The University of Oxford Exploration Club - Expeditions Council

Oxford University Expeditions Council funding

You will receive up to about 2,350 EUR (£2,000) per expedition to fund a research trip abroad. You will also be granted the official right to describe this as an ‘Oxford University expedition’. The exact amount depends on your planned costs and the funds available this year. This is a one-off grant per expedition, not a monthly payment. Your trip must last at least five weeks. Shorter trips will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. The funding comes from the University of Oxford, which also assesses and approves the expedition itself.

Who can apply

• University: You are enrolled at one of the colleges of the University of Oxford.
• Level of study: The grants are currently aimed at students in the relevant subject areas who are in their undergraduate studies. Smaller grants may also be available, in certain circumstances, to students in postgraduate studies.
• Field of study: Funding is currently limited to the life sciences, geology, geography and the human sciences. Other departments may, in principle, apply, but funding is allocated to specific subject areas each year.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities and with any fee status are welcome to apply.
• Timing: You can apply in any academic year. If you are in your final year of study, the trip must take place whilst you are still enrolled as a student.
• Research value: Your expedition must make a genuine contribution to research in your field. Compulsory fieldwork as part of your Bachelor’s degree is not eligible for funding in its own right, and destinations subject to a UK travel advisory will not be approved. Preference is given to interdisciplinary projects or those carried out in collaboration with local institutions.

How to apply

Please email your proposal and a cover sheet to the secretary of the Expedition Council, using the Oxford University Exploration Club template. The deadline is at 12 noon on the Wednesday of week 6 in the Michaelmas term (autumn term). Teams will be invited to an interview in week 7, and the final decision on approval and funding will be taken at the Council’s May meeting.

How realistic are your chances?

The selection criteria are very strict: you must be a student at the University of Oxford, currently studying in one of four specific departments, and propose a serious research expedition lasting at least five weeks. Whilst this keeps the pool of applicants small, the quality of your proposal is what counts. If your project demonstrates genuine research merit – particularly through an interdisciplinary approach or the involvement of a local partner – your chances are good.