The Oxford Refugee Academic Futures Scholarship offers refugees and people with lived experience of displacement an opportunity to pursue postgraduate study at the University of Oxford with full course-fee funding and a grant towards living costs.
Unlike scholarships restricted to particular nationalities, this route is open to applicants of all nationalities and places of residence, provided they meet the relevant eligibility requirements. Oxford considers academic merit and potential alongside the barriers applicants have experienced in progressing their education.
However, qualifying for consideration is only the first step. Applicants must also secure admission to an eligible postgraduate course, meet its application deadline and follow Oxford’s scholarship selection process.
This guide explains what the scholarship covers, who may qualify, how to apply, when decisions are expected and what additional financial support may be available.
What Is the Oxford Refugee Academic Futures Scholarship?
The Refugee Academic Futures Scholarship forms part of the University of Oxford’s Academic Futures programme, which aims to widen access to postgraduate education for students from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds.
The displacement route supports eligible refugees and other people whose education has been affected by displacement resulting from conflict, persecution or other serious human-rights violations or deprivations. Displacement may have occurred within or outside the applicant’s country of origin.
For the 2027/28 academic year, Oxford expects to offer up to 100 full Academic Futures scholarships across the programme’s different eligibility routes. This is the total across all routes, not the number reserved exclusively for refugees and displaced applicants.
Alongside financial support, Academic Futures provides an on-course support programme that includes induction activities and opportunities to connect with other scholars.
What Does the Scholarship Cover?
The scholarship provides two principal forms of financial support.
Full course fees
The award covers course fees in full for the duration of the student’s fee liability. This can substantially reduce the cost of postgraduate study at Oxford, where fees vary by programme.
A grant for living costs
Recipients also receive a grant towards living expenses while studying at Oxford.
The central Academic Futures guidance does not establish one universal living-cost amount for every course and recipient. Applicants should therefore avoid relying on figures published for other Oxford scholarships or previous funding cycles. Check the terms of your eventual award to establish the amount and duration of your support.
Additional scholar support
Academic Futures scholars can participate in an on-course support programme, including induction activities, networking and social events.
Important: Full course-fee funding and a living-cost grant do not automatically mean that every expense will be covered separately. Review the final award terms to understand the funding package offered to you.
Who Is Eligible for the Oxford Refugee Academic Futures Scholarship 2027/28?
Eligibility depends on your displacement circumstances, your proposed course and the applicable scholarship requirements. The following distinctions will help you assess whether this route is worth pursuing.
1. You must meet the displacement criteria
Oxford’s guidance covers refugees and people with lived experience of displacement due to conflict, persecution or other serious human-rights violations or deprivations.
Displacement may occur within a person’s country of origin or across an international border.
This is not a general financial-need scholarship. Coming from a low-income country, experiencing financial hardship or wanting to study abroad without sufficient funding does not, by itself, establish eligibility under the displacement route.
If your circumstances do not clearly fit Oxford’s description, seek clarification from the university before relying on this scholarship as your funding plan.
2. Applicants of all nationalities and residences may qualify
Oxford explicitly states that the displacement route is open to applicants of all nationalities and places of residence.
You do not have to be a British citizen or already live in the United Kingdom simply to be considered under this route.
Nevertheless, this broad nationality and residence provision should not be mistaken for automatic eligibility. You must still meet the displacement criteria, secure an eligible course offer and satisfy the other applicable requirements.
3. You must apply for an eligible postgraduate course
Academic Futures supports eligible Master’s and DPhil programmes at Oxford, subject to the published course exclusions and the conditions of the relevant scholarship route.
Your proposed course must start in the 2027/28 academic year, and you must meet the department’s admission requirements.
The scholarship does not replace the university’s graduate admissions process. You need to demonstrate that you are suitably prepared for the course you intend to study.
4. Academic potential and educational barriers matter
Oxford assesses applicants through the displacement route based on academic merit and potential, alongside contextual information about the barriers they have experienced in progressing their education because of displacement.
Consequently, displacement experience alone does not guarantee an award.
Prepare a strong graduate application with the documents required by your chosen department. Depending on the programme, these may include academic transcripts, references, a personal statement, a research proposal or other supporting materials.
Where Oxford asks you to explain your circumstances, provide accurate information that addresses the questions asked.
5. Check course exclusions and study-mode restrictions
Oxford excludes the following courses from Academic Futures funding:
- Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsych)
- DPhil in Biochemistry under the Skaggs-Oxford Programme
- DPhil in Biomedical Sciences under NIH OxCam
- Quantum Informatics under the EPSRC CDT
Other Master’s and DPhil courses are eligible in principle, subject to the applicable scholarship criteria.
Part-time study requires additional attention. Oxford states that it cannot sponsor student visas for part-time courses under this route, except for the MSc Sociology (part-time) and MSc Social Science of the Internet (part-time).
For other part-time courses, applicants may be able to attend on a visitor visa for short periods while remaining based outside the UK. This is a significant practical restriction for anyone planning to relocate to Oxford for study.
If you intend to study part-time, confirm the course arrangements and your immigration options with Oxford before applying.
How to Apply for the Oxford Refugee Academic Futures Scholarship
The process begins with an application for graduate admission. Nominated offer holders in the displacement route are subsequently invited to complete a separate scholarship form.
Step 1: Choose a suitable Oxford postgraduate course
Identify a Master’s or DPhil programme that fits your academic background and future objectives.
Before applying, check the course’s entry requirements, required documents, duration, study mode and application deadline. Make sure the programme is eligible for Academic Futures funding.
Choosing a course solely because it appears on a scholarship list is not enough. You need a credible academic reason for pursuing that programme and the qualifications required for admission.
Step 2: Confirm the course application deadline
Oxford graduate application deadlines vary by course. For 2027/28 entry, relevant deadlines generally fall in November, December or January.
There is no single application deadline for every Oxford graduate programme.
Check the official page for your chosen course and plan backwards from its deadline. Allow time to obtain references, prepare supporting documents and resolve application issues.
Oxford recommends submitting a completed application at least two weeks before the deadline where possible.
Step 3: Submit your graduate application and indicate your displacement status
Complete the graduate application and indicate your refugee or displacement status in the relevant section.
Oxford instructs applicants seeking consideration through the care-experienced and displaced routes to identify their relevant status in the graduate application.
Do not assume that the university will automatically recognise your circumstances from your nationality, residence or personal statement. Answer the relevant questions accurately and follow the instructions in the application form.
Step 4: Await the nomination stage
Submitting your graduate application and indicating your displacement status does not mean that you have already been awarded the scholarship.
Oxford states that nominated offer holders in the displaced route will be contacted in early April 2027 and invited to complete a separate scholarship form.
Keep checking your email and any applicant account Oxford instructs you to use. If you receive an invitation, pay close attention to its instructions and submission deadline.
Step 5: Complete the separate scholarship form if invited
If Oxford nominates you, complete the additional form according to the instructions provided.
The assessment considers academic merit and potential alongside contextual information about the educational barriers associated with your displacement.
Explain your circumstances accurately and address the questions asked. Do not invent experiences or assume that a particular document is mandatory unless the university requests it.
Step 6: Monitor the outcome
Oxford expects decisions for the care-experienced and displaced routes to be announced by late June 2027.
Monitor your email for the result and respond promptly if the university requests further information. Remember that admission to an Oxford course and selection for a scholarship are separate outcomes.
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Can You Get an Oxford Graduate Application Fee Waiver?
Yes. Oxford operates a separate graduate application fee-waiver scheme for eligible refugees and displaced people.
The scheme covers applicants who are, or have been, refugees, stateless people, asylum seekers or otherwise forcibly displaced within or outside their country of origin, provided they meet the minimum entry requirements for the course.
To request the waiver, Oxford instructs eligible applicants to answer “yes” to the relevant question on the “About You” tab of the graduate application form.
This waiver is separate from the Refugee Academic Futures Scholarship. It can reduce the immediate cost of applying, but it does not guarantee admission or scholarship funding.
If you may qualify, check Oxford’s official fee-waiver guidance before submitting your application.
How Are Applications Assessed?
Oxford says applications through the displacement route are assessed by an expert panel. Two broad considerations are important:
- Academic merit and potential: your ability to undertake the proposed postgraduate programme successfully.
- Contextual barriers to education: the barriers you have experienced in progressing your education because of displacement.
These criteria have practical implications. First, prepare your course application carefully and demonstrate that you meet the department’s requirements. Second, explain your circumstances clearly wherever the application process asks for that information.
You do not need to assume that the most dramatic personal account will necessarily be the strongest. Focus on providing an accurate, relevant explanation of your experience and its effect on your educational progress.
Ultimately, eligible applicants are assessed competitively. Meeting the requirements makes you eligible for consideration; it does not guarantee selection.
Oxford Refugee Academic Futures Scholarship 2027/28: Important Dates
| Application stage | Expected timing |
|---|---|
| Graduate course application | Course-specific deadlines, generally in November, December or January |
| Invitation to nominated applicants for the separate scholarship form | Early April 2027 |
| Scholarship decisions for the displacement route | By late June 2027 |
| Course start | During the 2027/28 academic year, according to the programme |
These are the expected timings stated in Oxford’s published guidance. Confirm the precise deadline for your chosen course and follow the deadline communicated in any scholarship invitation.
Do not wait until April to begin preparing. The graduate application deadline comes first, and missing it can prevent you from being considered through the normal process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Oxford Refugee Academic Futures Scholarship open to international students?
Yes. Oxford states that the displacement route is open to all nationalities and places of residence. Applicants must still meet the displacement criteria and the other requirements of the graduate admissions and scholarship process.
Can I apply if I live outside the United Kingdom?
Yes. Applicants can qualify while living inside or outside the UK, subject to the applicable requirements. However, study mode and visa arrangements require particular attention if you intend to pursue a part-time programme.
Does the scholarship cover full tuition fees?
Yes. Academic Futures awards cover course fees in full for the duration of the student’s fee liability. The award also provides a grant towards living costs.
Is there a separate scholarship application?
Not at the initial stage. You must first submit your graduate course application and indicate your displacement status. Oxford says nominated offer holders in this route will be contacted in early April 2027 to complete a separate scholarship form.
Does displacement experience guarantee an award?
No. An expert panel considers academic merit and potential alongside contextual information about barriers to educational progress. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee selection.
Can I apply for a part-time course?
Part-time Master’s and DPhil courses are generally eligible in principle, but the displacement route has a significant visa restriction. Oxford cannot sponsor student visas for part-time courses except for the MSc Sociology (part-time) and MSc Social Science of the Internet (part-time). Confirm the arrangements for your intended course before applying.
Can I request an application fee waiver as well?
Potentially, yes. Oxford’s separate fee-waiver scheme covers eligible refugees, stateless people, asylum seekers and other forcibly displaced applicants who meet the minimum course entry requirements. Follow the university’s instructions to request the waiver.
When will successful applicants be notified?
Oxford expects to announce outcomes for the displaced route by late June 2027. Monitor your email and follow any instructions from the university.
Official Resources and Application Links
Use these university resources to confirm eligibility, identify an appropriate course and complete the application process.
- Academic Futures Scholarships: University of Oxford — Academic Futures
- Application fee waiver: University of Oxford — Graduate Application Fee Waivers
Check the official pages again before submitting your application, as course requirements, deadlines and scholarship instructions can change.
Final Thought
The Oxford Refugee Academic Futures Scholarship provides meaningful support for people whose education has been affected by displacement. However, securing an award requires more than meeting a broad eligibility description.
Start by confirming that your circumstances fit Oxford’s criteria, selecting an eligible postgraduate course and checking its actual application deadline. Prepare your graduate application carefully, indicate your displacement status in the correct section and be ready to complete the separate scholarship form if Oxford nominates you.
The most useful step you can take now is to prepare early. A strong, complete graduate application gives you a sound foundation for scholarship consideration and helps you avoid preventable deadline and documentation problems.
