Oxford Australia Scholarship Fund - Oxford Australia Scholarship Fund

What the Oxford Australia Scholarship Fund gives you

Each year, you will receive a grant to undertake postgraduate study at the University of Oxford in the UK. The grant covers the entire duration of your studies, up to 3 years. The exact amount varies from year to year, depending on the funds available to the scheme. The programme is administered by the Australian National University (ANU) and supports Australian graduates studying at Oxford. It consists of a pool of several named scholarships. Some are open to students from all colleges at Oxford, whilst others are tied to a specific college, such as Magdalen or University College.

Who can apply

• Nationality and residence: You are an Australian citizen and usually live in Australia.
• Degree level: You are applying for a postgraduate programme at Oxford – that is, for a Master’s, an MPhil or a PhD.
• Your grades: You hold a Bachelor’s degree with First Class Honours (or an equivalent qualification) from a recognised Australian university.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• First study abroad: You have never started or completed a degree at a university outside Australia. However, you are still permitted to spend a semester abroad as part of your studies in Australia.
• Oxford application: You have already applied to study at Oxford for the academic year 2026–27. In the case of scholarships linked to a specific college, the college must first accept you before an offer of admission can be confirmed.

How to apply

You must apply separately to the University of Oxford itself and to the Oxford Australia Scholarship Fund via its online form. You will also need three letters of reference, at least two of which must be from an academic source and must be submitted directly by your referees. The application deadline for 2026 runs from 5 January to 23 February 2026 (23:59 AEDT). You will be notified of the result in the second half of April 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

The eligibility criteria for this scholarship are very strict. You must be an Australian citizen, hold a degree with ‘First Class Honours’, be intending to study at Oxford, and must never have studied abroad before – so the pool of eligible applicants is small. The committee may also decide not to award a particular scholarship in a given year, and college-specific scholarships are conditional upon your admission to the relevant college. If you clearly meet these criteria and already have a strong application for Oxford, your chances are good.