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Queen Elizabeth Scholarship

This scholarship was set up by a donation from the former US Ambassador, Sir Walter Annenberg, to fund an exchange between the University of Oxford and the University of Pennsylvania (Penn), in Philadelphia, USA.

Student studying in the main reading room of the Taylor Institution Library

Award information

With 189 research centres and institutes, research is a substantial and esteemed enterprise at the University of Pennsylvania. The research community includes over 5,000 faculty members, 1,300 postdoctoral fellows, over 5,500 academic support staff and graduate assistants, and a research budget of $1.02 billion. The scale and interdisciplinary character of its research activities make the University of Pennsylvania a nationally-ranked research university.

Award details

Duration:Up to one academic year
Value:The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship covers the University of Pennsylvania tuition fee, health cover costs, and also provides a maintenance grant of £20,000 for a student spending a full academic year at the University of Pennsylvania.
Number:One award

Eligibility

Nationality:All nationalities
Fee status:All
Level of study:Graduate research, with preference given to DPhil students
Year of study:It is expected that students will continue to be registered for a degree at the University of Oxford during the period of the exchange and that they will normally have completed at least one year of study prior to the exchange.
Subject:All subjects
College:All colleges

Other information

The exchange runs on a cycle, with a University of Oxford student going to the University of Pennsylvania every other year. The final decision on the acceptance of the nominated candidates will be made by the University of Pennsylvania.

You will need to have made contact with someone in the relevant department at the University of Pennsylvania who is willing to host you. You are asked to provide their details on the application form.

You must ensure that you have the appropriate visa before going on the exchange. Please be prepared to start the process immediately after your selection for participation in the programme is confirmed and be diligent in getting it on time. Information is available on the US Embassy in London website.

How to apply

  1. The application cycle for travel in the 2027/28 academic year is now open.
  2. Applications should be submitted using the relevant online application form here. You can view a PDF copy of the application form in advance to see the questions you will be asked to answer and the supporting documents you will need to provide.
  3. The application deadline is 12 noon on Friday 29 January 2027.
  4. Candidates will be notified of the outcome of their application by the end of March 2027.