Funding and scholarships

DSPI usually offers two departmental scholarships for admission each academic year: 

• Barnett Scholarship

• Barnett-Nuffield Scholarship  

These are full scholarships, covering course fees and a small stipend towards living expenses. If you require further information, please email admissions@spi.ox.ac.uk.  

Barnett Scholarship  

The Barnett Scholarship runs for three years (or two years for an MPhil candidate applying for DPhil study). It is open to all students applying for a DPhil (both new students and those already in the department studying for an MSc or MPhil). The scholarship is awarded based on academic merit and assessed on both academic record and potential.  

If you would like to be considered, you should apply by 27 January 2026. There is no separate application form for this scholarship.  

The award is paid at the beginning of each year. In the second and subsequent years of the award, payment is dependent upon the quality of the successful applicant's work and contribution to the department during the preceding term. Your contribution will include activities such as actively participating in seminars run by the department.  

Barnett House-Nuffield Joint Scholarship  

Social Policy DPhil Funding  

DSPI and Nuffield College offer a joint-funded scholarship.  

The scholarship is open to Social Policy students only, who are applying for a DPhil (both new students and those already in the department studying for an MSc or MPhil. If there is, however, a very strong applicant for the MPhil wishing to proceed to the DPhil upon completion of the MPhil, we would be happy to consider them too). It is awarded based on academic merit and assessed on both academic record and potential.  

If you are a Social Policy student and would like to be considered, you should apply by 27 January 2026. There is no separate application form for this scholarship.

Leverhulme Trust Biopsychosocial Doctoral Scholarship Programme

The University of Oxford offered 15 doctoral scholarships from 2021-2025, thanks to a £1.35m grant from the Leverhulme Trust. Students complete multi-disciplinary research on the impact of poverty and social inequalities in early childhood. The ground-breaking programme of doctoral scholarships, spanning the social and biological sciences, aims to reduce the impact of these disadvantages on children's life chances.

Four lead departments are affiliated with the programme: Social Policy and Intervention, Sociology, Psychiatry and Experimental Psychology. More information can be found on the Leverhulme Trust Biopsychosocial Doctoral Scholarship Programme page. 

A full list of available scholarships can be found on the University website. The following scholarships may be of interest if you are considering studying at DSPI.  

Clarendon Scholarships  

The Clarendon Fund is a major graduate scholarship scheme at the University of Oxford, offering over 100 new scholarships every year. In 2013-14, there were over 330 Clarendon scholars at Oxford from more than 50 different nations. Awards are based on academic excellence and potential across all subject areas, enabling the most distinguished scholars to study at the University of Oxford.  

All students that apply by 27 January 2026 are considered for the Clarendon Scholarships.  

Economic and Social Research Council Studentships  

The ESRC is the UK's largest organisation for funding research on social and economic issues. The University, in collaboration with Brunel University and the Open University, hosts the Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership. This is one of fourteen Doctoral Training Partnerships accredited by the ESRC as part of a Doctoral Training Network.   

In order to be considered for a Grand Union DTP ESRC studentship, you will need to select ‘ESRC Grand Union DTP Studentships in Social Sciences' in the Scholarships section of the University's graduate application form. You will also need to complete a Grand Union DTP Application Form and upload it, together with your graduate application form, by 27 January 2026.  

Prospective master's students intending on pursuing a DPhil can also apply for ESRC funding.  

Candidates interested in undertaking a Master's programme followed by a DPhil may be eligible to apply for an ESRC studentship covering both degrees. Further details can be found on the Grand Union DTP website.   

Information about ESRC studentships at Oxford can be found on the Grand Union DTP website. Please ensure you have read all of the guidance available on the website before completing the Grand Union DTP Application Form.  

Questions can be directed to the Grand Union DTP Office.  

Oxford Pershing Square Graduate Scholarships  

The Pershing Square Foundation has endowed up to five fully funded scholarships each year for both the MSc and MBA component of the 1+1 programme. These will enable extraordinary individuals to develop and realise their potential over both years of the course, as future global leaders who are committed to addressing world-scale social challenges. For more information, please visit the Saïd Business School website.  

St Cross College MPhil Scholarship in the Social Sciences  

St Cross may offer a scholarship for college fees to applicants for the MPhil in Comparative Social Policy or Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation. Please visit the St Cross scholarships page for more information.  

Oxford-TrygFonden Graduate Scholarship  

The Oxford-TrygFonden Graduate Scholarship is available for students ordinarily resident in Denmark studying the MSc in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation.  

Weidenfeld Hoffman Scholarship  

The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme cultivates the leaders of tomorrow. It provides outstanding university graduates and professionals from developing and emerging economies with the opportunity to pursue fully funded graduate studies at the University of Oxford. This is combined with a comprehensive programme of leadership development, long-term mentoring and networking. Find out more on the University of Oxford website, including how to apply.  

Sasakawa Fund Scholarship - Master's or Doctoral degrees 

The Sasakawa Fund is pleased to offer scholarships for students who have been accepted by the University to undertake a graduate degree in October 2026 or who are currently undertaking such a course. The scholarships will be awarded to (a) applicants who are Japanese nationals currently on a course or starting a course at Oxford University, or alternatively (b) students from the UK or other countries currently on a course or starting a course at Oxford University which requires some period of study in Japan. Please note that students on the fourth year of a DPhil programme are not eligible to apply.

The awards, of up to £12,500, will be made for one year in the first instance and may be renewed for one or two further years, subject to satisfactory progress and the length of your study. Eligibility for a full or partial Sasakawa Fund Scholarship will take account of any substantial funding from another source. The Sasakawa Fund Scholarship has been established thanks to a generous donation made by the Japan Shipbuilding Industry Foundation.

Eligible students should complete the Scholarship Application Form, along with:

• one reference (to be sent by the referee directly)
• a Curriculum Vitae
• a statement of research interests (of no more than six pages) including an outline and research proposal (for research degree applicants only) OR
• a personal statement (of no more than six pages - for taught degree applicants only).

Please send your application as a PDF directly to the Trust Funds Administrator on trustfunds@ames.ox.ac.uk, with all documents included in the same PDF. 

Updated information for 2026/2027 entry will be available shortly.

St Antony's College Scholarships 

Swire Scholarships 

Swire Scholarships are open to applicants who are permanent residents of Hong Kong SAR and have completed the majority of their formal education in their country/region of permanent residency. They cover 100% of the course fees, a grant for living costs of £17,442 per year (2025/26 rate). Economic airfares to and from London are provided at the beginning and end of the scholarship. MSc, MPhils, and DPhils are all eligible for these scholarships.

Swire scholarships require a separate application, and candidates would need to complete an online form and submit it by a deadline set at 5pm (UK time) on 2 March 2026.  To be considered, they need to have submitted their graduate application to the University by 12:00 noon UK time on 27 January 2026.  For further information and the application form, please refer to: Swire Scholarships - St Antony's

Eni-Oxford African Scholarships

Eligibility remains limited to five countries (Angola; Ghana; Ivory Coast; Kenya, and Mozambique), it is now open to any one-year master's course that St Antony's accepts. The award covers the full cost of the scholar's tuition fees plus a maintenance grant (around £20,000 per annum at the current level). In addition, one-way flights to and from London will be provided to the scholar at the beginning and at the end of their course.

Candidates should apply through this online form. Find out more via the Eni-Oxford African Scholarships tab on the St Antony's College website.

The deadline for the submission of the form is 5pm (UK time) on 1 April 2026. To be considered, applicants need to have submitted their graduate application to the University by 12:00 noon UK time on 27 January 2026. 

There is a strong preference for candidates who can demonstrate clear ambitions to use their education to benefit their home country upon graduation.