The African Studies Centre, University of Oxford - ORISHA Scholarship

What the ORISHA Scholarship gives you

You will receive full funding to study African Studies at the University of Oxford. This covers all your tuition fees for the University and the College; you will also receive a living allowance to help with your living costs whilst you are in Oxford. The University of Oxford determines the exact amount of the living expenses allowance each year and usually announces this in October. The funding comes from the ‘African Humanities Research Fund’ at Oxford, which finances up to three ORISHA scholarships each year. For the one-year MSc programme in African Studies, the funding covers the entire year. For a PhD (DPhil, a research degree), it can last for up to 4 years.

Who can apply

• Course: You are applying for the Master’s programme in ‘African Studies’ at Oxford or for a PhD (DPhil) in a humanities subject with a strong focus on Africa, such as anthropology, history, politics, literature or religious studies.
• Admission first: You must already have been offered a place at Oxford. You can only receive the scholarship once you have been admitted to the degree programme.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. Students from African countries, in particular, are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Grades: You will need to have very good academic results, as the scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic performance.

How to apply

There is no separate scholarship application form. You apply for your degree programme at Oxford in the usual way, and all those who meet the requirements and have been offered a place will automatically be considered. Please submit your application by 12. November 2025 at 12:00 to receive an earlier decision, or by the final deadline on 27 January 2026 for the start of studies in 2026–27.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a fully-funded degree programme at one of the world’s most selective universities; as only up to three ORISHA scholarships are awarded each year, competition is very fierce. The first hurdle is to gain admission to the African Studies programme at Oxford. Once you have secured this, you will automatically be considered on the basis of your academic achievements. Submitting an application by the November deadline and demonstrating a clear academic profile focused on Africa offer the best prospects for suitable candidates.