Virtual Open Day: Funding

In this video

In the graduate prospectus

Whilst the graduate prospectus does include a brief summary introducing the resources available to students regarding the financial considerations of studying at Oxford, the most comprehensive and up-to-date information is available at the Fees and Funding website.

This website features the Oxford Funding Search, will allows you search for any funding opportunities for which you are eligible based on the type of course and area of study you intend to pursue at Oxford, and on any country to which you are connected by residence, nationality or education.

Full details of the tuition fees, college fees and living costs you will need to cover for the duration of your programme are available on the site, as well as important information on US and Canadian loans.

Scholarship profiles on the site provide information on all of the following characteristics of each award:

• eligibility criteria, usually concerning nationality, residence or the course you intend to study,
• the amount of the award and which elements of your costs it will cover,
• details of the application procedure, and
• the notification dates of the award.
  

FAQ

Q. What types of funding might be available to support my course at Oxford?

A. Centrally, Oxford currently offers a number of prestigious and competitive scholarship schemes, principally for international students.

You will find full profiles for each, including eligibility criteria and details of the application procedure, on the Fees and Funding website. Other options within the University may include departmental and/or college scholarships; these awards will usually be returned as results for the Oxford Funding Search if you meet the eligibility criteria, but it is always a good idea to consult your department’s website for information regarding awards, scholarships or grants that may be of interest to their students.

Departmental websites are also the primary source of information regarding any available studentships, which are large grants which usually provide a fully-funded place (i.e. fees and maintenance) for one student, or occasionally more, who are applying to work in a specific area of research. These awards generally apply to DPhil courses, although there are a number of combined awards which may fund a taught Master's course immediately followed by DPhil study. Studentships are advertised much like job vacancies, and should comprise a short reference code for you to enter in the graduate application form in order to indicate your interest.

Another similar option for UK and EU students may be funding through one of the government’s Research Councils, who provide full or fees-only funding to many students at Oxford.

If you are not eligible for any appropriate awards, or as an insurance against the possibility of not obtaining any of the awards to which you have applied, you may need to investigate external programmes or consider self-funding. The University is a registered learning provider for the purpose of US and Canadian loans, and UK/EU students may also be eligible to take out a PCDL loan from the government. 

Q. Will I be able to work whilst studying at Oxford?

A. Full-time courses at Oxford are very demanding and represent a considerable commitment on behalf of the student. Even in cases where most of your work is done independently and therefore, to a certain extent, flexibly, it can be very difficult to sustain any substantial level of paid employment and it would be an issue to discuss with your supervisor once you arrive.

In particular, it is not possible to use any projected income from employment towards documenting that you can meet the costs of the course before you start, therefore it should not be necessary for you to work whilst studying at Oxford.

However, if your supervisor is supportive and you are looking for work either to supplement your funding or to further your experience or establish professional connections in fields relevant to your subject, there are a number of possibilities available within the University – such as becoming a research assistant or teaching undergraduates – and in the private sector in Oxford. 

If you are an international student, you will need to check the requirements of your visa before you can take up employment in the UK. 

Part-time courses are intended to allow students to continue in paid employment, but if your job is particularly demanding or inflexible in terms of the time you may be able to spend in Oxford, you should check with the department that you are likely to be able to meet the requirements of the course and take full advantage of the academic support available to you.