University of Oxford Clarendon Scholarships for International Students.
Studying at the University of Oxford is a goal for many international students, but the cost of graduate education in the United Kingdom can make that goal difficult to achieve. The University of Oxford Clarendon Scholarships provide an opportunity for outstanding students from around the world to pursue fully funded graduate studies at one of the world’s most prestigious universities.
The Clarendon Fund offers more than 200 new fully funded scholarships each year to outstanding graduate students. The scholarship is open to applicants from all nationalities and covers eligible Master’s and DPhil programmes.
For international students looking for a fully funded opportunity in the UK, the Clarendon Scholarship is therefore one of the major Oxford funding options worth considering.
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University of Oxford Clarendon Scholarships for International Students
The Clarendon Fund is a graduate scholarship programme at the University of Oxford designed to support academically outstanding students.
The programme was established in 2001 and has since supported scholars from many countries and academic disciplines. The scholarship is highly competitive and is awarded based primarily on academic excellence and future academic potential.
One major advantage is that there is no separate Clarendon scholarship application for eligible applicants.
Students who submit an application for an eligible new Master’s or DPhil course at Oxford by the relevant December or January funding deadline are automatically considered for Clarendon funding.
Is the Clarendon Scholarship Fully Funded?
Yes. Clarendon is a fully funded scholarship for successful scholars.
The scholarship generally provides:
- Full coverage of Oxford course fees
- An annual grant to assist with living expenses
- Funding for the period during which the scholar is liable for course fees
For the 2025-26 academic year, the living-cost grant was at least £20,780. The amount can be updated for subsequent academic years, so prospective applicants should check the current funding information for their intended year of entry.
The scholarship significantly reduces the financial burden of studying at Oxford because both tuition fees and living expenses are supported.
Who Can Apply for Clarendon Scholarships?
The Clarendon Scholarship is open to applicants from all nationalities.
There are no restrictions based on nationality or ordinary residence, meaning international applicants can compete for the scholarship on the same basis as other eligible applicants.
The scholarship is intended for new graduate students applying for eligible Master’s or DPhil programmes.
Both full-time and part-time eligible graduate programmes can be considered.
This makes Clarendon particularly attractive to international students who would otherwise have to finance expensive UK graduate tuition and living costs themselves.
What Courses Are Eligible?
Clarendon scholarships are available across a very broad range of academic disciplines.
Eligible applicants may be considered for graduate courses in areas such as:
- Business and management
- Computer science
- Engineering
- Medicine
- Social sciences
- Law
- Economics
- Education
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Environmental studies
- History
- Philosophy
- Languages
- Literature
- Politics
- International relations
The scholarship is not restricted to a particular subject area.
However, applicants must ensure that the specific Oxford graduate course they are applying for is eligible and that they meet the admissions requirements for that programme.
Clarendon Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
There is no single minimum grade or test score that guarantees a Clarendon Scholarship.
Oxford looks for applicants with outstanding academic records and strong potential for future academic achievement.
A competitive applicant will normally demonstrate excellent academic performance in their previous degree.
For example, an applicant may have:
- A strong undergraduate degree
- Excellent Master’s results when applying for a DPhil
- Strong academic references
- A well-developed research proposal where required
- Evidence of academic achievement
- Clear intellectual motivation
- Strong potential to contribute to their academic field
Meeting the minimum admission requirements for an Oxford course does not mean that an applicant will receive Clarendon funding.
The scholarship competition is extremely strong, and selection is based on academic merit and potential.
Do You Need a Separate Clarendon Application?
No.
This is one of the most important things international applicants should understand.
Eligible applicants are automatically considered for Clarendon if they submit their Oxford graduate course application by the relevant December or January funding deadline.
You do not normally need to complete a separate Clarendon scholarship application.
However, you must indicate in the appropriate funding section of your graduate application that you wish to be considered for Oxford scholarships where applicable.
The most important step is therefore to submit a strong Oxford graduate application before the relevant funding deadline.
How to Apply for the Clarendon Scholarship
The application process starts with choosing an eligible graduate course at Oxford.
Step 1: Choose Your Oxford Course
Search for a suitable Master’s or DPhil programme that matches your academic background and career objectives.
Carefully review the admission requirements, including academic qualifications, English-language requirements, supporting documents and any course-specific requirements.
Step 2: Prepare Your Application
Prepare the documents required for your chosen course.
Depending on the programme, these may include:
- Academic transcripts
- Degree certificates
- Curriculum vitae
- Personal statement
- Statement of purpose
- Research proposal
- Academic references
- English-language test results where required
- Other programme-specific documents
Your application should clearly demonstrate why you are academically prepared for the programme.
Step 3: Submit Before the Funding Deadline
Submit your complete Oxford graduate application by the relevant December or January deadline for your chosen course.
The exact deadline depends on the programme.
This is critical because applicants who apply after the relevant funding deadline may not be considered for Clarendon funding for that entry year.
Step 4: Automatic Scholarship Consideration
Once you have submitted an eligible application before the relevant deadline, you are automatically considered for Clarendon.
There is no need to submit a separate scholarship application.
How Are Clarendon Scholars Selected?
Clarendon selection focuses heavily on academic excellence and future potential.
Oxford’s academic divisions and faculties assess eligible candidates after the graduate admissions process.
The university looks for applicants who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and the potential to make significant contributions to their field.
Academic references can therefore be extremely important. Your referees should be able to provide specific evidence of your academic ability rather than simply describing you as a hardworking student.
For research degrees, the quality and potential of the proposed research can also be an important part of the overall academic assessment.
When Will Clarendon Scholarship Results Be Announced?
Clarendon scholarship decisions are generally communicated after the relevant Oxford admissions and funding assessments have taken place.
Oxford states that Clarendon offers are usually sent by early April, although exact notification timing can vary.
Successful applicants are normally contacted by email.
Because the competition is very strong, applicants should not assume that receiving an Oxford admission offer automatically means they will receive Clarendon funding.
Benefits Beyond Financial Support
The Clarendon Scholarship offers more than financial assistance.
Successful scholars become part of an international and multidisciplinary community of Oxford graduate students.
Clarendon scholars come from many different countries and academic backgrounds. This creates opportunities to interact with researchers, academics and students working in different fields.
The scholarship community can therefore provide valuable academic networking and professional relationships that continue beyond graduation.
Can Nigerian Students Apply for Clarendon?
Yes.
Nigerian students are eligible to apply because Clarendon does not impose nationality restrictions.
A Nigerian applicant must still meet the admission requirements of the chosen Oxford graduate programme and compete successfully for the scholarship.
Applicants from Nigeria should focus particularly on academic strength, high-quality references, a strong personal or research statement and a carefully prepared graduate application.
Being from Nigeria does not automatically increase or reduce your chances. Selection is based on the strength of the application and the academic assessment.
Does Clarendon Cover Visa and Travel Costs?
Clarendon primarily provides course-fee funding and a grant for living expenses.
International students should not automatically assume that every expense associated with moving to the UK will be separately covered.
Costs such as visa fees, travel, health-related immigration charges and other relocation expenses may require additional financial planning depending on the circumstances of the applicant and the terms of their funding package.
Students should therefore prepare a realistic budget even when applying for a fully funded scholarship.
Why the Clarendon Scholarship Is Highly Competitive
Oxford receives applications from exceptionally strong students worldwide.
Many applicants have excellent grades, prestigious academic backgrounds, strong research experience and impressive references.
Consequently, simply meeting the admission requirements is not enough.
Applicants should treat the Oxford application itself as a major academic competition.
Your personal statement should have a clear purpose, your research proposal should demonstrate genuine academic thinking where applicable, and your references should provide credible evidence of your ability.
Final Thoughts
The University of Oxford Clarendon Scholarships for International Students provide an outstanding opportunity for students who want to pursue fully funded graduate studies in the United Kingdom.
The scholarship is open to students of all nationalities and covers eligible Master’s and DPhil programmes across a wide range of academic disciplines. Successful scholars receive full course-fee funding and a grant toward living expenses for the relevant period of study.
One of the biggest advantages is the straightforward scholarship application process. Eligible applicants who apply for a new Oxford graduate course by the relevant December or January funding deadline are automatically considered for Clarendon.
However, the scholarship is highly competitive. Applicants should therefore focus on building an exceptional academic application rather than treating Clarendon as simply another scholarship form.
For international students with outstanding academic records and strong future potential, Clarendon can provide a pathway to study at Oxford without having to personally carry the full cost of graduate education.
