Oxford and Cambridge scholarships: Rhodes, Clarendon, Gates Cambridge and other routes

Short answer: Oxford and Cambridge are among the most competitive universities in the world, but full scholarships for international students do exist. The main routes are Rhodes (Oxford), Clarendon (Oxford), Gates Cambridge (Cambridge), college and department scholarships, and government scholarships such as Chevening. For many scholarships no separate application is needed — applying to the university on time is enough.

Oxford

• Rhodes Scholarship: one of the world's best-known scholarships; applications are by country or the "global" category. Check eligibility on the official website.
• Clarendon Fund: for master's and PhD; those who apply to the university by the deadline are considered automatically.
• College and department scholarships.

Cambridge

• Gates Cambridge: a full scholarship for students from outside the UK; a separate section is completed in the university application form.
• Cambridge Trust scholarships and college scholarships.

With Chevening

Chevening is a full scholarship for a one-year master's at UK universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. See: Chevening scholarship.

Successful candidate profile

• Very high academic results.
• Strong research or professional experience.
• Examples of leadership and contribution to society.
• A clear academic goal and strong recommendation letters.
• Interview preparation. See: preparing for a university interview.

Timing

The university's early deadlines (often December–January) matter for scholarship consideration. Late applications may miss out on funding. See: scholarship deadlines 2027.

Frequently asked questions

Are there scholarships for a bachelor's?

Full scholarships for international bachelor's students are very limited. The main opportunities are at master's and PhD level.

What IELTS score is needed?

A high level is usually required and varies by programme.

Note: scholarship conditions, eligibility and dates may change every year. Check the official websites of the universities and scholarship funds.

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