience and related research, and UCL’s Gatsby Unit is a world-renowned centre in this space. The Bridging Programme is intended as a pre-doctoral stepping stone into research degrees (MPhil/PhD) that combine neuroscience and machine learning. If your long-term goal is a PhD in those fields, this summer school is designed precisely to make you competitive.

Final thoughts

Yes if you: want to pivot from a non-math degree into research in theoretical neuroscience/ML; can commit full-time for seven weeks in London; and either can self-fund travel/accommodation or convincingly demonstrate need for a bursary.

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