Clarendon Fund Scholarship
The Clarendon Fund is Oxford University's flagship graduate scholarship programme, funded primarily by Oxford University Press. It awards over 200 scholarships annually across all academic disciplines, covering full tuition, college fees, and a generous living stipend. Crucially, there is no separate Clarendon application — every eligible graduate applicant who applies to Oxford by the relevant January deadline is automatically considered. For Sri Lankan postgraduate applicants this is one of the most accessible high-tier UK funding routes, since it lives inside the standard Oxford application.
University of Oxford
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Living Stipend
£20,000+/yr (2025 rate)
Duration
Full Length of Course
Extras
Full Tuition + College Fees
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Applying to an Oxford Graduate Course
You must apply for a full-time or part-time matriculated master's or DPhil at Oxford. Almost all academic departments participate; PGCE, non-matriculated, and visiting student courses are excluded.
Open to All Nationalities
Sri Lankan students are fully eligible. The Clarendon Fund makes no distinction between domestic and international applicants — selection is purely on academic merit and proven potential.
Outstanding Academic Record
You need to be ranked in the top tier of applicants to your chosen Oxford course — typically a first-class Bachelor's (and a strong Master's for DPhil applicants). The Clarendon receives 5+ applications per scholarship.
No Separate Application
There is no separate Clarendon form. Tick the funding consideration box on the standard Oxford graduate application, submit by the relevant January deadline, and your application is automatically ranked.
account_tree Application Process
Submit Oxford graduate application by January
Apply via the Oxford Graduate Application portal at ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate. Most departments have a January deadline (typically 6-10 January) for funding consideration including Clarendon.
Department review + ranking
Your chosen department reviews academic suitability first. If admitted, the department then ranks you against other applicants for Clarendon nomination.
Central Clarendon selection
Nominated candidates are reviewed centrally by the Clarendon Fund Committee. There is no interview specifically for the Clarendon — decisions are based on the original application materials.
Award notification
Clarendon offers are made on a rolling basis from January through April, alongside or shortly after the academic admission offer. You must hold your offer to receive the scholarship.
Why Clarendon at Oxford?
Around 200 new Clarendon Scholars join Oxford each year, swelling the cohort to over 600 in residence at any time. Clarendon Scholars are admitted to a formal scholar community with networking events, seminars, and lifelong alumni connections.
200+
Scholars / Year
#3
QS World Ranking 2026
150+
Countries Represented
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