A step-by-step guide to the Clarendon Fund Scholarships at the University of Oxford for the 2026/27 intake – funding, eligibility, deadlines, required documents and application workflow for international graduate students.
The Clarendon Scholarship 2026 is one of Oxford’s flagship funding schemes for graduate study. Every year, the Clarendon Fund offers over 200 fully funded scholarships to outstanding master’s and DPhil students from all around the world. Awards cover the full University and college fees and provide a generous annual grant for living costs for the period of fee liability, making this a truly fully funded master’s and PhD scholarship in the UK.
Official Clarendon Scholarship 2026 links
Start with the official University of Oxford pages. They contain the latest rules, eligible courses and deadlines.
- Clarendon home page: https://www.ox.ac.uk/clarendon – overview, purpose and benefits.
- Information for applicants: check the Information for applicants and Offer holders sections for funding details and community information.
- Selection criteria: the Clarendon site explains how academic excellence and future potential are assessed.
- Graduate course directory: use the Oxford course search to confirm your programme, department and funding deadlines.
- General scholarships search: you can also explore the University’s A–Z scholarships listing for additional awards that stack with Clarendon or provide backup options.
Scholarshiplisting.com is an independent guide – we never charge fees. You always submit your Clarendon application via the official Oxford graduate admissions system.
What does the Clarendon Scholarship 2026 cover?
Clarendon is a fully funded graduate scholarship. Coverage can vary slightly over the years, but the core package usually looks like this:
University & college fees
- Full course (University) fees for your chosen master’s or DPhil.
- College fees for your Oxford college for the duration of your fee liability.
Living costs
- An annual grant for living expenses – at least the UKRI minimum doctoral stipend rate (recent cycles quote around £18,600+ per year for full-time students).
- Support is normally sufficient for a single student living in Oxford; part-time scholars receive a study support grant instead of a full stipend.
Duration of funding
- Funding is normally offered for the full period of your fee liability (often 1 year for most master’s programmes and 3–4 years for DPhil programmes).
- In some cases, divisions may extend the living-cost portion for courses that formally require extra time.
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Clarendon Scholarship 2026 eligibility – who can apply?
Clarendon is open to candidates from any country. What matters most is academic excellence and potential.
Basic eligibility
- Apply for a new master’s or DPhil course at Oxford by the relevant December or January funding deadline.
- All fee statuses (Home, EU and Overseas) are eligible – Clarendon is no longer limited to international students only.
- All degree-bearing graduate courses are considered, except Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas.
Academic profile
- Excellent academic record – many successful Clarendon Scholars have a first-class degree or GPA equivalent (often 3.7/4.0 or higher).
- Strong references that highlight your research potential and intellectual curiosity.
- Well-matched background for the course you’re applying to, with evidence you can thrive in Oxford’s academic environment.
There is no separate Clarendon application form. If you apply for an eligible course by the funding deadline, you are automatically considered. This means your standard Oxford application must already be extremely strong.
Eligible courses & programmes Clarendon does not fund
One of the strengths of the Clarendon Fund is its flexibility – it supports scholars from every academic division at Oxford.
Courses usually eligible
- One-year taught master’s degrees (e.g. MSc, MSt, MPhil).
- Two-year master’s and integrated research master’s programmes.
- DPhil (doctoral) programmes across humanities, social sciences, medical sciences and MPLS divisions.
- Part-time master’s and DPhil degrees that are classified as degree-bearing.
Courses not normally covered
- Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma courses.
- Non-degree short courses and continuing education programmes.
- Most undergraduate degrees (Clarendon is a graduate scholarship scheme).
Always verify your exact programme in the graduate course directory. If you apply for an ineligible course, you will not be considered for Clarendon even if your profile is strong.
How Clarendon Scholars are selected
Clarendon has a multi-stage selection process. Departments first rank applicants for admission and funding, then the Clarendon Fund makes final decisions based on common criteria.
- Academic excellence: top marks, strong performance in previous degrees, academic prizes and evidence of research potential.
- Future potential: how well your proposed course and interests position you for leadership or innovation in your field.
- Fit with the course: the clarity of your research or study plan and how it aligns with the department’s strengths and faculty interests.
- Overall merit: references, personal statement and interviews (for some courses) that confirm you are among the most promising applicants in the global pool.
From your personal statement to your references, try to show a consistent story about what you want to study, why Oxford is the right place, and what you hope to contribute afterwards.
Clarendon Scholarship 2026/27 – timeline & key deadlines
Exact dates vary by course, but the pattern repeats each year. For the 2026 intake, you can expect something like this:
| Stage | Typical period | What you should do |
|---|---|---|
| Applications open | September 2025 | Browse the course directory, shortlist programmes and read their admission criteria and funding deadlines. |
| Course funding deadlines | December 2025 / January 2026 | Submit your full graduate application (including references) by the earlier of the two deadlines listed for your course. |
| Departmental assessment | Jan–Feb 2026 | Departments review applications for admission and nominate top-ranked candidates for Clarendon and other scholarships. |
| Clarendon selection & offers | March–April 2026 | Clarendon panels confirm scholarship offers and successful candidates receive funding emails and college allocations. |
| Visa & financial arrangements | Summer 2026 | Accept your offer, meet any conditions, arrange visa and accommodation, and complete college enrolment steps. |
| Arrival in Oxford | September / October 2026 | Attend induction, meet your cohort and join the Clarendon Scholars’ community events. |
Because Clarendon is linked directly to your course funding deadline, missing that date means losing scholarship eligibility. Aim to submit at least two weeks early to avoid reference or portal issues.
Documents you need for a strong Clarendon Scholarship application
Since there is no separate Clarendon form, everything happens inside your standard Oxford graduate application. Think of each element as part of a single story.
- Official transcripts for all university-level study, with grading scales where possible.
- Degree certificates for completed programmes.
- An up-to-date CV highlighting academic strengths, research experience, prizes, publications and relevant employment.
- Statement of purpose / personal statement tailored to your Oxford course, not copied from a generic template.
- Research proposal (for DPhil and many MPhil programmes) explaining your topic, methods, supervision fit and contribution.
- Academic references – usually two or three letters submitted directly through the system.
- English test scores (IELTS, TOEFL, etc.) if required for your course and you do not meet the waiver conditions.
Use clear filenames like Lastname_Firstname_Transcript_OxfordClarendon2026.pdf. It looks professional and helps selectors manage large pools of documents.
How to apply for the Clarendon Scholarship 2026 – step-by-step
Here is a realistic workflow you can follow from initial research to submission.
- Clarify your goals. Write down the problem or question you want to work on after your degree. This will guide your course choice and personal statement.
- Shortlist Oxford programmes. Use the course directory to find 1–3 degrees that closely match your interests and background.
- Study course pages carefully. Check admission requirements, course structure, supervisor profiles and specific funding deadlines.
- Prepare your academic story. List your key achievements: best grades, research projects, dissertations, publications, awards and relevant experience.
- Draft your personal statement / research proposal. Explain what you want to study, why at Oxford, and how it connects to your long-term plans.
- Choose and brief your referees. Pick academics who know your work well. Share your draft statement and CV so their letters support your narrative.
- Complete the online application. Fill in all sections of the graduate application portal accurately, upload documents and pay the application fee (or use a fee waiver if eligible).
- Review & submit ahead of the funding deadline. Double-check details, ensure references are in or on track, and submit several days before the cut-off.
Remember: you do not tick a special “Clarendon” box. Departments nominate the best applicants they have already decided to admit – so your normal application must already be good enough for Oxford.
How to make your Clarendon application stand out
Hundreds of applicants will have good grades. Clarendon panels are looking for the combination of academic excellence, clear purpose and potential to contribute to your field and community.
Things that help
- Consistently high grades plus a clear upward trend where relevant.
- Evidence of independent research: dissertations, projects, co-authored papers or conference presentations.
- Strong academic references that back up your story rather than repeat your CV.
- Specific reasons for choosing Oxford – particular labs, centres, archives, datasets or supervisors.
Things to avoid
- Generic personal statements that could be sent to any university.
- Lists of activities with no reflection on what you learned or achieved.
- Over-claiming (“I will revolutionise my field”) without a realistic plan.
- Submitting at the last minute and discovering missing references or uploads.
A simple test: ask someone who doesn’t know you well to read your statement. If they can clearly explain your topic, your motivation and why Oxford is the right place, you’re on the right track.
Visa sponsorship & life in Oxford as a Clarendon Scholar
Because Clarendon covers fees and provides a living allowance, it effectively works as a visa-sponsored, fully funded pathway to graduate study at Oxford. But you must still follow UK immigration rules.
- Your college or department will provide the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) needed for a UK student visa.
- Your stipend is usually aligned with the minimum amount considered necessary for a single student in Oxford – budget carefully, especially for housing.
- Some part-time work may be allowed under your visa, but your primary responsibility is full-time study and research.
- After your degree, you may be eligible for post-study routes such as the UK Graduate visa, depending on current immigration policy.
For exact immigration rules, combine guidance from Oxford’s International Student Office with the official UK government visa pages.
Related fully funded UK scholarships on Scholarshiplisting.com
To build a strong UK funding strategy, explore these other fully funded scholarships alongside Clarendon:
- Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2026 – Fully Funded Master’s & PhD at the University of Cambridge
- Chevening Scholarship 2026 – Fully Funded Master’s in the UK
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2026 – Fully Funded Master’s for Commonwealth Countries
- UK Fully Funded Scholarships 2026 – Round-up for International Students
Clarendon Scholarship 2026 – Frequently asked questions
Yes. Clarendon normally covers full University and college fees and provides a living-cost grant at or above the UKRI minimum stipend, which recent cycles place around the high £18,000s per year for full-time students. Part-time scholars receive a study support grant instead of a full stipend.
No. If you apply for an eligible master’s or DPhil course by the December or January funding deadline, you are automatically considered. Departments nominate their best candidates to the Clarendon Fund.
The Clarendon Fund typically offers more than 200 new scholarships annually across all Oxford divisions, making it one of the largest graduate scholarship schemes at the University – but it is still highly competitive.
Yes. While Clarendon originally focused on overseas students, it has expanded to include Home and EU fee statuses. All outstanding applicants, regardless of nationality, are considered.
In some cases Clarendon can be combined with college or external awards, but the total package cannot exceed your calculated costs. The University’s fees and funding team will adjust overlaps where necessary.
This guide summarises public information for the 2026/27 Clarendon cycle. Always double-check the latest eligibility rules, benefits and deadlines on the official University of Oxford website before you apply.
