Trending Fully Funded Scholarships at the University of Oxford 2027

Overview

The University of Oxford in the United Kingdom provides a wide selection of scholarship schemes for undergraduate and postgraduate education in the 2027-2028 academic year. These opportunities support academic excellence, leadership, public service, and research, serving students from Africa and around the globe. Available awards include the Reach Oxford Scholarship for undergraduates from low-income countries, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and Africa Oxford Initiative, the Clarendon Fund Scholarships, the Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Graduate Scholarship in the Humanities, the Oxford-Oak Zimbabwe Graduate Scholarship, and the Poler Family Oxford Graduate Scholarship.

Who can apply

Applicants include prospective undergraduate and graduate students, with several schemes focused on African nationals, residents of African countries, low-income country applicants, and Zimbabwean candidates. The Reach Oxford Scholarship is intended for students from low-income countries who face significant financial barriers. The Mastercard Foundation and Africa Oxford Initiative partnership, alongside the Poler Family scholarship, targets African citizens and residents undertaking specific master's degrees. The Oxford-Oak Zimbabwe Graduate Scholarship prioritizes Zimbabwean nationals or residents applying for social sciences master's courses, with preference for the Blavatnik School of Government. The Clarendon Fund and Ertegun Graduate Scholarship programs are open to exceptional graduate students across various countries and disciplines, subject to course eligibility.

What you get

Depending on the specific award and applicant eligibility, funding schemes cover university course fees, living expenses, or both. The Reach Oxford Scholarship covers course fees, provides a grant towards living costs, and includes one return air fare per year between Oxford and the home country. The Clarendon Fund offers approximately 200 new fully funded scholarships annually covering course fees and living expenses for the fee liability period. The Ertegun Graduate Scholarship covers course fees and living expenses for the full duration of fee liability in selected humanities fields. The Oxford-Oak scholarship and Mastercard Foundation funding likewise cover course fees and living expense grants for the duration of the agreed course.

Requirements

Eligibility conditions vary by program and may require academic excellence, leadership potential, community service, and a commitment to returning home or contributing to public service or continental development. Candidates for the Reach Oxford Scholarship must demonstrate strong academic ability and intent to return to their home countries. Mastercard Foundation applicants must show evidence of leadership, community service, and a commitment to addressing challenges in Africa. Ertegun applicants must pursue selected humanities disciplines such as history, English, music, philosophy, theology and religion, languages, classical studies, or Asian and Middle Eastern studies. Oxford-Oak applicants receive preference for Blavatnik School of Government courses and must show commitment to Zimbabwean public service.

How to apply

Application procedures differ across the various Oxford schemes. Some programs review candidates automatically upon submitting a university course application by the relevant December or January deadline, while others demand separate steps. For the Reach Oxford Scholarship, candidates must first secure an offer for an eligible undergraduate course and follow instructions opening in January 2027. Clarendon Fund candidates are generally considered automatically upon submitting their graduate course applications by the December or January deadline. Conversely, Ertegun applicants must select the relevant funding option on their graduate application and attach a supporting statement by the December or January deadline. Applicants for the Mastercard Foundation program and the Oxford-Oak scholarship should monitor official university announcements to confirm updated 2027-2028 requirements and procedures.

Key dates

Applications for 2027 entry to the Reach Oxford Scholarship are expected to open in January 2027. Graduate course applications linked to automatic scholarship consideration, such as the Clarendon Fund, follow December or January deadlines specific to the chosen program. Details and updated instructions for 2027-2028 entry in certain schemes remain to be confirmed by the university.