Merton College - Merton College joint award with ODID

Merton College-ODID Scholarship

You will receive your full course fees paid plus a living allowance of about 24,000 EUR per year (set in accordance with the minimum PhD scholarship specified by UKRI, approximately 20,780 GBP for 2025–26). The scholarship is an annual living allowance and is adjusted each year. The funding covers the standard duration of study. It is awarded jointly by Merton College and the Oxford Department of International Development (ODID) at the University of Oxford. One place is awarded per year.

Who can apply

• Field of study: You are applying for a Master’s programme in ‘International Development’ at ODID.
• Where you study: You are studying at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
• Nationality: Applicants of any nationality are welcome to apply. Both applicants from the United Kingdom (domestic) and from abroad (overseas) are eligible to apply.
• College fit: Your degree programme must be one of those for which Merton College normally accepts applicants.

How to apply

No separate application is required for this scholarship. You will be automatically considered if you submit the University of Oxford’s standard application form for postgraduate programmes by the January deadline (31 January). You do not need to specify Merton as your preferred college. If you are awarded the scholarship, you will also be offered a place at Merton College.

How realistic are your chances?

Only one place is awarded each year, and only applicants for the ‘International Development’ degree programme at Oxford are eligible to win it. The pool of applicants is therefore small, but competition for this single place is fierce. If you are a promising candidate for an ODID programme, you can apply at no extra cost by meeting the January application deadline. The decisive factor is how likely you are to be offered a place at Oxford.