Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Scholarships(OCISS)

These scholarships have been established by the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies to allow graduates to pursue study of benefit to the Muslim world.

The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies is a Recognized Independent Centre of the University of Oxford. It was established in 1985 to encourage the scholarly study of Islam and the Islamic world. The Centre provides a meeting point for the Western and Islamic worlds of learning. At Oxford, it contributes to the multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary study of the Islamic world. Beyond Oxford, its role is strengthened by an international network of academic contacts. For more information, please refer to www.oxcis.ac.uk

Am I eligible?

You should be applying to start a new full-time graduate course at Oxford.

Please ensure that you meet the selection criteria for your course (see the Course Guide for more information).

The Scholarship is open to applicants who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and from Muslim communities.

You should be intending to return to your country of ordinary residence upon completion of your course of studies.

This scholarship is not open to candidates applying for Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma courses, part-time courses, non-matriculated courses or to students with deferred entry.

What does it cover?

100% of university and college fees and a grant for living costs (sufficient to cover your living costs in Oxford, amount to be confirmed in October on our Living Costs webpage)

Awards are made for the full duration of a student’s fee liability for the agreed course. If your scholarship is offered for a course lasting more than one year, the continuation of your scholarship each year is subject to an annual renewal process based upon satisfactory academic progress. Scholars will also be expected to write an annual report about their academic and social activities and achievements at the University.

How do I apply?

Apply at the same time as you apply to Oxford by selecting Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Scholarships (OCISS) in the Funding section of the University’s graduate application form. In order to be considered for this scholarship, you must submit your application for graduate study by the relevant January deadline for your course (10 January 2014 for Medical Sciences, Philosophy, Politics & International Relations and Computer Science; 24 January 2014 for all other subjects).

You must also complete a Scholarship Supporting Statement (see ’Downloads’ on the right-hand side of this webpage) and upload it together with your graduate application form by the application deadline.

If you do not apply as detailed above by the deadline, you will not be considered for this scholarship, even if you have selected the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Scholarship on the graduate application form.

Additional points to note when applying for this scholarship:

If, following the assessment of the January deadline applications, your department places your application on a waiting list or decides to re-evaluate it against the applications received for the next deadline (14 March 2014), then you will no longer be eligible for this scholarship.

If you are accepted onto a different course from the one you originally applied for, you should contact us as soon as you are notified of the change in order to ensure that your application for a scholarship is maintained on the new course. However, please note that such a change of course may mean that you are no longer eligible for this scholarship.

How will I know if I have been successful?

Decisions are expected to be made around July 2014. This webpage will be updated as soon as successful candidates have been notified. If you have not heard from us by this time, then your application to this scheme has been unsuccessful. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to contact unsuccessful applicants individually or provide feedback on applications.

Further information

If you have any questions about this scholarship which are not answered above, please email us through the Ask a Question facility, selecting the Funding category.