Barnett Scholarship

What you get

You get a full scholarship: it pays your course fees in full and adds a small stipend (a regular allowance) towards living costs. It runs for three years, or two years if you are an MPhil candidate moving into DPhil study. The award comes from the Department of Social Policy and Intervention (DSPI) at the University of Oxford. The department does not publish a fixed figure, so confirm the exact stipend by email before you apply.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You are applying for a DPhil (Oxford's name for a doctorate) at the DSPI.
• Current students welcome: You can apply as a brand-new applicant or as a student already doing an MSc or MPhil in the department.
• Field of study: Any DPhil within the DSPI counts, not just one subject.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.
• Grades: Selection is on academic merit alone, judged on your academic record and your potential. There is no financial-need test.

How to apply

There is no separate form. You are considered automatically when you submit your Oxford graduate admissions application by the funding deadline of 27 January 2026. Applications sent after that date miss out on this funding.

How realistic are your chances?

This is one of only two departmental scholarships the DSPI offers each year, so competition is real and the academic bar is high. Your prospects rest almost entirely on your academic record and research potential, since there is no separate application and no need test to weigh in your favour. A strong doctoral profile submitted well before the January deadline gives you the best shot.