DPIR and DPIR-College Scholarships / Clarendon Scholarships / ESRC Scholarships

What you get

These are three separate funding routes for graduate study (Master's or DPhil/PhD) in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford. Each can cover your full course fees plus a living-cost stipend (a fixed yearly payment for your living expenses), and in some cases they can be combined.

• Clarendon Scholarships: Full course fees (Home or overseas rate) plus a living stipend of at least about EUR 24,500 per year (£20,780 in 2025/26). It runs for your full fee-liable period, up to 4 years for a DPhil. The Clarendon Fund awards over 200 new scholarships a year and currently supports over 700 students from around 70 countries.
• ESRC Grand Union DTP Scholarships: Full course fees (Home or international rate) plus the same yearly stipend of about EUR 24,500 (£20,780 in 2025/26), with extra money for fieldwork, placements and conferences. Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council through a partnership of Oxford, Brunel University London and The Open University, with roughly 35 places a year. Every award includes a compulsory 3-month "Research in Practice" placement. It does not cover visa fees, the international health surcharge or travel costs for international students.
• DPIR and College Scholarships: A limited number of awards for applicants who already hold a place, run jointly with Oxford colleges (Nuffield, The Queen's, University College, Christ Church). Nuffield College guarantees full funding (fees and living costs, about EUR 20,900 / £17,668 per year at the 2022/23 rate) for every admitted student, for up to 4 years, plus office space, free lunches, a research allowance and paid thesis binding.

Who can apply

• Level: Full-time or part-time Master's and DPhil/PhD students in politics and international relations.
• New students only: You must be starting your course, not continuing one you have already begun. ESRC funding cannot go to standalone Master's degrees; you must intend to do doctoral research.
• Field of study: Clarendon has no subject restriction. ESRC funding is for the social sciences.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply to all three routes.
• Grades: You have outstanding results, usually at least a First Class Honours degree or equivalent (for example a GPA of 3.7/4.0 or higher).
• Potential: You can show a strong research proposal, references and a personal statement setting out your motivation.
• Not eligible for Clarendon: Applicants with a deferred offer, or current students continuing in the same course.

How to apply

You do not fill in a separate form for Clarendon or the DPIR college awards. Apply for your course by the December or January funding deadline and you are automatically considered. For an ESRC studentship, choose your pathway and apply to Oxford by the relevant funding deadline. Then select "ESRC Grand Union DTP Studentships in Social Sciences" on the form and upload the Grand Union DTP application form. Decisions come around March and April. If you hear nothing by mid-June, you were not selected.

How realistic are your chances?

These are among the most competitive graduate awards anywhere. They draw top applicants worldwide, and selection turns on both near-perfect grades and a convincing research proposal. Nuffield reports an admission success rate of about 14%, and unsuccessful candidates are not contacted. If you have a First Class record, a sharp proposal and strong references, apply by the December or January deadline. Being considered for several routes at once slightly improves your odds.