Chevening Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Fellowship 2026

The Chevening Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) Fellowships are aimed at mid-career academics or professionals who are dedicated to the promotion of academic activities which encourage a more informed understanding of the culture and civilisation of Islam and contemporary Muslim societies.

Programme structure

Fellows will undertake a five-month period of self-directed research at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS), focusing on their own project on the culture and civilisation of Islam and contemporary Muslim societies in a global context.

Fellows will benefit from meeting a multi-disciplinary group of scholars focusing on the Islamic world and have the opportunity to develop contacts with relevant individuals, discuss issues relating to the Islamic world, including Islamic history, classical Islamic sciences, economics and Islamic finance, public health, science and technology in the Muslim world, and the study of Muslims in the West. Fellows will contribute to the Centre’s objective to encourage and promote sustained dialogue and collaboration within the global academic community of the culture and civilisation of Islam and contemporary Muslim societies.

• Table of Content
• About Chevening
• Chevening Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Fellowship
• Aim and Benefits of Chevening Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Fellowship
• Requirements for Chevening Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Fellowship Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Chevening Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Fellowship
• Documents Required for Application
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Chevening

Chevening is the UK government’s international awards programme aimed at developing global leaders. Funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations, Chevening offers two types of award – Chevening Scholarships and Chevening Fellowships – the recipients of which are personally selected by British embassies and high commissions throughout the world. Chevening offers a unique opportunity for future leaders, influencers, and decision-makers from all over the world to develop professionally and academically, network extensively, experience UK cu... continue reading

Chevening Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Fellowship

Aim and Benefits of Chevening Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Fellowship

• Five-month period of research at OCIS.
• Living expenses for the duration of the fellowship.
• Return economy airfare from home country to the UK.
• Allowance package for research-related activities.
• Access to a programme of cultural events and activities organised by the FCDO and the Chevening Secretariat.

Requirements for Chevening Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Fellowship Qualification

To be eligible for a Chevening OCIS Fellowship, you must:

• Demonstrate the potential to rise to a position of leadership and influence.
• Demonstrate the personal, intellectual and interpersonal attributes reflecting this potential.
• Be a citizen of one of the following countries and resident in one of these countries at the point of application: Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Philippines, Senegal, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, or Uzbekistan.
• Return to country of your citizenship at the end of the period of the fellowship.
• Hold a postgraduate level qualification (or equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant area) at the time of application.
• Have significant professional and/or academic research experience (at least five years).
• Have a good working knowledge of English to be assessed in your application form and if you are invited to interview.
• Not hold British or dual-British citizenship.
• Not be an employee, a former employee, or relative* of an employee of His Majesty’s Government, or have been within the last two years from the opening of Chevening applications (including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, all British Embassies/High Commissions, the Home Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for International Trade and the UKVI), the British Council, or a sponsoring UK university.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Chevening Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Fellowship

The Chevening Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Fellowship (OCIS)  selection process involves two rounds of interviews.

The first interview will be with British embassies and high commissions.

Candidates should be prepared to explain their suitability and motivations for the Chevening OCIS fellowship and should also be prepared to explain their research interests.

Successful candidates will be invited to a second and final interview with representatives from OCIS which will focus further on your research interests.

Documents Required for Application

Applicants should be prepared to outline a short proposal on the area of academic research they would like to conduct at the time of application submission. The proposal should include a main research question and how the applicant intends to conduct this research while in residence at the Centre.

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Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details, visit Chevening Fellowship webpage