Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford - College Scholarships

What Oxford College Scholarships offer

University scholarships help you to fund your Master’s degree at University of Oxford. They can cover all or part of your tuition fees, and some also include a contribution towards your living costs. The funding usually applies for the entire duration of your tuition fee liability, which can be up to four years depending on your degree programme. This is not a standardised programme. Each college in Oxford awards its own scholarships, so the exact amounts and conditions vary from college to college. University-wide, Oxford expects to award 1,100 full or partial scholarships to new students for the period 2026–27. During the period 2024–25, more than 48% of the new Master’s students received financial support.

Who can apply

• Level: You are applying for a postgraduate programme (Master’s or PhD) at Oxford.
• Grades: The awards are given to pupils with outstanding academic achievements, so you’ll need top marks.
• Field of study: Most degree programmes are eligible, but some university scholarships are restricted to a specific subject area.
• Nationality: Applicants of any nationality may apply; however, some university scholarships are reserved for students from a specific country.
• College conditions: Each university sets its own rules, so a scholarship may be subject to additional conditions. Please check the relevant university’s website for further information.

How to apply

For most scholarships at Oxford, you do not need to apply separately. If you submit your application for the Master’s programme by the relevant deadline in December or January, you will automatically be considered. Some college scholarships have their own additional requirements, so please also check the websites of the individual colleges. Decisions are usually made between the end of February and June.

How realistic are your chances?

Competition for postgraduate scholarships at Oxford is fierce and is based primarily on academic merit; you should therefore expect strong competition. Nevertheless, over 1,100 full or partial scholarships are expected to be awarded for the period from 2026 to 27, and almost half of new PhD students have recently received funding – so the scale is considerable. The most important thing is to meet the deadline in December or January, as this will automatically make you eligible for most scholarships.