Great news for aspiring scholars! Applications are now open for the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) Scholarships, prestigious fully funded awards for graduate students at the University of Oxford. In this article, we detail the scholarship benefits, eligibility, and application process.
The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) Scholarships 2026-2027 are fully funded scholarships for international students, covering 100% of course fees plus a living cost grant of £19,237. These awards are available for master’s programs and are aimed at graduates whose studies will benefit the Muslim world.
The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, established in 1985, is a Recognized Independent Centre of the University of Oxford. It fosters academic engagement between the Western and Islamic scholarly traditions, supporting multi-disciplinary research and promoting a deeper understanding of Islam and the Islamic world.
Scholarship Summary
- Level of Study: Master’s, PhD
- Institution: University of Oxford
- Study Location: UK
- Eligible Courses: All full-time master’s and DPhil programs
- Program Duration: Based on chosen course
- Deadline: January (Relevant December/January course deadline)
Scholarship Coverage
OCIS Scholarships provides the recipient with the following benefits:
100% of course fees and a grant for living costs (at least £19,237)
Eligibility Criteria for Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Scholarships
To be eligible for OCIS Scholarships, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Required Language: English
- Eligible Countries: You must be either:
- ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and from a Muslim community (with preference given to those from a financially disadvantaged household), or
- a national of, and ordinarily resident in, one of the following countries in Asia and Africa: Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Albania, Indonesia, Palestine, Algeria, Iran, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Senegal, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Sierra Leone, Benin Kuwait, Somalia, Brunei Darussalam, Kyrgyzstan, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Lebanon, Suriname, Cameroon, Libya, Syrian Arab Republic, Chad, Malaysia, Tajikistan, Comoros, Maldives, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Tunisia, Djibouti, Mauritania, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Turkmenistan, Gabon, Mozambique, Uganda, Gambia, Niger, United Arab Emirates, Guinea, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, Guyana, Oman, Yemen
- You must be applying to start a new full-time master’s or DPhil course at Oxford.
- You should be intending to return to your country of ordinary residence once your course is completed.
- Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic merit.
- You should be intending to undertake study in a field derived from or of relevance to the Islamic tradition, or which is of relevance and/or benefit to the Muslim world.
- This scholarship is not open to candidates applying for postgraduate certificate or postgraduate diploma courses, part-time courses or non-matriculated courses.
- Candidates who hold deferred offers to start in 2025-26 will not be considered for this scholarship.
