About Clarendon

1. You will be automatically considered for Clarendon if you apply by the December or January deadline, whichever is relevant to your course. You do not need to submit a separate application.

2. Clarendon offers fully-funded scholarships covering course fees, as well as a grant for living expenses for the period of fee liability.

3. There are no restrictions on nationality, ordinary residence or field of study. All full-time and part-time DPhil and Master’s courses are eligible.

4. Clarendon scholars are selected for their outstanding academic merit and potential.

5. Clarendon scholarships are highly competitive. 

Full time applicants

Our scholarships are open to all subject areas and to all candidates who apply for a new Master’s or DPhil course by the December or January admissions deadline, whichever is relevant to your course.

Graduate application deadline

By applying for graduate study you will automatically be considered for a Clarendon scholarship. You do not need to submit any additional documents and there are no separate scholarship application forms for Clarendon. You must apply by the December or January admissions deadline, whichever is relevant to your course in order to be considered. Deadline information is available on the course pages.

Value

Clarendon scholarships cover course fees in full.  This applies to Home and Overseas fee status students.

Scholars on a full-time course will receive an annual grant for living expenses of at least the UKRI minimum doctoral stipend rate, which is normally sufficient to cover the living costs of a single student living in Oxford. In 2023-24, scholars receive at least £18,622.

Duration

Clarendon scholarships are normally offered for a scholar’s period of fee liability. This is the period for which you are liable to pay course fees to the University. The fee liability page explains this in full, and also gives information about charges that may be applied after this period, known as continuation charges, which are not covered by the Clarendon Fund.

At the discretion of the academic divisions, some Clarendon scholarships cover an additional period of study beyond the duration of fee liability. Only a grant for living expenses is paid during that additional period; continuation charges are not paid by the Clarendon Fund. Scholars are notified in their offer letters of the exact duration of their scholarships. 

Nationality or Ordinary Residence

There are no restrictions by nationality or country of ordinary residence.

Clarendon scholars come from across the world: from the USA to Australia, Venezuela to Vietnam and from Norway to Nigeria. 

Level of study

All full-time DPhil and Master’s courses are eligible, as long as you have applied by the December or January deadline, whichever is relevant for your course. A list of all the graduate courses offered by the University of Oxford can be found on the courses page.

For information for Part-time applicants please see our dedicated page.

Subject area

Clarendon supports scholars from across the University, with no restrictions on 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.

Deferred offers or current students

Applicants who hold a deferred graduate offer 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.

Part-time applicants

Clarendon offers a competitive scholarship package for part-time students undertaking a range of courses.

Graduate application deadline

By applying for graduate study you will automatically be considered for a Clarendon Scholarship. You do not need to submit any additional documents and there are no separate scholarship application forms for Clarendon. In order to be considered you must apply by the December or January deadline for your course, whichever is relevant. Deadline information is available on the course pages.

Value

Clarendon scholarships cover scholars’ course fees. This applies to Home and Overseas fee status students. And, scholars on a part-time course will receive a study support grant to assist with non-fee costs. Study support grants vary in value — they may be a sixth, a third or half of the UKRI minimum doctoral stipend rate. The amount of the grant is influenced by the  nature and/or duration of the course. A scholar’s offer letter will provide details of the study support grant.

The study support grant may be slightly reduced where course fees cover some other study costs, for example, accommodation while on a period of residential study. We liaise with academic departments to determine the value of the study support grant in these cases.

Duration

Clarendon scholarships are normally offered for the period of fee liability, with the exception of modular fee structure courses (see below). This is the period for which you are liable to pay for course fees to the University. The fee liability page explains this in full, and also gives information about charges that may be applied after this period, known as continuation charges, which are not covered by the Clarendon Fund.

Modular fee structure courses

For part-time courses with a modular fee structure, where the course does not have a fixed number of terms of fee liability, the scholarship will cover those academic fees which are compulsory for your course of study. Depending on the course structure these may include:

a) An Annual Award Fee – this will be paid for a maximum of two years.
b) A Registration Fee – this will be paid in full.
c) A Dissertation Fee – this will be paid in full.
d) Module Fees – your scholarship will pay for the minimum number of modules required to complete your course, but will not pay for any additional modules which you take voluntarily.

In the event of any other compulsory academic fees, we will liaise with your academic department to determine if they should be funded by your scholarship.

Level of study

All degree-bearing courses at graduate level are eligible. This encompasses all the part-time Master’s and 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.

For information for full-time applicants please see our dedicated page.

Subject area

Clarendon supports scholars from across the University, with no restrictions on subject area.

Other criteria

Candidates applying to start a new part-time 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).

Deferred offers or current students

Applicants who hold a deferred graduate offer 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.

Selection criteria

Selection criteria vary slightly depending on the subject area and whether applicants apply for a taught or research degree.

As a guideline, applications are assessed against the following criteria:

Outstanding academic record

An excellent academic record is essential. The majority of successful scholars usually have at least a first class honours degree or its equivalent. For example a GPA score of at least 3.7, if the mark if out of 4, noting that a lot of the Clarendon scholars achieve higher than this score. Or an applicant must have an outstanding academic record at Master’s level, noting that an exceptional Master’s degree can compensate for a moderate first degree performance. Requirements may vary between disciplines and from year to year depending on the strength of the field. Other evidence 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).

Future potential and aptitude

Particular consideration is given to an applicant’s future academic potential and aptitude of the proposed course of study. This may be assessed by reviewing references and research proposals to determine evidence of an applicant’s aptitude for research, and the likelihood of contributing significantly to the field of study.

Student motivation

This is assessed through evidence of the applicant’s commitment to the proposed course as well as evaluation of the personal statement and the referees’ reports.

Source / More information: Official Website HERE.