Reach Oxford Scholarship for Undergraduates from Developing Countries

What the Reach Oxford Scholarship is

The Reach Oxford Scholarship is a University of Oxford award for undergraduate students from low-income countries who, for political or financial reasons or a lack of suitable local facilities, cannot study for a degree in their own country. It is one of the rare fully-supported undergraduate scholarships at a top UK university — most UK funding for international students is weighted towards postgraduate study.

Oxford describes the award as covering course and college fees, a grant for living expenses, and one return air fare per year, for the 3 or 4 years of the course. Only a small number are offered each year, so it is highly competitive.

This guide explains the concept and the broad eligibility so you can judge fit. It is general information — the eligible-country list, the coverage and the deadlines are all set by Oxford, so confirm everything on the official ox.ac.uk page.

Who can apply

The scholarship is open to nationals of countries that receive official development assistance from the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (DAC) — Oxford publishes the eligible-country list, and whether a given country qualifies can change over time, so check the current list rather than assuming.

Beyond nationality, Oxford looks for the highest academic ability, genuine financial need, and social commitment, and expects scholars to intend to return to their country of ordinary residence after their studies. Priority is given to applicants who have not previously studied at undergraduate level. Crucially, you must already hold an offer of a place: Oxford only considers scholarship applications from candidates who have been offered admission.

• A national of an eligible country on Oxford's OECD DAC list (verify the current list)
• Highest academic ability, demonstrable financial need and social commitment
• An intention to return to your country of residence after graduating
• Priority to those who have not studied at undergraduate level before
• You must hold an Oxford offer — the scholarship cannot be applied for without one

What the scholarship covers

Oxford states the Reach Oxford Scholarship covers course fees and college fees, provides a grant for living expenses, and pays for one return air fare per year, across the full 3 or 4 years of the degree. In effect it is designed to make an Oxford undergraduate degree affordable for a student who otherwise could not fund it.

Because the precise value of the living-cost grant and the number of awards are set by Oxford and can change, this guide does not quote figures. Confirm the current coverage and the number of scholarships on the official page.

• Course fees and college fees
• A grant for living expenses
• One return air fare per year
• For the 3 or 4 years of the course

The Medicine exclusion

One important limit: the Reach Oxford Scholarship applies to undergraduate programmes in the standard course listing except Medicine. If you are aiming for Oxford's Medicine course, this scholarship is not available for it.

If Medicine is your goal, look instead at the funding routes Oxford publishes specifically for medical students, and confirm what is and isn't covered on those official pages. For every other eligible undergraduate subject, the Reach scholarship remains open — but always re-check the current subject rules, because they can change.

How to apply

The route is admission-first and runs through UCAS. You apply for undergraduate admission to Oxford through UCAS by Oxford's early October deadline, go through Oxford's admissions process, and can only be considered for the Reach Oxford Scholarship if you are offered a place.

Oxford opens scholarship details and the way to indicate interest around its admissions cycle. Because the exact deadlines and the mechanism to be considered are published anew each year, plan around Oxford's UCAS deadline and read the current Reach Oxford page for the step-by-step.

• Step 1 — Apply to Oxford through UCAS by the October deadline
• Step 2 — Go through Oxford's admissions assessment
• Step 3 — If offered a place, be considered for the scholarship
• Step 4 — Scholarship decision from Oxford
• Deadlines and the exact process are set each cycle — use the official page

Applying safely and realistically

The Reach Oxford Scholarship is awarded by Oxford itself — you never pay to apply and no one can guarantee it for a fee. Ignore any agent claiming to 'secure' an Oxford scholarship, and never hand over money or personal financial details for a promised award.

With only a handful of awards a year, the scholarship is best treated as one possibility, not a plan. Focus first on a strong admission application, and keep the official Oxford pages as your source for eligibility, coverage and dates.