The Bodleian, Sheldonian and Clarendon buildings at sunset
The Sheldonian and Bodleian at sunset
(Image credit: Sheng Peng (DPhil in Molecular and Cellular Medicine) / Graduate Photography Competition)

Declaration and payment

This section of the Application Guide covers submitting your application and paying the application fee.

Pre-submission checklist

Each year we receive a substantial number of enquiries from applicants who wish to make changes or correct information in their application. If the application has been processed and is ready for assessment or if the deadline has passed, we may not be able to resolve them. Before submitting your application, please make sure you have checked the following:

  • You have selected the correct course
  • Your names are entered exactly as they appear in your passport
  • You have correctly entered on the ‘About You’ tab (where applicable) whether your leave to remain is indefinite or temporary
  • You have uploaded all of the compulsory supporting documents required for your course to proceed. Check your course page and the supporting document requirements for more information, including word limits. Avoid uploading documents that are not required
  • You have uploaded the correct version of each of your supporting documents and that transcripts clearly show:
    • your name
    • your institution
    • a breakdown of your grades.
  • You have entered your referee details correctly, particularly each referee’s institutional or professional email address
  • You have checked which scholarship schemes you are eligible for and, where applicable, have uploaded any required documents.

Submitting your application

Once you've finished filling out your online application form, navigate to the final ‘Declaration’ tab.

In order to submit your graduate application, you must agree to the terms of the Data Protection Notice, Declaration and where relevant, the payment terms, by ticking the box and typing your name into the given field. Details of our policy on misleading or omitted information are available on the University policies page. You'll also see a count of how many documents you have successfully uploaded to your application; make sure this matches the number you expect. 

When you've completed the Declaration fields and you're ready to submit your application form, click the ‘Pay and Submit’ button. You will then progress to the payment screens. For information about the application fee and how to make the payment, please visit The application fee section of this page.

If you do not need to pay an application fee, you will instead see a button simply marked ‘Submit’.

Troubleshooting

If you're unable to sign the Declaration or submit your application form, check that all of the tabs of the application form have been completed. The header of each tab should show a blue ‘tick’. You'll need to revisit any tabs with a red ‘cross’. 

Mandatory questions are marked with an asterisk (*). If you see any fields highlighted in yellow, these are mandatory questions for which you haven't provided an answer, or where there is an error with the answer you have provided. Make sure you complete or correct these fields in order to proceed with your application.

If you believe you've completed all of the tabs correctly but one of the tabs still shows an error, please contact Graduate Admissions, attaching a screenshot of the relevant tab to your query.

What happens after I submit my application?

After you've paid the application fee and submitted your application, you'll receive an automated confirmation email. Please note that this does not mean your application is complete and ready for assessment. 

Your application will then be processed by the central Graduate Admissions team. If any of your supporting documents are invalid or do not meet the University's requirements, they will be removed from your application. This may cause your application to become incomplete, so you will need to resolve this before the application deadline. We encourage applicants to submit their application at least two weeks ahead of the deadline for their course to permit time to resolve any issues with their application prior to the deadline.

The processing of your application will usually take a few days, but it can take up to two weeks around deadlines. Once this is complete, you'll be able to access Graduate Applicant Self Service and find out whether your application has met all of the requirements for it to be assessed by the academic department.

Please note: if you apply in the week leading up to a deadline, we may not be able to let you know before the deadline if there are any problems with your application. It's your responsibility to make sure your application is complete, with all necessary supporting documents and a minimum of two references, by the deadline to which you're applying.

Applications that are submitted and complete by the deadline will be sent to the academic department for assessment. Check our decision timeline for more information about when you can expect to receive the outcome of your application.

The application fee is a standard charge, which supports the administration of the application process and the development and maintenance of the systems used in this process. It is also used to deliver our Graduate Access programmes, as part of the University’s commitment to increasing access to study at Oxford. This helps us to support applicants and potential applicants from all backgrounds, at every stage of their journey into graduate study at Oxford.

Application fee waivers are available to some groups of students. Details can be found in the Fee waivers section of this page tab.

Paying the application fee

The application fee is £75 per course application, unless you're eligible for an application fee waiver (please see the criteria on the next tab).

Recent UK and EU regulations require Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) by banks and card providers. This might require you to have access to a card-reader device, mobile app or phone at the point of making a payment. If you aren't sure whether this will affect your payment, we recommend that you submit your application as early as possible before the deadline. Paying the application fee is an essential part of submitting your application, and late applications won't be accepted for the deadline.

You must pay in GBP (£) via credit or debit card and your card will be charged as you submit your application. The following payment cards are accepted:

  • Visa
  • Visa Debit
  • Mastercard

Your application fee can't be refunded, even if you later decide to withdraw your application. This payment doesn't go toward the course fees you'll need to pay if you're offered and accept a place at Oxford.

Your application won't be considered unless you have either paid the application fee or have been granted an application fee waiver

A friend or family member can make the payment on your behalf; see below for further instructions.

How can someone else pay the application fee on my behalf?

We recommend that you arrange for the payment to be made in your presence, to avoid having to share your account log-in details.

The payer will need to provide the following credit or debit card details in order for you to submit your application:

  • cardholder name
  • credit or debit card number and type
  • expiry date
  • 3-digit security code (found on the reverse beside the signature strip)
  • billing address.

If it isn't possible for the payment to be made in your presence, we recommend that the payer makes the payment remotely via the University of Oxford's Online Store. Before they make the payment, you must provide them with the following details so that their payment is associated with the correct application:

  • your surname
  • your first name
  • your date of birth
  • the course to which you are applying.

The payer must click 'Add to Basket', then enter the above details and proceed to make payment. They'll receive an automated confirmation email after submitting the payment, which will contain an application fee order reference ('OXF' followed by seven digits) and information on how to submit the application. They should forward this email to you so that you may submit your application.

In the unlikely event they do not receive this email, they should provide the order reference to you, the applicant, and you should contact Graduate Admissions quoting this 'OXF' reference as the subject of your message. We'll then provide instructions on how to submit your application without needing to go through the payment screens.

Troubleshooting

I don't have a credit or debit card

If you don't have access to a credit or debit card, some banks offer a disposable credit card voucher that can be used to make online payments.

You can also make the application fee payment by cheque or an international banker’s draft, both of which must be drawn on a UK bank. Your cheque/international banker's draft should be made payable to “University of Oxford”, and you should write your full name, date of birth and the name of the course to which you're applying on the back of it.

Your cheque/international banker's draft should be sent to:

Graduate Admissions
University Offices
Wellington Square
Oxford
OX1 2JD

Once we receive confirmation of your cheque or banker's draft, we'll send you an email with a unique code and further instructions on how to submit your application.

If you're not able to make a payment using one of these methods, contact Graduate Admissions for guidance.

I have a credit/debit card, but I'm unable to make a payment

If you're not able to submit your payment, check that you have completed all sections of the online application form correctly. If you see a red 'X' icon above any of the tabbed sections, return to the corresponding tab and make sure you have answered all mandatory questions in the required format before attempting to make your payment.

If all of the sections of the online application form have been completed correctly (as indicated by a blue 'tick' icon) and you're still unable to make a payment, we recommend taking the following steps:

  • Use a Windows-based PC and the most up-to-date version of a browser such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Mozilla Firefox. Please note that it is not possible to make the payment using any version of Microsoft Internet Explorer.
  • Disable any pop-up blockers, as these may interfere with the payment process.
  • Make sure the payment details you're entering exactly match the details held by your card issuer, including personal details, billing address, card number, etc.
  • Try to make the payment using an alternative PC at a different IP address. Occasionally, if there are multiple failed purchase attempts from the same IP address, this may cause subsequent attempts to be declined by the card issuer. This will also rule out any local IT issues that might be causing the payment issue.
  • Ask the permission of a friend or relative to use their card details for the payment (see the instructions above).

If you've followed the above steps and continue to experience difficulties, please contact Graduate Admissions with further details and if possible screenshots of the issues you're experiencing, and we'll try to assist you. 

The application fee can be waived in the following circumstances.

Applying from a low-income country

If you are resident in a low-income country in the list of eligible countries below and you are not able to pay the application fee, you can request a waiver of this fee.

This must be done within your online application form. You should select ‘Standard’ on the ‘Application type’ tab.

To be eligible for this application fee waiver, you must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Your country of ordinary residence is one of the eligible countries below.
  2. You would be unable to apply to Oxford without an application fee waiver.
  3. You meet the entry requirements for your course, as published on your course page.

If you indicate on your application form that you are resident in one of the eligible countries below, you will be asked additional questions relating to this waiver scheme. If your answers to these questions indicate that you are eligible for this waiver, you won't be directed to the payment screens when you submit your application.

Countries eligible for this application fee waiver

  • Afghanistan
  • Angola
  • Bangladesh
  • Benin
  • Bhutan
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cambodia
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Comoros
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Djibouti
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Ethiopia
  • Gambia (The)
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Haiti
  • Kiribati
  • Korea (DPR)
  • Lao People’s Democratic Republic
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Maldives
  • Mali
  • Mauritania
  • Mozambique
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • Niger
  • Rwanda
  • Samoa
  • São Tomé and Príncipe
  • Senegal
  • Sierra Leone
  • Solomon Islands
  • Somalia
  • South Sudan
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Tanzania
  • Timor-Leste
  • Togo
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • Vanuatu
  • Yemen
  • Zambia 

Refugees and displaced persons

If you are or were a refugee, stateless person, or asylum seeker, or have been otherwise forcibly displaced within or outside your country of origin, you are eligible for an application fee waiver as long as you meet the minimum entry requirements for the course.

To request this waiver, answer ‘yes’ to the question asking whether you are a refugee, stateless person, or asylum seeker, or have been otherwise forcibly displaced within or outside your country of origin on the ‘About You’ tab of the application form.

You must also confirm that you meet the published minimum entry requirements for the course you are applying to.

UK applicants from low-income backgrounds

Eligibility

Applicants who completed their undergraduate studies after January 2020 and who received at least the following levels of support from their regional funding body, or equivalent bursary, during their degree may request that the graduate application fee be waived.

The minimum qualifying support levels for each year for the different regions are set out below.

If you completed a part-time undergraduate degree during this period, contact Graduate Admissions for information on eligibility thresholds.

In addition, UK-resident asylum seekers and refugees are also eligible for an application fee waiver.  

England

Students who began their undergraduate course from 2016-17

Table of minimum qualifying support levels in final year of study and location of residence during that year
 Minimum qualifying support level
Studying outside London, not living with parentsStudying in London, not living with parentsLiving at home
Final year maintenance loan in 2019-20£7,175£9,508£5,816
Final year maintenance loan in 2020-21£7,384£9,787£5,985
Final year maintenance loan in 2021-22£7,615£10,091£6,171
Final year maintenance loan in 2022-23£7,791£10,324£6,314
Final year maintenance loan in 2023-24£8,010£10,614£6,492

Students who began their undergraduate course before 2016-17

Table of minimum qualifying support levels in final year of study
 Minimum qualifying support level
Final year maintenance grant in 2019-20£1,633
Final year maintenance grant in 2020-21£1,683
Final year maintenance grant in 2021-22£1,736
Final year maintenance grant in 2022-23£1,777
Final year maintenance grant in 2023-24£1,826

Northern Ireland

Final year maintenance grant of at least £689.

Scotland

Final year Young Student bursary of at least £500.

Final year Independent Student loan of at least £7,500 in 2023-24, £6,600 in 2022-23 or at least £6,250 in 2021-22 or earlier.

Wales

Students who began their undergraduate course from 2018-19:

Table of minimum qualifying support levels in final year of study and location of residence during that year
 Minimum qualifying support level
Studying outside London, not living with parentsStudying in London, not living with parentsLiving at home
Final year maintenance grant£5,208£6,408£4,488

Students who began their course from 2012-13 to 2017-18 inclusive: 

Final year grant of at least £1,142

Applicants are also eligible for an application fee waiver if they are currently in receipt of one of the following benefits from the UK Government, and were not in full-time education in the 2022/23 academic year:

  • Income Support
  • Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Employment Support Allowance
  • Pension credit guarantee credit
  • Universal Credit (UC)

How to request a UK low-income application fee waiver

To request a waiver, please upload a scanned copy or screenshot of your most recent bursary or Student Finance letter that shows the financial support package you receive(d) for the final year of your undergraduate degree (detailing any loan/grant in addition to the standard government loan that all UK-resident students are eligible for). Please ensure that any screenshot/letter includes:

  • the name of the Student Finance body, eg Student Finance England;
  • your name;
  • the year; and
  • the amount of maintenance loan/grant/bursary that you received and were entitled to.

If you are instead submitting a needs-based bursary letter, you must provide evidence that the eligibility criteria require a household income below £35,000 per year. 

If you are applying on the basis of currently being in receipt of benefits and/or financial support from the UK Government, please upload a scanned copy or screenshot of your entitlement letter showing you are in receipt one of the above benefits and/or financial support from the Government. Please ensure that any screenshot/letter includes:

  • your name;
  • the title of the benefit/financial support; and
  • the entitlement period

Upload supporting document

Once we have processed your request, we will send you a code that you can enter into the application form to avoid having to go through the payment screens when submitting your application. If you are applying for more than one course, this code will work for multiple applications that you submit, but may not be used by other applicants. Please note that this code can be applied after starting a ‘standard’ application, so there is no need to wait for the code before starting your application.

When to request it

You must submit your request two weeks ahead of the deadline you are applying to in order to ensure that you receive the code in good time. Where a late request is submitted, it will not be possible to extend the application submission deadline. 

Graduate Access Programme Applicants

Eligibility

Applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes (UNIQ+, UNIQ+ Digital and the Wellcome Biomedical Vacation Scholarships at the University of Oxford) in the past two years (for the 2022 or 2023 programmes) and met the eligibility criteria may request that the graduate application fee be waived.

How to request a graduate access programmes fee waiver

To request a waiver, please contact ga@admin.ox.ac.uk as soon as you have started your application for graduate study, noting which access scheme you applied to. Where possible, please use the email address that you used to apply for our graduate access programmes so that we can verify your request against our records. Where a waiver code is provided, you will still use the ‘standard’ version of the application form, so you can work on your application while you are waiting for the code.

When to request it

You must submit your request two weeks ahead of the deadline you are applying to in order to ensure that you receive the code in good time. Where a late request is submitted, it will not be possible to extend the application submission deadline.

Applying for readmission

If you're currently studying for an Oxford graduate taught course and applying for a research course with no break in your studies, you may be eligible to apply for readmission. You must meet the same deadlines and requirements as other applicants, but you won't be required to pay an application fee.

The following Oxford students are eligible to apply for readmission:

  • MSt, MSc, MPhil, MPP, MFA, BCL, MJur, BPhil or MTh students applying to any DPhil course except the DPhil in Management Studies;
  • BCL, MJur or MSc in Law and Finance students applying to the MPhil in Law;
  • PGCert in Nanotechnology students applying to the MSc in Nanotechnology for Medicine and Health Care.

Please note, MSc by Research students are not eligible.

The authorisation code you'll need for this application type is available in your Student Self Service account.

Where can I find my readmission code in Student Self Service?

After you've logged into Student Self Service, select ‘Academic and Assessment Information’. Under the ‘My student record’ heading, select ‘Check my details’ and locate the ‘Display Authorisation Code’ button at the bottom of the screen.

Once you've found your authorisation code, return to the ‘Application type’ tab of the online application form. Select ‘Application fee pre-paid or Readmissions' from the drop-down menu and enter your authorisation code into the text field that appears.

The authorisation code must be entered manually, without full stops, spaces or other unnecessary characters. Copying and pasting the code may cause an error.

Applying to related research courses

The Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences (MPLS), Medical Sciences and Social Sciences divisions offer a number of research courses in closely related subject areas. Two schemes are offered for such courses that will enable you to be considered for more than course without paying an additional application fee.

Find out more

Was this page useful?*