Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford - Berrow Foundation Scholarships

What the Berrow Foundation Scholarship gives you

As a member of Lincoln College, you will receive a scholarship of fully funded postgraduate degree at the University of Oxford for a maximum of 3 years. The scholarship covers all tuition fees at Oxford, including all university and college fees. In addition, you will receive a living allowance of approximately 23,700 euros per year (£20,400 in 2025/26), which is equivalent to the amount received by Rhodes Scholars. Each year, up to six of these scholarships are awarded by the Berrow Foundation in partnership with Lincoln College, Oxford. The scholarship does not cover laboratory fees or equipment costs.

Who can apply

• Nationality and home: You are a Swiss national and live in Switzerland. Both of these requirements must be met by the application deadline.
• Your Swiss university: You have completed your degree at the University of Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne, Neuchâtel or the EPFL. You are either still enrolled at one of these universities or obtained your first degree no more than 5 years ago.
• Degree level: You wish to undertake a postgraduate degree at Oxford, such as a DPhil, MSc, MLitt, MSt, MPhil, MJur or BPhil. Postdoctoral research is excluded from this.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Not already at Oxford: You are not currently studying at the University of Oxford.
• English: You have a very good command of spoken and written English.
• Personal qualities: You won’t be judged solely on your grades. The foundation also values honesty, courage, a sense of duty, selflessness and the ability to work as part of a team.

How to apply

Please apply via the online scholarship form on the Lincoln College website before applying for the Oxford degree programme itself. The application deadline is 28 August. If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to an interview in Geneva. Only once you have been selected should you submit the separate application for the Oxford degree programme, specifying Lincoln College as your preferred college.

How realistic are your chances?

The eligibility criteria are strict: you must be a Swiss national, be resident in Switzerland and hold a degree from one of the six universities listed. As a result, the pool of applicants is far smaller than for the University of Oxford’s open funding programmes. With up to six scholarships awarded each year, a well-suited candidate with outstanding grades and a proven track record of the personal qualities valued by the foundation has solid prospects. Admission to your chosen degree programme at Oxford is a separate hurdle, so you should set yourself high academic goals.