Scholarships·United Kingdom & Ireland· 9 min read

Felix Scholarship Guide for Indian and Developing-Country Students

The Felix Scholarship funds Indian and developing-country postgraduates at Oxford, Reading and SOAS, with part reserved for India. Learn how it works.

Last updated 3 July 2026

Key facts

Awarding body: The Felix Scholarship (felixscholarship.org)
Universities: University of Oxford, University of Reading, and SOAS University of London
Level: Postgraduate (taught master's and, at some universities, research degrees) — check each university's Felix page
Who it is for: Indian nationals plus non-Indian, non-EEA nationals from designated developing countries; part of the awards is reserved for Indian students
Selection basis: Outstanding academic merit AND demonstrated financial need — a first-class bachelor's degree is expected for Indian applicants
Funding value: Described as covering tuition and a living/maintenance grant — confirm the exact package on the official site and the chosen university's page
Deadlines: Aligned to each university's postgraduate admission cycle — DEFER to the official Felix and university pages

What the Felix Scholarship is

The Felix Scholarship is a funding programme created to give academically gifted but financially disadvantaged students from India and certain other developing countries the chance to pursue postgraduate study in the UK. It is one of the best-known India-specific routes to a fully funded UK master's or research degree, yet many students have never heard of it because it is administered quietly through three universities rather than advertised widely.

Awards are available at three institutions: the University of Oxford, the University of Reading, and SOAS University of London. The scholarship is administered by the Felix Scholarship trust (felixscholarship.org) together with these universities.

Because the exact funding package, covered courses and deadlines are set each year, treat everything on this page as an orientation. Always confirm the current details on the official Felix site and the specific university's Felix page before you plan around them.

Purpose: fund gifted, underprivileged postgraduates from India and designated developing countries
Three participating universities: Oxford, Reading, SOAS
Part of the awards is reserved specifically for Indian nationals
Awarded on academic merit AND financial need together

Who is eligible

The programme serves two broad groups. Indian nationals must be academically outstanding, from a financially disadvantaged background, and hold at least a first-class bachelor's degree from a recognised Indian university or a comparable institution. A separate stream is open to non-Indian, non-EEA nationals from designated developing countries who meet similar academic standards and are recommended by their chosen university.

Financial need is a genuine, assessed criterion here — not a formality. The selection process weighs both academic excellence and whether the candidate could realistically fund the study otherwise. This makes Felix different from purely merit-based awards.

The precise eligibility rules, including nationality lists, prior-study restrictions and any conditions on where the applicant currently lives, are set by the trust and can change. Read the official eligibility page carefully rather than relying on any summary.

Indian nationals: first-class bachelor's degree (or comparable) expected
Also open to non-Indian, non-EEA nationals from designated developing countries
Demonstrated financial need is assessed alongside academic merit
Exact nationality lists and conditions — verify on the official Felix eligibility page

What it covers

The Felix Scholarship is described as a fully funded award, meaning it is intended to cover the major costs of studying rather than a small top-up. In broad terms this typically includes tuition fees and a maintenance grant to help with living costs during the course.

Exact figures — the stipend rate, whether one economy flight or other allowances are included, and how the package differs between Oxford, Reading and SOAS — are set annually and can vary by university. GlobalStudyBoard does not publish scholarship amounts, because a figure that is wrong by even a little can mislead your financial planning.

For the current, precise value of the award, consult the official Felix Scholarship website and the Felix page of the specific university you are applying to.

Intended as a fully funded award (tuition plus a living grant)
Exact stipend, flight and allowance details vary by year and university
Confirm the current package on the official Felix site + your university's page

How to apply

A common misconception is that you fill in a single "Felix application form". In practice the route differs by university, and at Oxford there is no separate Felix application at all — to be considered you simply submit your application for graduate study by the relevant January deadline for the course, and eligible candidates are considered automatically.

Reading and SOAS run their own procedures, described on their dedicated scholarship pages, so you follow each university's instructions rather than a central Felix form. The practical takeaway: apply for the course you want first, on time, and make sure you meet that university's specific Felix steps.

Because the mechanism and deadlines are university-specific, read the "How to apply" section of the official Felix site alongside the graduate-admissions and funding pages of Oxford, Reading or SOAS before you begin.

Oxford: no separate Felix form — apply for the graduate course by the relevant January deadline
Reading and SOAS: follow each university's own Felix procedure
Get the course application in early and complete — funding follows admission
Deadlines and steps are university-specific — verify on the official pages

How Felix compares with other UK funding routes

For Indian students, Felix sits alongside other well-known fully funded UK options such as Chevening (UK government), Commonwealth Scholarships and the Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship. What makes Felix distinctive is its explicit focus on financial need combined with the fact that part of its awards is reserved for Indian nationals and that it is tied to three specific universities.

If your target university is Oxford, Reading or SOAS, Felix is often the most directly relevant need-based route. If you are aiming elsewhere in the UK, or your profile is stronger on leadership than on demonstrated need, Chevening or Commonwealth may fit better. Many strong candidates prepare for more than one scheme.

There is no advantage to paying an agent to "secure" a Felix award — the scholarship cannot be bought, and any offer to guarantee it is a scam. Apply directly through the official channels.

Distinctive for its need-based selection and India-reserved allocation
Best-fit when your target is Oxford, Reading or SOAS
Compare with Chevening, Commonwealth and Inlaks for other universities/profiles
No award is ever guaranteed or purchased — apply only through official channels

Frequently asked questions

Is the Felix Scholarship only for Indian students?

No. It is open to Indian nationals and to non-Indian, non-EEA nationals from designated developing countries. However, part of the awards is reserved specifically for Indian students, which is why it is one of the most India-focused UK funding routes. Check the current nationality rules on the official Felix eligibility page.

Which universities offer the Felix Scholarship?

Three: the University of Oxford, the University of Reading, and SOAS University of London. The award, covered courses and application steps can differ by university, so read each one's Felix page.

Do I need a first-class degree to apply?

For Indian nationals, at least a first-class bachelor's degree from a recognised Indian university (or a comparable qualification) is expected, because selection is highly competitive and merit-based alongside financial need. Confirm the exact academic requirement on the official Felix site.

Do I apply to Felix separately or through the university?

It depends on the university. At Oxford there is no separate Felix application — you are considered automatically if you submit your graduate course application by the relevant January deadline. Reading and SOAS have their own procedures. Always follow the process on each university's Felix page.

How much money does the Felix Scholarship give?

It is described as a fully funded award covering tuition and living costs, but the exact figures are set each year and can vary by university. We do not publish scholarship amounts — verify the current value directly on the official Felix Scholarship website and your chosen university's page.

Can an agent or consultant guarantee me a Felix Scholarship?

No. No scholarship can be guaranteed or bought, and any person or service claiming to secure a Felix award for a fee is not legitimate. Apply directly through the official Felix and university channels, and be cautious of anyone promising a result.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: The Felix Scholarship — official site; The Felix Scholarship — How to Apply; University of Oxford — graduate fees, funding and scholarships.

Last verified: 3 July 2026.