Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies - Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Scholarship

What you get

You will receive a grant of full university tuition fees at the ‘Home’ rate, as well as a living costs allowance of at least £6,050 per year. The grant covers the entire duration of your studies, which is either 3 or 4 years, depending on your degree programme. The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies awards up to five of these scholarships each year. You may receive this alongside an Oxford scholarship or a Crankstart grant. If you receive funding from other sources, the OCIS amount will be reduced accordingly.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are applying for your first bachelor’s degree at the University of Oxford. Any college is an option.
• Study stage: This must be your first bachelor’s degree and your first year of study. A second bachelor’s degree is not eligible for funding.
• Residence: They usually live in the UK.
• Community: You come from a Muslim community.
• Subject: All degree programmes at the University of Oxford, with the exception of Medicine and the PGCE (teacher training).
• Grades and money: You need to have excellent academic results and a genuine need for financial support. Both are equally important.

How to apply

First, apply to the University of Oxford via UCAS as usual. You should then apply for the scholarship by the deadline in mid-February (for the start of studies in 2026, this was 4 February 2026). Selection takes place in April, and you will receive a response by the end of May.

How realistic are your chances?

The eligibility criteria for this scholarship are very strict: you must be a student based in the UK from a Muslim community who is commencing their first degree at Oxford, and only up to five scholarships are awarded each year. The pool of eligible applicants is small, but it is already difficult enough to gain admission to Oxford in the first place – so the real hurdle is getting accepted. If you are offered a place and clearly meet the criteria regarding residence, community affiliation and financial need, your chances of securing the scholarship itself are very good.