StudyDesk Scholarships
About the scholarship
The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme, run by the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust with the University of Oxford, funds exceptional graduate students from developing and emerging economies through a full Oxford degree. Scholars receive 100% of their Oxford course fees plus a grant for living costs of at least GBP 21,805, covering the entire period of fee liability.
This is not purely an academic award — it is a leadership programme. The Trust selects people whose studies and longer-term career objectives connect to public life in their home country, and scholars commit to returning to their country of ordinary residence once the course is complete. Applications for Oxford graduate entry in September 2027 are open now.
Eligibility
- Applying to start a new full-time graduate course at Oxford on the eligible course list (check the course page for your subject).
- Ordinarily resident in one of the eligible developing/emerging-economy countries.
- Intending to return to the country of ordinary residence after completing the course.
- Able to show a connection between the subject of study and longer-term career objectives that contribute to public life — policy, development, governance, civil society or similar fields.
- Not a current Oxford student (an exception is made for existing Weidenfeld-Hoffmann scholars continuing their studies); deferred offers do not qualify.
- Meet Oxford’s standard graduate admission requirements for the course, including academic record and English-language proficiency.
Benefits
- 100% of Oxford course fees (both university and college components) for the full duration of fee liability.
- A living-costs grant of at least GBP 21,805 per year of fee liability.
- Membership of the Leadership Programme — mentoring, seminars and a network of scholars and alumni oriented towards public life.
Documents required
- The standard Oxford graduate application — transcripts, CV, academic references and English-language test scores as required by the course.
- The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships Statement (the 2027/28 form), uploaded with the graduate application. The exact list of eligible countries is published with the programme materials — the full list was not restated in the research for this article, so confirm your country’s eligibility directly.
How to apply
- Check your course deadlineFind your Oxford course page and note its graduate closing date — for most courses this is in December 2026 or January 2027. This is your scholarship deadline too.
- Complete the Oxford graduate applicationApply online for September 2027 entry, and in the scholarships section of the form select the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme.
- Upload the WHT StatementAttach the completed Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships Statement (2027/28 form) with your application before the course deadline. No separate email submission is needed.
FAQs
No — the programme is for new graduate entrants. The only exception is existing Weidenfeld-Hoffmann scholars continuing their studies.
New full-time graduate courses on the programme’s eligible course list. Check your Oxford course page and the Trust’s programme materials before applying.
No — your application must reach Oxford by your course’s graduate closing date (December 2026 or January 2027 depending on the course), with the WHT Statement included.
A career oriented towards serving your home country — government, policy, development, civil society or related fields. You must demonstrate the link between your studies and that future.
Yes — intending to return to your country of ordinary residence once the course is complete is an explicit eligibility condition.
Verified 21 Oct 2026 via the Oxford graduate funding page (weidenfeld-hoffmann-scholarships-and-leadership-programme: fee coverage, GBP 21,805 floor, eligibility conditions, current-Oxford exclusion) + the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust site (programme leadership focus). No fact stated from fewer than two agreeing sources; the eligible-country list is not restated here — confirm against the programme materials.
