Oxford University Clarendon Scholarship , 2024-2025

Country: London, United Kingdom

University: University of Oxford

Program: Masters / PHD

About Clarendon Fund:

The Clarendon Fund derives its name from its close relationship with Oxford University Press (OUP) and in honor of an act of philanthropy by the Earl of Clarendon. During the 17th century, Edward Hyde, later the Earl of Clarendon and also the Chancellor for the University of Oxford from 1660-1667, presented his hugely successful work on the English Civil War entitled The History of the Great Rebellion and Civil Wars in England. In recognition of the Earl’s affection for the University, the royalties from his publication were bequeathed to the University for the construction of the Clarendon Building on Broad Street. A prominent sight within Oxford, the Clarendon Building initially housed OUP until its relocation in the 1820s. The building was originally constructed in the neoclassical style, from 1711-15, on the designs of Nicolas Hawksmoor, a pupil of Sir Christopher Wren. In recognition, the Earl of Clarendon was also commemorated in statue on the building, by the leading English sculptor of his time, Francis Bird. Redesigned in 2014, the Clarendon Fund logo draws on the history and traditions of Oxford and OUP. The emblem depicts the prominent pediments and statues of the Muses from the rooftop of the Clarendon Building. Historic links are also represented in the Clarendon font, which is one of the Fell typefaces procured by Doctor John Fell in around 1670-72 and subsequently bequeathed to OUP. In memory of this generous gift, the Fund embodies the Earl’s aim to promote education and learning at Oxford.

Clarendon donors:

Alongside OUP, Clarendon receives a lot of support from the many of Oxford’s colleges, academic divisions and departments, University trust funds, and external partners. Known as Partnership Awards, this collaboration allows the costs to be spread between multiple sources enabling additional fully-funded scholarships to be awarded, and providing over £8.9m per year to the Fund.

The Clarendon Fund works in collaboration with a range of other funders, including colleges, academic departments and divisions, University trust funds, and external organizations whose generous contributions help fund additional scholarships by allowing us to spread the costs between multiple sources. In the 2021-22 cohort, Clarendon collaborated with over 170 partnership awards providing an additional £5.3m to support new scholars. Every year, the majority of Clarendon scholars are funded by Clarendon and one or more of our partners. In 2021-22, 63% of the cohort received a college partnership award.

Eligibility:

Followings are the basic criteria to be eligible for Scholarship:

Outstanding academic record:

An excellent academic record is essential. The majority of successful scholars usually have at least a first class honors degree or its equivalent. For example a GPA score of at least 3.7, if the mark if out of 4, noting that a lot of the Clarendon scholars achieve higher than this score. Or an applicant must have an outstanding academic record at Master’s level, noting that an exceptional Master’s degree can compensate for a moderate first degree performance. Requirements may vary between disciplines and from year to year depending on the strength of the field. Other evidence of high academic achievement may include individual marks on student transcripts; evidence of previous university prizes or awards; information on your overall position within your cohort; and publications (if applicable).

Future potential and aptitude:

Particular consideration is given to an applicant’s future academic potential and aptitude of the proposed course of study. This may be assessed by reviewing references and research proposals to determine evidence of an applicant’s aptitude for research, and the likelihood of contributing significantly to the field of study.

Student motivation:

This is assessed through evidence of the applicant’s commitment to the proposed course as well as evaluation of the personal statement and the referees’ reports.

English language tests:

Your course page will show the required language level and the scores you must achieve in one of the English test formats accepted by the University (IELTS, TOEFL and Cambridge English). To meet the requirement, you must achieve at least the minimum score in each component and overall in a single test. If you already have language test scores that meet the required level for your course, please include them in your application. You can also upload test scores to your application after you have submitted it.

English language test waivers

You may be able to request a waiver of the requirement to provide English language test scores as part of your course application. To request a language test waiver, you must have studied a degree-level course that is:

• at least nine months in duration
• full-time
• undertaken at a recognized institution where teaching and assessment throughout the course is entirely in English
• has been completed within 2 years of the start date of the course to which you are applying.

You may also apply for a waiver based on substantial professional experience if:

• you have worked for a minimum of two years in a majority English speaking country where the main language for the role was English;
• your role involved daily professional use of each of the four language components (reading, writing, listening and speaking);
• you worked in an appropriately technical context to demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in an academic environment; and
• your role has ended no more than two years before the start date of the course to which you are applying.

Oxford online pre-sessional English course:

The University offers an online pre-sessional English course which is open to international students preparing for graduate study at Oxford. You may use the English language pre-sessional Course to meet your English language condition provided you have an English language test result within the past two years. This must be no more than 0.5 IELTS points lower than the minimum overall score, and no more than 1 IELTS point lower than the minimum overall score in any of the four components (reading, writing, speaking, listening), as per the Standard or Higher level either of which will be required for your academic course (further information about equivalencies for other tests can be found in this Application Guide). Please contact your academic department in the first instance. Further details about the pre-sessional English course are available on the Language Centre’s website.

Selection Process:

1. Apply by the December or January deadline, whichever is relevant to your course, to be considered for a Clarendon scholarship.
2. Your application to your course will be considered by the academics working in your proposed field of study. They will assess the academic quality and suitability of your application.
3. The department will make the final decision on your graduate place and will notify you with an outcome. See decision timeline for more details.
4. In parallel, academics within your department will determine who to nominate to the division for a Clarendon scholarship based on the selection criteria.
5. The process varies between the University’s academic divisions and the Department for Continuing Education, but each meet in February or March to review the departmental scholarship nominations.
6. The academic divisions assess the nominations on their academic merit and future potential and the top ranked departmental nominees within the division are shortlisted for Clarendon.
7. Once the shortlist is confirmed, the Clarendon Fund Administrator will contact successful applicants and will provide the scholarship offer letter (aka a ‘CB1’).
8. If you are offered (and accept) a Clarendon scholarship, this means your funding is now secure, as long as you meet the conditions of your offer of a place to study at Oxford.
9. During April, May and sometimes into June, Clarendon Partnership Awards are matched to scholars depending on the award requirements. No further information is required of Clarendon offer holders.
10. Once each scholar’s unique funding package is confirmed, they will receive the funding breakdown letter (aka a ‘CB2’) outlining the funding arrangements. Final college placements will also be confirmed alongside partnership awards.
11. All successful Clarendon candidates will be contacted via email. Most offers are sent out by the end of April of each year.
12. Due to the number of eligible applicants, unsuccessful students will not be contacted. If you have not heard from us by mid-June, please assume that unfortunately you have not been awarded a Clarendon scholarship.
13. A few late nominations may take place during the summer period if nominated students withdraw.

Benefits:

Clarendon scholarships not only provide students with a life-changing opportunity to study at Oxford, but also the chance to form long-lasting social, academic, and professional connections within a lively community.

•  Fully-funded scholarships: Clarendon offers fully-funded scholarships covering course fees as well as a grant for living expenses for the period of fee liability. We support our scholars by reducing the financial barriers to graduate study,  enabling our scholars to focus on their studies. Furthermore, by offering living expenses, it provides our scholars with the opportunity to live an active life within Oxford and, most importantly, the time to relax and socialize away from their studies.

• Academic Caliber: With our sole focus on selecting the best students in their fields of study from across the world, Clarendon scholars are among the best and brightest. For this reason, Clarendon scholarships are highly competitive and coveted by the Oxford graduate community.

• A vibrant community: Funding isn’t everything that Clarendon offers. Scholars benefit from membership to the lively Clarendon Scholars’ Association, run by the scholars themselves, who strive to enrich their members’ time by fostering a positive and stimulating community.

• We aim to be different: Clarendon aims to be different from other funding schemes which just pay your way; by creating a community of the brightest minds, we offer you a graduate experience that will inspire you to excellence. 

Deadline:

The deadline to apply for this scholarship is 30th December 2023