The Clarendon Fund - Clarendon Fund: Graduate Scholarships at the University of Oxford

Clarendon Fund graduate scholarship

You will receive your full course fees at the University of Oxford paid as well as a living costs allowance. If you are studying full-time, this allowance will be at least approximately 1,990 euros per month (20,780 GBP per year in 2025/26). This corresponds to the UKRI minimum PhD stipend, which is the standard UK research grant (a regular payment to cover living costs). If you are studying part-time, your tuition fees will be covered and you will also receive a smaller study grant amounting to one-sixth, one-third or half of this amount, as specified in your offer letter. The funding generally applies for the entire period during which you are officially charged tuition fees for your degree programme. The Clarendon Fund is Oxford’s largest scholarship programme. Each year, it awards over 230 new scholarships and supports around 700 scholarship holders from approximately 70 countries.

Who can apply

• Level: You are starting a new Master’s degree (MSc, MSt, MBA, MFE, MPhil or BPhil) or a DPhil (the University of Oxford’s term for a PhD), either full-time or part-time.
• Course type: Only degree courses count. A postgraduate certificate or diploma is not sufficient.
• Field of study: Open to all departments at the university.
• Nationality: Applications are open to candidates from all over the world and across all fee categories (UK and international).
• Grades: You must have an outstanding academic record, typically a degree with first-class honours or an equivalent qualification (for example, an average mark of at least 3.7 on a 4.0 scale). A very good Master’s result can compensate for a slightly weaker first degree.
• New applicants only: You must apply for a new degree programme. You cannot apply if you are already studying at Oxford and are simply continuing with the same degree programme. Current Master’s students at Oxford who are reapplying for a DPhil may apply.
• No deferrals: You cannot apply if you have postponed your application to a later year.

How to apply

There is no separate scholarship application form. You will automatically be considered if you apply for your Master’s programme at Oxford by the relevant application deadline in December or January. The faculties assess applicants and nominate the best candidates for the Clarendon Scholarship; the academic departments then draw up a shortlist. Successful applicants are usually notified by the end of April. If you have not heard anything by mid-June, you have not been selected.

How realistic are your chances?

Clarendon is a prestigious college open to all disciplines and nationalities. As such, it attracts top-calibre applicants from around the world and is extremely competitive. There are no separate application stages that you can optimise. Selection depends entirely on the quality of your application, in particular your grades, your research proposal and your references. If your academic achievements are truly outstanding, your proposed research proposal stands out from the rest and you meet Oxford’s application deadline, you have a genuine chance of securing one of the over 230 places available.