--- title: "Optiver Foundation Scholarships (University of Oxford) 2027" description: "Up to six Oxford master's scholarships for women in 131 low and middle income countries: full fees and living costs on nine STEM courses, October 2027." url: "https://worldwide-scholarships.com/scholarships/optiver-foundation-scholarships-university-of-oxford/" type: "website" --- [All scholarships](https://worldwide-scholarships.com/scholarships/) University of Oxford, funded by the Optiver Foundation # Optiver Foundation Scholarships (University of Oxford) Up to six Oxford scholarships for women ordinarily resident in 131 eligible low and middle income countries, covering full course fees and a living-costs grant on nine STEM master's courses starting October 2027. You must tick the scholarship box on the Oxford application. Checked 14 Oct 2026 [Apply on the official site](https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/fees-and-funding/fees-funding-and-scholarship-search/optiver-foundation-scholarships) - **Deadline:** Earliest round closes 6 Jan 2027 - **Study in:** United Kingdom - **Level:** Master's - **Covers:** Tuition fees, Living costs **Why there is no date here.** There is no single scholarship deadline. You apply by your course's deadline and tick the scholarship box on the Oxford graduate application, and the dates come from the nine course pages, not the scholarship page. For October 2027 entry, the MSc in Advanced Computer Science closes at 12:00 midday UK time on Wednesday 6 January 2027, which is its final deadline. Seven other courses give 12:00 midday UK time on Wednesday 27 January 2027: for Energy Systems, Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing and Theoretical and Computational Chemistry the page calls it the final deadline to be considered for Oxford scholarships, and for Mathematical and Theoretical Physics, Mathematical Sciences, Mathematics and Foundations of Computer Science, Quantum Technologies and Statistical Science it is the final application deadline. Statistical Science, Theoretical and Computational Chemistry and Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing also list Friday 13 November 2026 as the date by which applications are more likely to receive earlier decisions. The next-deadline date shown on this page is 6 January 2027, the earliest final deadline. What you get Full financial support to cover course fees, plus a grant for living costs (the scholarship page does not state the amount), together with tailored induction activities, mentoring and on-course support. Up to six scholarships for October 2027 entry. The page does not mention flights, visa fees or the Immigration Health Surcharge. Covers - Tuition fees - Living costs ## Who can apply - Female: Oxford includes every candidate on the relevant courses who indicates on the application form that her sex is female. The sex on the form must match your identity documents, but need not be your legal sex - Ordinarily resident in one of the 131 eligible countries listed on the scholarship page - Applying to start one of nine eligible master's courses in October 2027: MSc Energy Systems, MSc Advanced Computer Science, MSc Mathematical and Theoretical Physics, MSc Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing, MSc Mathematical Sciences, MSc Mathematics and Foundations of Computer Science, MSc in Quantum Technologies, MSc Statistical Science, MSc Theoretical and Computational Chemistry - Must tick the relevant box on the graduate application form and, if eligible, complete an additional scholarship form about socio-economic circumstances - Current Oxford students are not eligible - Applicants holding a deferred offer to start in 2027-28 are not eligible ### You have to ask to be considered Most Oxford graduate funding works automatically. The Oxford page for the [Clarendon Fund Scholarships](https://worldwide-scholarships.com/scholarships/clarendon-fund-scholarships/), for example, says you will be considered automatically if you apply by the December or January deadline for your course. The Optiver Foundation Scholarships work differently. The Oxford page says to submit your application by the relevant November, December or January deadline and tick the relevant box on the graduate application form. If you meet the eligibility criteria, Oxford then asks you to complete an additional scholarship form about your socio-economic situation, to assess disadvantage and under-representation. An applicant who forgets the box is not in the pool, however strong her application is. Oxford gives no deadline for the additional form, so watch your email once you have applied. ### Residence counts, not your passport The page asks for applicants who are “ordinarily resident” in an eligible country. It does not ask for citizenship, and it does not define the phrase or say where its list of 131 countries comes from. If you are a national of an eligible country but live elsewhere, or the reverse, ask Oxford before you rely on this award. The list is long. It includes Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Rwanda, Uganda, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, among many others, so check the full list on the Oxford page. On gender, Oxford includes every candidate on the relevant courses who indicates on the application form that her sex is female. The sex on the form must match your identity documents, such as a passport or visa, but does not have to be your legal sex. ### Only nine courses, with different deadlines The award applies only to nine named master’s courses in Engineering Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Chemistry. A strong applicant for a different course, even a closely related one, is not eligible. The deadlines are set by course. The [MSc in Advanced Computer Science](https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/msc-advanced-computer-science) closes on 6 January 2027. The other eight list 27 January 2027 as a final deadline, and three of them (Statistical Science, Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, and Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing) also list 13 November 2026 as the date for earlier decisions. Several courses show a later date in March, but for Energy Systems that date is for part-time study only, and for the other courses the scholarship deadline is the January one. Apply by the date on your own course page, and aim to submit well before it, since references must also arrive in time. ### What the money covers, and what it does not say Scholars receive full funding for course fees plus a grant for living costs. For 2027-28 the overseas fee is £46,350 on most of these courses and £43,150 for MSc Energy Systems, so the fee element alone is large. The scholarship page does not say how much the living grant is, and it does not mention return flights, visa fees or the Immigration Health Surcharge, so plan as if you will pay those yourself unless your offer letter says otherwise. The donation also pays for induction activities, mentoring and support during the course. Oxford says the majority of offers are sent out in May, and you must first receive an offer from an eligible course before the scholarship panel assesses you, on academic merit and potential. ### A small award with a deliberate purpose The programme supports up to 30 taught master’s students over five years, and the 2027 intake will be the fifth cohort. Up to six scholarships are available for October 2027 entry. Oxford links the programme to the low number of women in postgraduate STEM subjects, and to financial barriers that stop some talented students from continuing their studies. Because the number of awards is so small, apply for other funding at the same time. Our guide to [studying in the UK](https://worldwide-scholarships.com/studying-in-the-uk-funding-visas-and-how-the-money-works/) explains the visa and cost side. ### Check the UK visa position first An Oxford offer and a scholarship do not guarantee a UK Student visa. Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan are on this scholarship’s list of eligible countries. They are also the four countries covered by the UK government’s [visa brake](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-brake-changes-to-the-uk-visa-system). The government page says the brake is now in force and that Student visa applications made from outside the UK by nationals of those countries will be refused. The page says it will be reviewed regularly. If you hold one of those nationalities, read that page before spending money on applications. Where this comes from Every fact above was read on **ox.ac.uk**, the awarding body's own website, and last confirmed on **14 October 2026**. Nothing here is taken from another directory. Funding bodies change deadlines and eligibility rules without notice, and we are not affiliated with University of Oxford, funded by the Optiver Foundation. Always confirm on the official site before you apply. Reviewed by the [Worldwide Scholarships editorial team](https://worldwide-scholarships.com/about/) [Apply on the official site](https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/fees-and-funding/fees-funding-and-scholarship-search/optiver-foundation-scholarships) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MonetaryGrant","name":"Optiver Foundation Scholarships (University of Oxford)","description":"Up to six Oxford scholarships for women ordinarily resident in 131 eligible low and middle income countries, covering full course fees and a living-costs grant on nine STEM master's courses starting October 2027. 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