Clarendon Scholarship 2027 for Africans: Eligibility, Deadlines, Benefits and How to Apply

The Clarendon Scholarship 2027 round is Oxford’s largest graduate scholarship scheme for students starting a master’s or DPhil in the 2027–28 academic year. It pays full course fees and a living grant, and there are no restrictions by nationality, so applicants from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and every other African country can be considered.

There is no separate scholarship form. You are considered automatically when you apply for an eligible Oxford course by its December or January deadline. This guide explains, in plain English, who qualifies, what the award pays, the deadlines, the documents you need and the mistakes that cost African applicants their chance. All facts were checked on official University of Oxford pages on 13 November 2026.

What the Clarendon Scholarship 2027 is

The Clarendon Fund first welcomed scholars to Oxford in 2001. It was originally for overseas students and was opened to UK and EU students in 2012. Its stated purpose is to help academically outstanding graduate students through their studies at the University of Oxford.

Oxford University Press provides the core funding: £10.7 million was allocated for the 2025–26 cohort. Around 240 partnership awards from colleges, departments and trusts added about £9.3 million, bringing total Clarendon funding to roughly £20 million that year.

Clarendon offered over 230 new scholarships in 2025–26, and about 700 scholars are on course at any time. Most are DPhil students, but awards are also made for two-year degrees such as the MPhil and one-year degrees such as the MSc. There are no quotas by nationality or degree.

If you are weighing Oxford against Cambridge, compare this award with the Gates Cambridge Scholarship for African applicants, which has its own statement and earlier December deadlines for some courses.

What the scholarship pays

• Course fees in full, at the Home or Overseas rate that applies to you. African applicants usually pay Overseas fees, so this is the largest part of the award.
• A living grant for full-time scholars of at least the UKRI minimum doctoral stipend. Oxford says this is normally enough for a single student living in Oxford. In 2025–26 scholars received at least £20,780. The 2027–28 figure has not yet been announced.
• A study support grant for part-time scholars instead of a full living grant, usually a sixth, a third or half of the UKRI rate.

The award normally lasts for your period of fee liability, which is the number of years you pay course fees. Continuation charges after that period are not covered. Oxford estimates living costs for a single full-time student in 2027–28 at £1,475 to £2,175 a month, so compare that range with the grant when you plan.

The Clarendon pages do not list flights, visa fees or the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of the award. Budget for those yourself unless your offer letter says otherwise.

Who can apply: eligibility in plain English

• Nationality: anyone. Clarendon has no restrictions by nationality or country of residence.
• Course: you must apply for a new degree-bearing master’s or DPhil course at Oxford, full-time or part-time, in any subject.
• Timing: you must apply by your course’s December or January deadline. A March or later deadline is too late for Oxford scholarships.
• Not eligible: people who already hold a deferred graduate offer, and current Oxford students continuing the same degree next year. Current Oxford master’s students applying for a DPhil or a second master’s can be considered.

Visa note: Oxford’s Application Guide says the UK Government has introduced an 18-month suspension on student visa applications from nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan. Cameroonian and Sudanese applicants should check the latest UK visa rules before applying.

Oxford says most successful scholars have at least a first-class honours degree or equivalent, such as a GPA of 3.7 out of 4. An outstanding master’s can make up for a moderate first degree. There is no published minimum for West African CGPA scales, so use the University’s international qualifications guidance for your country.

How Clarendon scholars are selected

Selection is on merit. Oxford lists three main criteria, which vary a little by subject and between taught and research courses:

1. An outstanding academic record: marks, class rank, prizes and, where relevant, publications.
2. Future potential and aptitude: judged from your references and, for research degrees, your research proposal.
3. Motivation: your commitment to the course, shown in your personal statement and referees’ reports.

Academics in your department first decide on your place and nominate the strongest applicants for Clarendon. Each academic division then meets in February or March to rank those nominations and draw up a shortlist. In other words, a strong course application is the scholarship application.

Clarendon Scholarship 2027 deadlines and timeline

Each Oxford course sets its own deadline. All deadlines are at 12:00 midday UK time, which in December and January is 1:00pm in Lagos, 2:00pm in Johannesburg and 3:00pm in Nairobi. These are examples from official course pages for 2027–28 entry:

After the deadline, departments usually decide on places about 8 to 10 weeks later. Divisions review Clarendon nominations in February or March. Most initial scholarship offers are emailed by the end of April 2027. Unsuccessful applicants are not contacted, so if you have heard nothing by mid-June, assume you were not selected.

How to apply for the Clarendon Scholarship 2027

1. Choose your course. Use the official University of Oxford graduate courses list. Check the entry requirements and the exact deadline on the course page. You can apply to at most three courses in one cycle, and only two of them can be taught courses.
2. Check the application fee. It is £75 for taught courses and £20 for research courses such as the DPhil. Residents of eligible low-income countries can request a waiver inside the form. African countries on the list include Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa are not on it.
3. Prepare your documents. Most courses ask for official transcripts, a CV, a personal statement or research proposal, and written work. Follow the word limits on your course page exactly, or the application may be treated as incomplete.
4. Register three referees early. At least two references must be submitted by the deadline for your application to be assessed. Academic referees are preferred for most courses.
5. Submit at least two weeks before the deadline. Oxford recommends this, because an application completed after the deadline usually moves to a later deadline or is not considered.
6. Wait for the outcome. You do not fill in any Clarendon form. If you are selected, the Clarendon team emails you a first offer letter (called a CB1), and later a funding breakdown letter (CB2).

Required documents checklist: official transcripts with certified English translations if needed; CV or résumé; statement of purpose or research proposal; written work if your course asks for it; three referees’ contact details; and, after an offer, English test results if your course requires them.

Start your application from the Apply button on your course page or read the official Clarendon information for applicants.

Tips from our team

• Treat the course application as the scholarship. Clarendon uses only what you submit for admission, so put your best evidence there.
• Show your rank. If you graduated top of your class or won a departmental prize, say so and ask a referee to confirm it.
• Pick the earliest deadline you can meet. Student-visa applicants benefit from an earlier decision too.
• Apply for other funding as well. Clarendon is highly competitive. Many applicants also target the Chevening Scholarships for 2027/2028 or the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for UK master’s study.
• Write for experts. Academics in your field read your statement, so be specific about the questions you want to study.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying in March. Courses with a March or later deadline are not eligible for Oxford scholarships.
• Late references. Fewer than two references by the deadline usually means your application is not assessed at that deadline.
• Uploading the wrong documents. Some courses, such as Economics for Development, remove a separate CV because the form collects it.
• Expecting a reply if unsuccessful. Oxford does not write to applicants who are not selected.
• Paying an agent. Nobody can sell you a Clarendon place. There is no scholarship fee.

Related scholarships you may like

• Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027 for Africans
• Cambridge University scholarships for South African students
• Chevening Scholarships 2027/2028: timeline and eligibility
• Eiffel Excellence Scholarship 2027 for Africans
• Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028

Clarendon Scholarship 2027 FAQs

Can Nigerians, Ghanaians, Kenyans and South Africans apply?
Yes. Clarendon has no nationality or residence restrictions. You are considered if you apply for an eligible course by its December or January deadline.

Is the Clarendon Scholarship fully funded?
For full-time students it covers course fees in full and pays a living grant of at least the UKRI minimum doctoral stipend. It does not list flights or visa costs.

Is there a separate Clarendon application?
No. There are no extra forms or documents. Your Oxford graduate application is used.

Does Clarendon fund MBA students?
Oxford says awards are made for one-year degrees including the MSc, MSt, MBA and MFE, but check your course page to confirm its deadline counts for scholarships.

When will I know?
Most first offers are sent by the end of April 2027. If you have heard nothing by mid-June 2027, assume you were not selected.

Official sources

• University of Oxford: Clarendon Fund
• Clarendon Fund: information for applicants
• About the Clarendon Fund
• Oxford Application Guide: when to apply and deadlines
• Oxford Application Guide: application fee waivers

Disclaimer: OpportunityHanger is not the University of Oxford, the Clarendon Fund or Oxford University Press. We do not charge fees, and we do not process applications. Rules, amounts and deadlines can change, so always confirm details on the official pages before you apply.