Insights on Oxford scholarships for international students?

Oxford University is my dream school, but I know it's pricey. Are there any scholarships for international students that really help with costs? What are the usual application requirements and deadlines I should be aware of?

Oxford University indeed offers a good number of scholarships to international students, which can significantly reduce the costs of attending. These scholarships vary in their amounts and eligibility criteria.

The Clarendon Fund, for instance, is one of the most generous scholarship programs at the university. It covers both the full tuition fee and a living expense grant for the duration of your degree.

The Rhodes Scholarship is another prestigious program specifically for international students at Oxford. This covers all tuition fees, a stipend for living expenses, and airfare to and from Oxford at the beginning and end of the course. It's only available for postgraduate study, however, and applicants are expected to show academic excellence, the energy to use their talents to the full, and moral force of character.

The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme primarily aim at students from developing and emerging economies, who plan to return to their home countries after their studies. This covers 100% of course fees and a grant for living costs.

Quick heads-up, each scholarship has its own application process and deadline, so you’ll want to thoroughly research each one and be mindful of the requirements. Some may require an additional application, and others may just require that you apply for admission to the university by a certain deadline.

Traditionally, the financial aid deadlines for Oxford have aligned with their course application deadlines. For most courses at Oxford, you need to apply in mid-October for admission in the following year. Always check the official scholarship page on the Oxford University website for the most accurate, up-to-date information.

And remember, you are usually considered automatically for scholarships that don’t require a separate application—so putting your best foot forward in your application is one way to increase your chances significantly. Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria for each scholarship and be proactive in staying ahead of deadlines. Good luck!