Reach Oxford Scholarship is the University of Oxford’s own funding scheme for undergraduate students from low-income countries – India is on the eligible country list. It covers the full course fees, a grant for living costs and one return air fare every year for the whole 3-4 year degree, and around 2-3 awards are made each year.
Applications for 2026 entry are closed and the university says the details for 2027 entry will be published on the official page in January 2027, with a scholarship deadline of 26 January 2027. One rule matters more than the deadline: you can only be considered if you already hold an offer of a place at Oxford, so the admission application comes first.
Reach Oxford Scholarship 2027
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | The University of Oxford, United Kingdom. The scheme was earlier called the Oxford Student Scholarships. |
| Study level | Undergraduate degree at Oxford for new students – 3 or 4 years depending on the course. All subjects in the Oxford course listing are covered except medicine. |
| Who can apply | Nationals of countries that receive official development assistance from the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) – the list published by Oxford includes India. Priority is given to students who have not studied at undergraduate level before. |
| What is covered | Course fees, a grant for living costs and one return air fare per year, for the full length of the course (3 or 4 years). |
| Number of awards | Around 2-3 awards per year. Oxford states that competition is very high. |
| Last date to apply | 26 January 2027 – the scholarship deadline for 2027 entry. The university will publish how to apply for 2027 entry on the official page in January 2027. |
| How to apply | Apply for admission to Oxford first and secure an offer; the university does not consider scholarship applications from students who have not been offered a place. Then submit the Reach Oxford Scholarship application by the January 2027 deadline. |
| Official website | ox.ac.uk – Reach Oxford Scholarship |
What the Reach Oxford Scholarship covers
- Full course fees at the University of Oxford for the whole degree.
- A grant for living costs, paid each year of the course.
- One return air fare per year between your home country and the UK.
- The award runs for 3 or 4 years, matching the length of your Oxford course.
- Around 2-3 scholarships are offered every year.
- The scholarship is for a first undergraduate degree – Oxford states that priority goes to applicants who have not studied at undergraduate level before.
Reach Oxford Scholarship eligibility
- You must be a national of a country on the OECD DAC development assistance list published by Oxford. The list includes India, along with Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, most of Africa, South America and South-East Asia.
- You must be applying for a new undergraduate place at Oxford – the scheme is for new students.
- You must apply for a subject in the Oxford course listing, except medicine.
- You must have received an offer of a place. Oxford states it cannot consider scholarship applications from students who have not been offered a place.
- Oxford describes the scheme as suitable for candidates of the highest academic ability, with financial need, social commitment and the inability to study for a degree in your own country as major selection criteria.
- You should be intending to return to your country after your studies.
- If you hold an offer for deferred entry, you apply for the scholarship in January of the year you will start your Oxford course.
How to apply for the Reach Oxford Scholarship
- Check the eligible country list on the official Oxford page and confirm your subject is available – medicine is excluded.
- Apply for admission to the University of Oxford through the normal undergraduate route and complete every admissions step, including any tests and interviews.
- Wait for an offer of a place. Oxford states that scholarship applications from students without an offer cannot be considered.
- When the university publishes the 2027 entry instructions in January 2027, submit the Reach Oxford Scholarship application with the required statement and financial information.
- Submit it by 26 January 2027. The selection process for 2027 entry takes place in April 2027 and applicants are told the outcome by the end of May 2027.
- If you are accepted by a college that is not running a Reach Oxford Scholarship that year, Oxford says this will not stop you being awarded the scholarship – arrangements are made to transfer you between colleges.
Important dates for Reach Oxford 2027 entry
| 2026 entry applications | Closed |
| 2027 entry instructions published | January 2027 – details of how to apply appear on the official Oxford page |
| Scholarship deadline for 2027 entry | 26 January 2027 |
| Selection process | April 2027 |
| Outcome announced | By the end of May 2027 |
Frequently asked questions about the Reach Oxford Scholarship
Can Indian students apply for the Reach Oxford Scholarship?
Yes. India is on the OECD DAC development assistance country list published on the official Reach Oxford page, so Indian nationals can apply provided they meet the other conditions – a new undergraduate place, a subject other than medicine and an offer of admission.
Do I need an offer from Oxford before applying?
Yes. Oxford states that students must apply for admission first and that it cannot consider scholarship applications from students who have not been offered a place.
What is the last date for the Reach Oxford Scholarship 2027?
26 January 2027 for 2027 entry. The university says the instructions for how to apply for 2027 entry will be published on the official page in January 2027, and the selection process runs in April 2027.
How much is the Reach Oxford Scholarship worth?
It covers course fees, a grant for living costs and one return air fare per year for the whole 3 or 4 year course. Around 2-3 awards are made each year.
Which subjects are covered by the Reach Oxford Scholarship?
All subjects in the Oxford undergraduate course listing except medicine. The scholarship is for undergraduate study only.
How many Reach Oxford Scholarships are awarded each year?
Around 2-3 awards per year, which is why Oxford warns that competition for the scheme is very high and that it has no extra funding for candidates who are not offered a scholarship.
Yes. The eligible country list on the official Reach Oxford page includes India, since it covers nationals of countries that receive official development assistance from the OECD Development Assistance Committee.
The scholarship deadline for 2027 entry is 26 January 2027. Oxford publishes the instructions on the official page in January 2027, and the selection process runs in April 2027 with the outcome announced by the end of May 2027.
Yes. Applicants must apply for admission to the University of Oxford before they can be considered, and Oxford states that it cannot consider scholarship applications from students who have not been offered a place.
It covers the course fees, a grant for living costs and one return air fare per year for the whole course, which lasts 3 or 4 years depending on the subject.
All subjects in the Oxford undergraduate course listing are allowed except medicine. The scheme supports a first undergraduate degree only.
Around 2-3 awards per year. The university notes that competition for the scheme is very high and that there is no additional funding for candidates who are not offered a scholarship.
Official links for the Reach Oxford Scholarship
- Reach Oxford Scholarship – eligibility, value and how to apply (University of Oxford)
- Oxford support and scholarships for undergraduate students
- Oxford undergraduate course listing
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