2025-26 Clarendon Scholarship at University of Oxford

Clarendon Scholarships aim to give the most academically-able students not only the life-changing opportunity to study at Oxford. Clarendon not only offers around 130 new, fully-funded scholarships each year to assist outstanding graduate scholars, but offers the opportunity to join one of the most active, highly international, and multidisciplinary communities at Oxford.

Eligibility

Clarendon Scholarships are awarded on the basis of outstanding academic merit and potential to graduate students from all around the world. Scholarships are tenable in all subject areas and are open to candidates who apply for a new master's or DPhil course by the January admissions deadline.

Application

By applying for graduate study you will automatically be considered for a Clarendon Scholarship. You do not need to submit any additional documents specifically for the Clarendon Scholarships and there is no separate scholarship application form. You must apply by your course’s January deadline in order to be considered. Information about deadlines is available on the Course pages.

Nationality

All applicants for graduate study at the University of Oxford are eligible.

Clarendon scholars come from all continents in the world: from the USA to Australia, Venezuela to Vietnam and from Norway to Nigeria!

Level of study

All degree-bearing courses at graduate level are eligible. This encompasses all full-time and part-time master's and all DPhil courses. A list of all the graduate courses offered by the University of Oxford can be found on the Courses page.

Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma courses are not eligible for this scholarship.

Subject

Clarendon supports scholars from across the University, with no preference for any particular subject area.

Other criteria

Candidates applying to start a new DPhil or Master’s course at Oxford are eligible. This includes students who are currently studying for a Master's degree at Oxford but who will be re-applying for a DPhil or applying for a second Master’s course.

Selection criteria

Generally, applications are assessed against the following criteria:

• Academic record: An excellent academic record is essential. A high first class honours degree or its equivalent (a GPA score of at least 3.7 if the mark is out of 4, noting that most successful candidates achieve a score higher than 3.7) or an outstanding academic record at master's level is necessary (noting that an outstanding master’s degree can compensate for a moderate first degree performance). Other indicators of high academic achievement may include individual marks on student transcripts; evidence of previous university prizes or awards; information on your overall position within your cohort; and publications (if applicable).

• Aptitude for the proposed course of study: This may be assessed by reviewing your references, your research proposal, demonstrated evidence of your aptitude for research, and the likelihood you will contribute significantly to your field of study.

• Student motivation: This is assessed through evidence of your commitment to your proposed course, evaluated by your personal statement and referees' reports.

Scholarship value

Clarendon offers fully-funded scholarships covering course fees as well as a grant for living expenses for the period of fee liability. We support our scholars by reducing the financial barriers to graduate study,  enabling our scholars to focus on their studies. Furthermore, by offering living expenses, it provides our scholars with the opportunity to live an active life within Oxford and, most importantly, the time to relax and socialise away from their studies.

Scholarship duration

Clarendon scholarships are normally offered for the full period for which you are liable to pay tuition fees to the University, which is usually the same as the length of your course. The Fee liability page explains this in full, and also gives information about charges that may be applied after the standard period of fee liability has been reached and which are not covered by the Clarendon Fund.