Clarendon Scholarships 2027–28 – Fully Funded Master’s & DPhil at Oxford (No Separate Application)
The Clarendon Scholarships are fully funded awards for new Master’s and DPhil students at the University of Oxford, with more than 200 new scholarships awarded each year. There is no separate scholarship application: if you apply for an eligible Oxford graduate course by its funding deadline, you are automatically considered. The awards are open to all nationalities and all subjects.
Deadline: it depends on your course. Almost all courses close in December 2026 or January 2027 at 12:00 noon UK time. Confirmed examples include 2 December 2026, 6 January 2027 and 27 January 2027. A course deadline in March or later is not a Clarendon deadline. Read your course page for the exact date.
Who Is Eligible
- Applicants of any nationality starting a new eligible Master’s or DPhil at Oxford in 2027–28
- Applicants who meet the academic requirements of their chosen course
- Not available for postgraduate certificates, diplomas or continuing students on the same degree
What It Covers
The award is described as covering course fees and a living grant, with the living grant linked to the UKRI minimum doctoral stipend. Oxford had not published the final 2027–28 living grant at the time of writing, so check the official Clarendon page rather than relying on figures from aggregator sites.
How to Apply
- Choose your course using the Oxford course finder and note its December or January funding deadline.
- Submit your complete graduate application to Oxford, including transcripts, CV, written work or research proposal if the course asks for it, and a personal statement.
- Make sure your referees submit by the same 12:00 noon UK deadline.
- Departments assess applications in winter and nominate strong candidates, with divisional ranking meetings in February and March 2027.
Tips
Because the Clarendon selectors use the information already in your admission application, the quality of that application is everything. Oxford advises finishing at least two weeks before the deadline. Make your academic references specific and allow referees plenty of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I write a separate Clarendon essay? No. Your admission application is your scholarship application.
Can African students apply? Yes. All nationalities are eligible.
Why Clarendon Is Different From Other Scholarships
Most scholarships need a separate essay, a separate form and sometimes a separate set of references. Clarendon needs none of these. Oxford uses the information already in your graduate application to decide who to nominate. That makes your admission application the single most important document you will prepare, and it also means you cannot add a scholarship-specific story later. Every part of the file, from the academic statement to the references and the written work, has to be strong from the first submission.
Key Dates at a Glance
- September 2026: the 2027–28 graduate admissions cycle opens
- December 2026 or January 2027, 12:00 noon UK time: course funding deadlines; examples include 2 December, 6 January and 27 January
- Winter 2026–27: departments assess applications and identify outstanding candidates
- February to March 2027: divisional ranking meetings
- Spring 2027: scholarship outcomes are communicated along with course offers
- Autumn 2027: the course begins
Some courses close in March or later. Those later rounds are not considered for Clarendon, so a course with a March deadline will not put you in the scholarship pool. Check the course page for the “funding deadline” wording before you plan.
Step-by-Step Preparation Plan
- Now to early November: shortlist two or three courses, read the entry requirements, and note their funding deadlines.
- November: contact your referees, request transcripts, and take any English test the course requires.
- Late November: write the academic statement, research proposal and written work if the course asks for them.
- At least two weeks before the deadline: submit the full application, as Oxford recommends.
- After submission: check that your referees have uploaded their letters by the same noon deadline.
What Selectors Look For
- Outstanding academic merit and potential, usually shown by top grades and a strong track record
- A clear fit between your interests and the department’s expertise
- A convincing research proposal for DPhil applicants
- Specific, detailed references from academics who know you well
- Evidence of independent work, such as a dissertation, publication, project or professional achievement
Choosing the Right Course
Check that the course is a new Master’s or DPhil, because the awards are not available for postgraduate certificates, diplomas or students continuing on the same degree. Look at the department’s admission statistics and funding information, and read the faculty pages to find academics whose research matches yours. For a DPhil, contact a potential supervisor before applying if the department encourages it.
Understanding the Funding
The scholarship is described as covering course fees and a living grant. The living grant is tied to the UKRI minimum doctoral stipend, and the exact 2027–28 amount had not been published when this article was written. Do not rely on the figures on third-party websites. Also remember that UK visa costs, the health surcharge and travel are separate planning items, and you should check the official Oxford page for what the award includes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Searching for a separate Clarendon application form that does not exist
- Applying by a March deadline and expecting to be considered for the award
- Submitting without checking that all referees have uploaded their letters
- Writing a general statement that does not mention the course or department
- Treating the scholarship as a backup and the admission file as a formality
More Questions Applicants Ask
Is there a nationality restriction? No. All nationalities are eligible.
Can I be rejected for admission but still get the scholarship? No. You must receive an offer for the course first.
Can I apply to more than one course? Yes, each application is separate and each course has its own deadline, so manage them carefully.
Where is the final information? Use the University of Oxford graduate admissions and Clarendon Fund pages as the final source.
Related Scholarships on Scholarza
- Commonwealth Scholarships – UK (Masters & PhD for Developing Commonwealth Countries)
- Gates Cambridge Scholarship – University of Cambridge, UK (Full PhD & Masters Funding)
- Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP) – Fully Funded Master’s in Sweden
Final Checklist Before You Submit
- Your course is a new Master’s or DPhil and is open for 2027–28 entry
- You have the correct December or January funding deadline written down, with the time zone
- Your academic statement, research proposal and written work follow the course page exactly
- Your referees have confirmed they will upload by the same deadline
- Your transcripts and English evidence are uploaded and readable
- You have saved a copy of the full application and the confirmation email
After you submit, keep checking your email and the application portal. Oxford may contact you for missing items, and your departmental decision can arrive months later, so patience is part of the process. Meanwhile, apply for other funding in parallel, such as the Commonwealth, Chevening or country-specific awards, so you are not depending on a single decision.
