Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford - Clarendon Scholarships for outstanding students

What the Clarendon Scholarship covers

If you are enrolled as a full-time student at the University of Oxford, your tuition fees will be covered in full and you will also receive an annual living allowance of at least about 24,230 EUR (£20,780 in 2025/26). This funding will continue for as long as you are liable for tuition fees. This is usually 1 years for a Master’s programme involving lectures and 3 to 4 years for a DPhil, as Oxford calls the PhD. Part-time students receive a smaller grant, amounting to one-sixth, one-third or half of the living allowance, depending on the programme. The Clarendon Fund is Oxford’s largest scholarship programme, funded primarily from the profits of Oxford University Press. Each year, it offers more than 200 new, fully-funded places.

Who can apply

• Degree level: You are starting a new Master’s or DPhil programme at Oxford, either full-time or part-time (e.g. MSc, MPhil, BPhil, MSt, MBA or DPhil).
• Where you study: University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
• Field of study: All topics are open.
• Nationality: Applicants from all countries are welcome to apply. There are no residency requirements.
• New start only: You must be starting a new degree programme. You cannot apply if you are continuing the same degree programme or have deferred your place. If you are currently studying for a Master’s degree and wish to apply for a DPhil programme or another Master’s programme, you may apply.
• Academic record: You must have an outstanding academic record, typically a first-class Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification (such as a grade point average of 3.7 or higher on a 4.0 scale) or excellent results at Master’s level. Selection is based solely on academic merit. Financial need is not a factor.

How to apply

There is no separate scholarship application form. Apply for your Master’s programme at Oxford by the deadline in December or January, and your application will automatically be considered. For the 2026/27 round, depending on your programme, the deadline is 2 December 2025 or 8 January 2026. Your department will review your application and shortlist the best candidates. The academic departments will then draw up a shortlist in February or March. Successful applicants are usually notified by email by the end of April.

How realistic are your chances?

Oxford expressly points out that these scholarships are highly sought-after. As they are open to all disciplines and all nationalities, the pool of applicants is huge. Selection is based solely on academic excellence; therefore, first-class academic performance, along with strong references and a compelling research proposal, are the minimum requirements to remain in the running. With over 200 places available each year, there are indeed places to be had; however, these are reserved solely for applicants who are clearly among the very best in their field.