Clarendon Fund Scholarships

Course fees in full (Home or Overseas rate) plus, for full-time scholars, an annual living grant of at least the UKRI minimum doctoral stipend (at least GBP 20,780 in 2025-26; check the current figure on ox.ac.uk). Part-time scholars receive a smaller study support grant. Paid for the period of fee liability.

Fields: Any field

Open to most nationalities

• Applying for a new full-time or part-time Master's or DPhil course at the University of Oxford.
• Application submitted by the December or January admissions deadline that applies to your course.
• Open to all nationalities and all subjects.
• An outstanding academic record: most successful scholars hold at least a First Class degree or equivalent, such as a GPA of 3.7 out of 4, or an outstanding Master's.
• Not open to applicants holding a deferred offer or current students continuing the same degree.

There is no separate deadline: apply to your Oxford course by its December or January funding deadline for entry in October 2027 (check the exact date on your course page). Divisions shortlist in February or March, most offers are emailed by the end of April, and if you hear nothing by mid-June you have not been selected.

Deadlines move a little every year and some close early. Confirm the date on the official page before you plan around it.

• University of Oxford graduate application form (no separate scholarship form)
• Official transcripts
• CV or resume
• Statement of purpose or personal statement
• References (usually three, as set by the course)
• Research proposal or written work where your course asks for it
• English language test results where required

1. 1

   Step 1: Pick your Oxford course

   Choose a Master's or DPhil on the Oxford graduate courses page and note whether its deadline is in December or January.
2. 2

   Step 2: Prepare a strong application

   Gather transcripts, CV, statement of purpose, references and any research proposal or written work the course asks for.
3. 3

   Step 3: Apply by the funding deadline

   Submit the standard graduate application by the December or January deadline. You are then considered for Clarendon automatically.
4. 4

   Step 4: Department nomination

   Academics in your department nominate top applicants to the division, which shortlists in February or March.
5. 5

   Step 5: Watch for an offer

   Successful candidates receive an offer letter by email, mostly by the end of April, then a funding breakdown letter later in the summer.

• The scholarship depends on meeting the conditions of your Oxford offer of a place.
• Funding normally covers only the period of fee liability; continuation charges after that are not paid.
• Your award may be a bespoke package combined with a college or partner award decided by the University.

• Deadlines matter: applications after the December or January deadline are not considered, even if the course is still open.
• Clarendon is highly competitive and decided by your department, so a focused statement of purpose and strong academic references count most.
• If your first degree was a Second Class Upper, an exceptional Master's can help compensate.
• Clarendon is the largest Oxford scholarship scheme open to Africans, but you can also tick other Oxford scholarships (such as Weidenfeld-Hoffmann) on the same application.

Winning the award does not include the visa. Plan your application with our guide for the host country.

• United Kingdom student visa

Checked against these official pages on 16 Oct 2026.

• University of Oxford: Clarendon Fund (opens in a new tab)
• University of Oxford: Clarendon information for applicants (opens in a new tab)
• University of Oxford: Graduate application guide (opens in a new tab)