Celebrating 25 Years of Clarendon 

This academic year marks a significant milestone for Oxford’s largest and most prestigious scholarship programme.   

For 25 years, the Clarendon Fund has supported exceptional graduate students from around the world to join the University’s research, teaching and learning community. What began with a cohort of 71 partially funded students has grown into one of the UK’s largest graduate scholarship schemes. Today, Clarendon provides fully funded scholarships to over 200 new graduate students each year. 

The Clarendon Fund has played a vital role in bringing academically outstanding graduate students to Oxford.

Professor Freya Johnston, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of Oxford

Highly competitive, Clarendon scholarships are open to all applicants to degree bearing graduate courses at Oxford, across every department and division. Awards are made on academic merit and potential.  

Such an initiative is crucial in enabling Oxford to attract and support the very best graduate students, says Professor Freya Johnston, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) at the University: ‘From its inception and throughout the past 25 years, the Clarendon Fund has played a vital role in bringing academically outstanding graduate students to Oxford. It sits right at the heart of the University’s teaching and research mission.’  

An anniversary event at Oxford Town Hall

The Clarendon Fund was established in 2001-02 following a commitment by Oxford University Press (OUP) to provide funding of £2 million per year for three years. Its founding purpose was clear: to support academically outstanding overseas graduate students through their studies at Oxford. Fast forward to 2025-26 and Clarendon has to-date provided £94 million in support of more than 3,500 outstanding scholars from around the world. 

‘Supporting the Clarendon Fund reflects our mission to further the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide,’ says Christine Richardson, OUP Group Communications Director and member of the Clarendon Fund steering group. ‘It is a powerful example of how education and research can transform lives, and we at Oxford University Press are proud to support the very best minds through the programme.’ 

From 2001-02 the scheme expanded rapidly and by its tenth anniversary, with increased core funding and growing partnership support from colleges, and departments and divisions across the University, all Clarendon scholars received full awards covering both course fees and a grant for living costs. Around 100 scholarships were offered each year and the programme was opened to both Home and Overseas students.  

Anouar El Moumane is President of the Clarendon Scholars' Association

The community is a true highlight of my Oxford experience.

Anouar El Moumane, Clarendon scholar

In Michaelmas term 2025 the University marked Clarendon’s anniversary year with a reception at the Oxford Town Hall, bringing together around 350 master’s, MPhil and DPhil scholars, alongside supporters and partners from across the collegiate University and OUP. For many attending, the event captured one of Clarendon’s defining features: a sense of connection that extends beyond individual subject areas, and a global community that is thriving, vibrant, and diverse.  

Anouar El Moumane, originally from Germany, is studying for a DPhil in Chemistry and is the current President of the Clarendon Scholars' Association. He says that Clarendon made it possible for him to attend Oxford as an international student. ‘Oxford is leading the UK in making world-class education accessible for students from all over the world. Apart from the generous financial support, Clarendon also offers a variety of academic and social events that many of our scholars frequently attend - the community is a true highlight of my Oxford experience.’ 

Find out more about Clarendon here.