Funding in Oxford and Cambridge is arranged differently than in most countries: there is no single state scholarship for foreigners here, but a whole network of funds, college grants and external programs with different rules for undergraduate and graduate programs. We understand what is really available to a foreign student and how to build an application - based on the official pages of both universities.

Yes, but with a caveat: the opportunities vary greatly depending on the level of study. At the bachelor’s level, there is little funding available for international students — Oxford itself explicitly states on its official website that scholarships for overseas students at the undergraduate level are “very limited.”

The situation is different at the master’s and PhD levels: there are large foundations such as Clarendon at Oxford or Gates Cambridge and Cambridge Trust at Cambridge, which support hundreds of students from around the world every year. The competition is high in any case, and the specific conditions depend on the programme, country, and citizenship — they need to be checked for each scholarship individually.

These terms are often used as synonyms, but in essence they are different.

A scholarship (scholarship) is usually awarded for academic achievements or potential and may cover all or part of the tuition fees.
A grant (grant) is more often tied to a specific purpose — research, a trip, a project — and does not always cover the main cost of tuition.
Financial aid (financial aid or bursary) is in most cases based on the family’s financial situation rather than on achievements, and it is more common in undergraduate studies within the UK than among international students.

In practice, many programs combine these formats — for example, a scholarship may include both tuition coverage and a separate grant for living expenses.

Get a Consultation

Depending on the program, the scholarship may cover:

the course fee (course fee) — fully or partially;
the college fee — a separate item in Oxford and Cambridge, which is not always included in the main scholarship;
living expenses — usually in the form of a monthly or annual grant;
travel — not all programs include this, but some major foundations do;
visa expenses — sometimes the coverage of the Immigration Health Surcharge and other fees is specified separately.

Not every scholarship covers all of the above — before calculating your budget, you need to carefully check the terms and conditions of the specific program, rather than relying on a general idea of a “full scholarship.”

Undergraduate funding

There are few opportunities for international students at the bachelor’s level.

The key programme is the Reach Oxford Scholarship: it is designed for students from low‑income countries who, for political, financial reasons, or due to the lack of suitable educational institutions, cannot obtain higher education in their home country.

The scholarship fully covers university and college fees and also includes grants for accommodation and travel.

An important condition: you can apply for Reach Oxford only after you have already received an offer for a place in the programme — it is not considered separately from the main application.

Funding for master's and PhD programs

At the postgraduate level, the range of programmes is significantly broader.

The flagship programme is the Clarendon Fund: it provides more than 200 new fully funded scholarships each year, and in total it supports around 700 students from about 70 countries simultaneously.

The scholarship fully covers tuition fees and includes a living allowance grant of at least the UKRI minimum rate for doctoral students — in 2025/26, this amounts to at least £20,780 per year. Clarendon has no restrictions regarding citizenship or field of study.

University and external programs

In addition to Reach Oxford and Clarendon, Oxford offers dozens of highly specialized scholarships — by country (for example, for citizens of India or Singapore), by field of study, or in partnership with external foundations.

Separately, there is the Rhodes Scholarship — one of the oldest and most prestigious international scholarships in the world; it has been in operation since 1902 and is open to students from various countries for master’s or PhD studies at Oxford.

The full list of current programs and conditions should be checked on the official Oxford scholarship search page — it is updated every year.

Undergraduate funding

As in Oxford, there are no special government scholarships for international bachelor’s students at Cambridge — the university explicitly states that funding for international students is primarily provided through The Cambridge Trust and college programmes. The selection criteria depend on the specific scholarship: some are targeted at certain countries or fields of study, so you need to look for a suitable programme individually.

Funding for master's and PhD programs

At the master’s and PhD levels, Cambridge offers one of the most renowned scholarships in the world — the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. It is open to students from any country except the UK, covers the full cost of tuition, and includes maintenance (£22,050 per year at the 2025/26 rate for one student), travel, and visa expenses. Approximately 80 scholars are selected each year, most of them for PhD programmes.

University, college and external sources

The Cambridge Trust is an independent charitable foundation that supports international students at all three levels: undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD — with full or partial coverage of expenses, depending on the specific program. In addition, some colleges and faculties offer their own grants and bursaries — their terms should be clarified directly with the college you are applying to.

The main requirements for candidates

Although the criteria vary by programme, most strong Oxford and Cambridge scholarships evaluate candidates based on a similar set of parameters:

academic performance — grades at or above the programme’s official requirements;
alignment with the programme — a clear connection between previous education, the chosen course and goals;
leadership experience — not formal positions, but real impact on a team, project or community;
community engagement — volunteering, initiatives, participation in organisations.

Research experience is especially important for master’s and PhD programs, where a clear research proposal is often required;
motivation — a clear understanding of why this particular program is needed and how it relates to future plans.

Find suitable financing programs

Start by searching the official Oxford and Cambridge scholarship pages — most major scholarships are listed there, not on third‑party aggregators.

Check criteria and restrictions

Many programs have restrictions related to citizenship, field of study, or level of education — it’s worth checking them before spending time preparing an application.

Prepare academic documents

Transcripts, diplomas, and their translations need to be prepared in advance — this may take more time than it seems, especially if an official translation or nostrification is required.

Write a motivational essay

This is one of the most important elements of an application for most scholarships — it often determines the final decision when different candidates have similar academic records.

Get strong recommendations

Recommenders should have a good understanding of your academic or professional work and be able to speak about specific examples, rather than just using general statements.

Submit documents before the deadline

For some scholarships, including Clarendon, the deadline coincides with the deadline for the application itself, and it cannot be extended separately — so you should check the deadlines in advance and not put it off until the last moment.

Do you need to submit a separate application?

It depends on the specific scholarship.

For some programs, such as the Clarendon Fund at Oxford, a separate application is not required: it is enough to submit the documents for admission itself before the required deadline, and the candidate will be automatically considered for the scholarship.

For other programs, including Reach Oxford and most scholarships from The Cambridge Trust, a separate form or an additional essay is required after receiving a place offer. This point must be clarified on the page for the specific scholarship — you shouldn’t assume anything “by default”.

A good scholarship essay is not built on a list of achievements, but on a connection: what you have already done, why it matters, and how it aligns with the values and goals of the specific program.

It is important to demonstrate not just a general interest in studying abroad, but an understanding of how the chosen scholarship differs from others — for example, the Rhodes Scholarship historically places great emphasis on leadership and the desire to use education for the benefit of society, rather than just on personal academic ambitions.

Concrete examples — a project, a study, an initiative with a measurable outcome — are always more convincing than general statements like “I’ve always dreamed of studying at Oxford.”

failure to meet formal criteria — restrictions related to the country, field, or level that the candidate failed to notice in advance;
weak argumentation in the essay — a nice list of achievements without an explanation of why they are important specifically for this program;
lack of evidence of the claimed achievements — recommendations or a portfolio that do not confirm what is stated in the application;
late submission — especially critical for programs with automatic review upon admission, where the deadline cannot be moved;
choosing an unsuitable program — scholarships for one country or field submitted by a candidate from another category.

Get a Consultation

It’s best to start looking for scholarships at the same time you’re putting together your list of universities and programs, rather than after you’ve received an offer.

The reason is simple: for some scholarships, including Clarendon, the application for funding actually coincides with the application for admission — that is, if you apply to a program after the deadline required for the scholarship, you’ve already missed your chance to get that scholarship, even if you’re later admitted to the university.

At SelfStartGlobal, we help you find Oxford and Cambridge scholarships that truly match the candidate’s profile, develop an overall application strategy so that the deadlines and scholarships don’t clash, prepare documents and a motivation letter, work on your personal brand, and help you showcase the qualities that specific programs look for in an application.

If you’re considering Oxford or Cambridge and want to think through funding in advance, come to a consultation — we’ll review your profile and find a realistic set of scholarships.

Is it possible to get a 100% scholarship?

Yes, at the master’s and PhD levels, this is possible — for example, through the Clarendon Fund at Oxford or the Gates Cambridge at Cambridge, which fully cover tuition and living expenses. At the bachelor’s level, there are significantly fewer such opportunities, and available programs like Reach Oxford are aimed at students from low‑income countries and those facing specific circumstances.

Is it possible to get multiple sources of funding at once?

In some cases, yes — for example, Clarendon collaborates with colleges and external partners, creating a combined funding package for some scholarship recipients. However, combining sources should be done with caution: some programs explicitly restrict the simultaneous receipt of other scholarships or reduce the payment amount when funding overlaps.

Do I need separate recommendations for scholarships?

Sometimes, yes, especially if the scholarship requires a separate application in addition to the main admission. In such cases, recommendation letters may differ in emphasis from those needed for university admission — they should be clarified according to the requirements of the specific program.

Are scholarships only available to excellent students?

High grades are a necessary, but not the only, condition. Most major scholarships at Oxford and Cambridge evaluate not only leadership experience and research potential, but also motivation — that is, a strong academic profile opens the door to the competition, but it does not guarantee the outcome on its own.

When are the results announced?

The deadlines vary depending on the program. For example, the Clarendon Fund sends out most initial offers by the end of April, and if there is no response by mid‑June, according to the program’s rules, this means a negative result. Other scholarships may have different deadlines, and they should be checked individually.

Princeton University

United Kingdom

Bachelor's degree: about $60,000 per yearMaster's degree: average $58,000 per yearDoctoral studies: free*

Oxford University

United Kingdom

Oxford University is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world, founded in the 12th century. The university is renowned for its strong programs in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, high-quality academic research, and international recognition.

Undergraduate: £28,000 – £45,000 per yearMaster's: £28,000 – £48,000 per yearPhD: £26,000 – £35,000 per year

Подобрать университет

Canada

High-quality education with strong support for international students. Attractive for its safe environment and career and immigration prospects

Scholarships for admission to Oxford and Cambridge for international students

Can a foreign student get a scholarship to Oxford or Cambridge?

What is the difference between a scholarship, a grant and financial aid?

What expenses can the scholarship cover?

University of Oxford Scholarships for International Students

University of Cambridge Scholarships for International Students

How to Apply for a Scholarship

How to Write a Strong Motivation Letter for a Scholarship

Why strong candidates are rejected

When to start preparing

How SelfStartGlobal helps you with financing

FAQ

Popular Universities

Countries

Our services

Articles on the topic