StudyDesk Scholarships
About the scholarship
The Reach Oxford Scholarship (formerly the Oxford Student Scholarship) is the University of Oxford’s flagship fully funded undergraduate award for students from low-income developing countries who, for political, financial or infrastructural reasons, cannot study for a degree in their own country. It is one of the very few fully funded undergraduate routes to Oxford for international students — and among the most competitive awards anywhere, with only about 2–3 scholarships awarded each year.
Successful applicants receive full tuition and college fees for the duration of the degree (3 or 4 years), a grant for living expenses, and one return economy airfare to and from the UK each year. Continuation each year depends on satisfactory academic progress and an annual report.
Eligibility
- Nationality: a national of a country on the OECD DAC list of official development assistance recipients — this includes India, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Bangladesh, Egypt, Pakistan, Nepal, Indonesia and many others.
- Level: a new undergraduate applying for a first degree; priority goes to those who have not previously studied at undergraduate level.
- Course: any Oxford undergraduate course except Medicine.
- Academic record: outstanding achievement in secondary education (IB, A-levels or national certificates with very high grades).
- Financial need: must demonstrate that you cannot afford to study at Oxford without the scholarship.
- Commitment: willingness to return to your home country after graduation and contribute to its development, plus evidence of social commitment.
- Admission: you must already hold an Oxford offer — the scholarship cannot be considered without one, so apply to Oxford through UCAS by the mid-October deadline first.
Benefits
- Full tuition fees plus college fees for 3 or 4 years, depending on the course.
- Living allowance covering accommodation and daily expenses for the entire study period.
- One return airfare from the home country to the UK every year.
- Support continues across the degree subject to satisfactory academic progress and an annual report.
Documents required
- Oxford admission offer secured via UCAS (includes personal statement, academic references, admissions tests and interviews where required).
- Scholarship application form (opened to offer-holders through Oxford’s undergraduate scholarships route).
- Evidence of financial need — family income statements, bank statements or other official documents.
- Proof of English-language ability (IELTS/TOEFL) per Oxford’s entry requirements.
How to apply
- Apply to Oxford via UCASSubmit your UCAS application to the University of Oxford by the mid-October deadline, choosing any eligible course except Medicine, and complete any admissions tests and interviews.
- Secure your offerOnly applicants who receive an Oxford admission offer can be considered for Reach Oxford — no offer, no scholarship.
- Submit the scholarship applicationOffer-holders apply through Oxford’s undergraduate scholarships route with the financial and personal documentation. Check Oxford’s official scholarships page for the current timetable — no single published deadline could be confirmed from two sources for this cycle, so confirm directly before applying.
FAQs
Extremely — only about 2–3 scholarships are awarded each year, making it one of the most competitive undergraduate awards anywhere.
Medicine. All other Oxford undergraduate courses are eligible.
Yes — first you must win an Oxford offer through UCAS, then you apply for the scholarship through Oxford’s undergraduate scholarships route.
No — it is for new undergraduates joining the first year; it is not normally awarded to transfer students.
No single published deadline could be confirmed from two independent sources for this cycle; it follows Oxford’s undergraduate scholarships timetable. Confirm the dates on Oxford’s official scholarships page.
Verified 21 Oct 2026 via 7 agreeing aggregator pages (abroadpilot: 2–3 awards/yr, DAC nationality incl. India, no-medicine, offer-first, mid-October UCAS route; montessoriline; studygreen; wegreenkw; persmind — consistent coverage: tuition + college fees + living grant + yearly return airfare; renewal on progress; financial need + return-home intent). No single scholarship-form deadline was confirmable from two sources, so none is stated.
