Funding for under-represented groups

Financial need

Select each scholarship below to find out further information about that scholarship's eligibility criteria and how to apply. To be considered for most scholarships, you simply need to apply by the December or January application deadline for your course (shown on the relevant course page).

The information below is provided in addition to the information about the full range of options for funding graduate study at Oxford, which can be found in our dedicated Fees and funding section.

Amansa Graduate Scholarship - Somerville College Oxford

Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic merit, relevance of studies to the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development’s interdisciplinary aims, understanding of the development challenges faced by India, and leadership and entrepreneurial potential. Financial need will also be taken into account. Full Eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the Somerville College website.

Crankstart Graduate Scholarships

Open to former undergraduate Crankstart scholars applying to pursue postgraduate study at Oxford. Country restrictions apply. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the Crankstart Graduate Scholarships website.

Denis O’Leary Scholarships – Department of Education

The maximum value of this award is up to £2,500 per annum for the agreed course as a contribution towards your course fees on the MSc in Medical Education course. The award is made for the full duration of the period of fee liability for the agreed course, subject to satisfactory academic progress being made. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the Department of Education website.

Department for Continuing Education: departmental bursaries

Open to UK-based students who receive benefits because they are on a low income. Course restrictions apply. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the Department for Continuing Education website.

Dr Gita Piramal Graduate Scholarship - Somerville College Oxford

Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic merit, relevance of studies to the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development’s interdisciplinary aims, understanding of the development challenges faced by India, and leadership and entrepreneurial potential. Financial need will also be taken into account. Full Eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the Somerville College website.

Law Faculty: 3 Verulam Buildings Scholarship

Through the generosity of commercial chambers 3 Verulam Buildings, this scholarship is worth £15,000 and is awarded annually to a BCL candidate, with the preference given to those with an interest in Private Law. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the faculty website.

Law Faculty: 4 New Square Chambers Scholarship

Through the generosity of 4 New Square, this scholarship is worth £15,000 and is awarded annually to a BCL candidate, with the preference given to those with interest in Private Law. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the faculty website.

Law Faculty: Fountain Court Chambers Scholarship

Through the generosity of Fountain Court Chambers, this scholarship is worth £15,000 and is awarded annually to a BCL candidate, with the preference given to those with an interest in Private Law. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the faculty website.

Law Faculty: South Square BCL Scholarship

Through the generosity of South Square, this scholarship is worth £15,000 and is awarded annually to a BCL candidate, with the preference given to those with an interest in Private Law. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the faculty website.

Law Faculty: BCL and MJur needs-based bursaries

The Faculty will be making available a number of £20,000 bursaries for students accepted for the BCL and MJur. The awards will be allocated on the basis of financial need and full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the faculty website.

Law Faculty: Hering Foundation International Human Rights Scholarship

Six full scholarships have been made available for applicants to this course through the generosity of John and Alexandra Hering. Priority will be given to students ordinarily resident in low income or lower middle income countries (as defined by the World Bank) and who are unable to afford to study the programme without the scholarship. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the faculty website.

Law Faculty: MSc in Law and Finance Financial Aid Awards

The MSc in Law and Finance (MLF) is able to make a limited amount of financial aid available to MLF students who are in particular financial need. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the faculty website.

Law Faculty: MSc Taxation Financial Assistance Award

The Law Faculty is pleased to announce the creation of a full-fees financial assistance award for students undertaking the MSc in Taxation. These will further our aim of making the programme accessible to all students who are good enough to be admitted, regardless of their financial means. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the faculty website.

Law Faculty: MSc Criminology Need-Based Bursaries

The Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford is committed to increasing the portfolio of studentships available to all students to attract the best, irrespective of background or ability to pay. As part of this initiative, we continue to offer a limited number of needs-based bursaries for applicants to the MSc program. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the faculty website.

Law Faculty: DPhil and MPhil needs-based bursaries

The Faculty will be making available a number of bursaries for students accepted for DPhil and MPhil programmes in the Faculty of Law. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the faculty website.

Mansfield College: The Oxford-Foster Scholarships

These awards provide full funding for up to five graduate students at any one time, supporting study in the Humanities—English, History, Philosophy, and Theology—and in Politics. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the faculty website.

Medical Sciences Division: The June Ilott Fund

The June Ilott Fund was established in 2022 in memory of the late Ms June Ilott to support full- or part-time master's course in Medical Sciences. The donor's intention is that the scholarship supports an applicant who would not otherwise be able to take up their place without financial support.

Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the Divisional website.

MSc Scholarship in Global Health Science and Epidemiology

This new studentship will provide full financial support to a talented UK-resident applicant from an underprivileged background. Course restrictions apply. Details are available on the Department of Population Health website.

DPhil Population Health Studentship

To enable UK students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue a postgraduate degree in population health, Oxford Population Health has set up a studentship to provide full financial support to a talented Home applicant from a socioeconomically disadvantaged background each year. Details are available on the Department of Population Health website.

Optiver Foundation Scholarships

Open to female applicants to MPLS master's courses who are ordinarily resident in low to middle-income countries. Course and country restrictions apply. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the Optiver Foundation Scholarships webpage.

Wadham College Richard Sharpe Scholarship

For any student who has graduated from a UK University and to whom sufficient funding is not available for either the MSt in Medieval Studies or the MSt in Medieval History. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply are available on the college website.

Saïd Business School: Laidlaw Scholarships

The Laidlaw Scholarships are intended to encourage extraordinary women with clear leadership potential to enrol onto the Oxford MBA programme when they would not have previously considered the qualification due to financial constraints. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the Saïd Business School website.

Residency or nationality

Select each scholarship below to find out further information about that scholarship's eligibility criteria and how to apply. To be considered for most scholarships, you simply need to apply by the December or January application deadline for your course (shown on the relevant course page).

The information below is provided in addition to the information about the full range of options for funding graduate study at Oxford, which can be found in our dedicated Fees and funding section.

AfOx Kennedy Trust Prize Studentship

The Kennedy Institute have developed a fully funded AfOx Kennedy Trust Prize Studentship to build links between African Universities and Institutes and the Kennedy Institute. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the department website.

All Souls Hugh Springer Graduate Scholarships

These scholarships are available for applicants who are ordinarily resident in or nationals of a Caribbean country, who identify as of Black or Mixed Black ethnicity, and who are applying to any full or part-time master’s or DPhil course at Oxford. Country restrictions apply. Full eligibility criteria is available on the A-Z of scholarships page.

Amansa Graduate Scholarship - Somerville College Oxford

Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic merit, relevance of studies to the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development’s interdisciplinary aims, understanding of the development challenges faced by India, and leadership and entrepreneurial potential. Financial need will also be taken into account. Full Eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the Somerville College website.

Evidence-based Healthcare Africa scholarship

A scholarship for applicants who are working in and have residency and nationality of the Lower Middle Income African countries. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the department website.

FirstRand Oxford African Studies Scholarship

FirstRand Oxford African Studies Scholarship for an MSc in African Studies at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies at the University of Oxford.

FirstRand has entered into a partnership, for another four years, with the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies to allow an outstanding South African student to study for an MSc in African Studies at Wadham College. More information about the scholarship can be found on the FirstRand website.

Green Templeton College Charlie Perkins Scholarship

Open to graduate applicants of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australian nationality. Course and country restrictions apply. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the Green Templeton College website.

Gwynne Jones Scholarship

One scholarship worth approximately £13k for any graduate degree course at Keble College, with preference given to an individual from Sierra Leone or a Yoruba-speaker from Nigeria. More information is available on the Keble website.

Law Faculty: Hering Foundation International Human Rights Scholarship

Six full scholarships have been made available for applicants to this course through the generosity of John and Alexandra Hering. Priority will be given to students ordinarily resident in low income or lower middle income countries (as defined by the World Bank) and who are unable to afford to study the programme without the scholarship. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the faculty website.

Mastercard Foundation AfOx Scholarships

The University of Oxford and the Mastercard Foundation have established an innovative and ambitious partnership under the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and the Africa Oxford Initiative (AfOx) to offer a range of scholarships for African candidates applying for taught postgraduate courses at the University of Oxford for 2025/26 entry. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Oxford specifically emphasises groups who have historically been under-represented, including but not limited to female scholars, people from refugee and displaced backgrounds and scholars with accessibility needs. Full eligibility criteria is available on the A-Z of scholarships page and the Mastercard Foundation AfOx Scholarships page.

Nuffield Department of Medicine Tropical Network Fund

Open to students from low and middle income countries. Course and country restrictions apply. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the Nuffield Department of Medicine website.

Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences: MSc in Global Healthcare Leadership Director's Award

Open to candidates who can effectively demonstrate how they will enhance the learning experience of the cohort through the diverse experience they have accumulated to date. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on the application process is available on the Saïd Business School website.

Optiver Foundation Scholarships

Open to female applicants to MPLS master's courses who are ordinarily resident in low to middle-income countries. Course and country restrictions apply. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the Optiver Foundation Scholarships webpage.

Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) Graduate Scholarships

These scholarships are open to applicants to full-time master's and DPhil courses who are resident in, and nationals of, specific majority-Muslim countries. Course and country restrictions apply. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Scholarships webpage.

Oxford-Reuben-Blavatnik School of Government Scholarship

The Oxford-Reuben Graduate Scholarships, established through an £80m gift from the Reuben Foundation, support students with outstanding academic potential. The University has supplemented these scholarships with an additional £7.5m. Scholarships cover full fees and a living stipend (UKRI equivalent). Eligible applicants include those applying to the MPP, MSc in Public Policy Research, or DPhil in Public Policy, with preference for candidates from under-represented socio-economic groups. The application process involves completing the Blavatnik School of Government Scholarship Questionnaire, sent to all offer holders. Full information about the scholarship can be found on the Blavatnik School of Government website. 

Saïd Business School: Uoffer Global MBA Scholarships

For the 2026-27 class, Saïd Business School can offer two scholarships, worth £44,000 each, with a preference for candidates who are citizens of Greater China (including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan), and who are ordinarily resident outside of Great Britain and intending to leave Great Britain upon completion of their studies.
Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply can be found on the department website.

Somerville College: The Savitribai Phule Scholarship

Applicants must be ordinarily resident in India and identify with one or more of the following categories

• Dalit, Bahujan and Adivasi (SC/ST/OBC)
• First generation learners

Full eligibility criteria and guidance on the application process is available on the Somerville College website.

The Queens College and Faculty of Philosophy: The Neda Agha-Soltan Scholarship in Philosophy

Applicants for a postgraduate degree (BPhil, MSt or DPhil) in Philosophy offered by the Faculty of Philosophy. Applicants must either be Home applicants, or be of Iranian nationality or heritage. Selection will be made on the basis of academic merit, but preference will be given to candidates of Iranian nationality or Iranian heritage in the case of there being multiple candidates of equal merit above a threshold of suitability for a graduate scholarship award. Full eligibility criteria and guidance on the application process is available on The Queens College website.

Vicky Noon Education Foundation Oxford Scholarship 

Up to two full/partial scholarships are available for applicants who are ordinarily resident in Pakistan.  The scholarship is jointly funded by the University and the Vicky Noon Educational Foundation. Full eligibility criteria is available on the A-Z of scholarships page.

Wadham College: Beit Trust Wadham Scholarship

Open to applicants to any full-time one-year taught Masters course to which Wadham admits. In both cases they should be normally resident in Malawi, Zambia or Zimbabwe, and they will be expected to show evidence of their intention to return to their home country on completion of their course.

Full eligibility criteria and guidance on how to apply is available on Wadham College's website.