Home UK Scholarships Clarendon Fund – University of Oxford 2025-2026

Clarendon Fund – University of Oxford 2025-2026

Clarendon Fund – Oxford’s Finest, the World’s Brightest

Great news for aspiring postgraduates! Applications are now open for the Clarendon Scholarship 2025-2026 at the University of Oxford. In this guide, we outline the scholarship benefits, eligibility criteria, and the step-by-step application process.

The Clarendon Scholarship is a fully funded award for international students pursuing master’s or PhD (DPhil) studies at Oxford. It covers full tuition fees and provides an annual grant of at least £15,009 for living expenses.

Clarendon is one of Oxford’s largest scholarship schemes, offering around 140 new awards each year. These scholarships are highly competitive, prestigious, and recognized worldwide.

Oxford’s graduate programs are designed for intensive learning and professional growth, with small class sizes, independent research opportunities, and support from a vibrant academic community. While most Clarendon Scholars pursue a DPhil, awards are also available for two-year degrees (MPhil, BPhil) and one-year programs (MSc, MSt, MBA, MFE).

Applicants are assessed based on:

Academic excellence
Potential for the chosen course of study
Motivation and commitment

Scholarship Summary

Level of Study: Master’s, PhD (DPhil)
Host Institution: University of Oxford
Location: UK
Eligible Fields: All subject areas (must apply for a new master’s or DPhil by the January admissions deadline)
Program Duration: Depends on chosen course
Application Deadline: December or January (annual, per course deadlines)

Scholarship Coverage

Clarendon Scholarship provides the recipient with the following benefits:

All Clarendon Scholarships cover tuition and college fees in full.
Scholars on a full-time course receive a generous annual grant for living costs – which will be at least £15,009 for 2025-2026. Scholars on a part-time course will receive a study support grant, to assist with non-fee costs. Scholars on a part-time course will receive a study support grant, to assist with non-fee costs. In 2025-2026, part-time DPhil scholars should expect to receive at least £2,502 and part-time Master’s scholars should expect at least £5,003.
The 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.

Eligibility Criteria for Clarendon Scholarship

To qualify for Clarendon Scholarship, candidate must fulfill all of the following requirements below:

Required Language: English
Eligible Countries: All world countries.
All applicants for graduate study at the University of Oxford are eligible.
All degree-bearing courses at graduate level are eligible.
Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma courses are not eligible for this scholarship.
Clarendon supports scholars from across the University, with no preference for any particular subject area.
Candidates applying to start a new master’s or DPhil 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 (you would be eligible for funding for the DPhil).
Applicants who hold deferred offers to start in 2025-2026 are not eligible to be considered for this scholarship.
Current students who will continue to study for the same degree at Oxford in the next year are not eligible for this scholarship.

How to Apply for Clarendon Scholarship?

Please follow the following application instructions to apply for Clarendon Scholarship:

Apply by the relevant January deadline for your course to be considered for a Clarendon scholarship.
Your application to your course will be considered by the academics working in your proposed field of study. They will assess the academic quality and suitability of your application.
The department will make the final decision on your graduate place and will notify you with an outcome. See decision timeline for more details.
In parallel, academics within your department will determine who to nominate to the division for a Clarendon scholarship based on the selection criteria.
The process varies between the University’s academic divisions and the Department for Continuing Education, but each meet in February or March to review the departmental scholarship nominations.
The academic divisions assess the nominations on their academic merit and future potential and the top ranked departmental nominees within the division are shortlisted for Clarendon.
Once the shortlist is confirmed, the Clarendon Fund Administrator will contact successful applicants and will provide the scholarship offer letter.
If you are offered (and accept) a Clarendon scholarship, this means your funding is now secure, as long as you meet the conditions of your offer of a place to study at Oxford.
During April and May, Clarendon Partnership Awards are matched to scholars depending on the award requirements. No further information is required of Clarendon offer holders.
Once each scholar’s unique funding package is confirmed, they will receive the funding breakdown letter outlining the funding arrangements. Final college placements will also be confirmed alongside partnership awards.
All successful Clarendon candidates will be contacted via email. The majority of offers are sent out by early April of each year.
Due to the number of eligible applicants, unsuccessful students will not be contacted. If you have not heard from us by June, please assume that unfortunately you have not been awarded a Clarendon scholarship.
A few late nominations may take place during the summer period if nominated students withdraw, however this is very rare.