Published: 30 Oct 2025 2,255 views
This scholarship programme will increase the number of women from low and middle-income countries taking up offers for postgraduate science courses at Oxford. The programme has been made possible by a generous donation from the Optiver Foundation.
The programme, which will provide support for up to 30 taught master’s students over a period of five years, has been made possible by a generous donation from the Optiver Foundation. The next Optiver Foundation Scholars will begin their studies at Oxford in October 2026, and will be the fourth cohort of the scholarship scheme. Scholars will join the Departments of Statistics, Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry and Engineering Science, or the Mathematical Institute, and will receive full financial support to cover their course fees, as well as a grant for living costs.
As the oldest university in the English-speaking world, Oxford is a unique and historic institution. There is no clear date of foundation, but teaching existed at Oxford in some form in 1096 and developed rapidly from 1167, when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris.

| Application Deadline | 28 Jan 2026 |
| Country to study | United Kingdom |
| Type | Masters |
| Course to study | View courses |
| Sponsor | University of Oxford |
| Gender | Men and Women |
Scholars will receive full financial support to cover their course fees, as well as a grant for living costs.
All successful applicants will be contacted by email and the majority of offers are sent out in May.
Check also:
Tony Elumelu Foundation African Entrepreneurship Programme 2026
To be considered for this scholarship, submit your application for graduate study first by the relevant November, December, or January deadline for your course, and tick the relevant box on the graduate application form.
If you meet the advertised eligibility criteria, we will ask you to complete an additional scholarship application form to ask about your socio-economic situation and to assess for potential disadvantage and under-representation.
For more details, visit University of Oxford Scholarship webpage