The University of Oxford has officially opened applications for the 2026 Optiver Foundation Scholarship, a prestigious fully funded program designed for women from middle to low-income countries.
The scholarship provides complete financial support including full tuition coverage and a generous grant for living costs, enabling successful candidates to pursue postgraduate study at one of the world’s leading institutions.
Scholarship Summary
- Host: University of Oxford
- Host Country: United Kingdom (UK)
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Category: Postgraduate Scholarships | Masters Scholarships
- Reward: Full Scholarship | Living Stipends
- IELTS: Not Required
- Deadline: Varies by Course (December – January)
Scholarship Details
The Optiver Foundation Scholarship is a fully funded opportunity established through the generous support of the Optiver Foundation. The program aims to empower talented women from middle and low-income countries by providing access to world-class postgraduate education in the UK. Over a period of five years, the scholarship will support up to 30 taught Master’s students across a variety of science, mathematics, and technology-related fields.
The next cohort of Optiver Foundation Scholars will commence their studies in October 2026, marking the fourth intake since the program’s inception. This initiative is part of Oxford’s commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion, while also addressing socio-economic and gender imbalances in higher education.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the University of Oxford Optiver Foundation Scholarship, applicants must:
- Be resident in an eligible country and applying to begin an eligible Master’s course at Oxford in October 2026.
- Identify as female on their postgraduate application form.
- Apply to an eligible program (students currently studying at Oxford are not eligible).
Eligible Courses include:
- MSc Energy Systems (Engineering Science)
- MSc Advanced Computer Science
- MSc Mathematical and Theoretical Physics
- MSc Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing
- MSc Mathematical Sciences
- MSc Mathematics and Foundations of Computer Science
- MSc Quantum Technologies
- MSc Statistical Science
- MSc Theoretical and Computational Chemistry
Scholarship Benefits
Successful applicants of the Optiver Foundation Scholarship will receive:
- Full coverage of tuition fees
- A generous grant to support living costs throughout the duration of the program
- Membership and academic engagement with leading departments such as Statistics, Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Engineering Science, and the Mathematical Institute
Required Documents
Applicants must prepare to submit the following documents:
- Completed postgraduate application form (indicating interest in the Optiver Foundation Scholarship)
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates
- Personal statement and course-specific requirements
- Additional scholarship application form (for socio-economic and under-representation assessment)
How to Apply
To apply for the University of Oxford Optiver Foundation Scholarship 2026:
- Visit the official scholarship application webpage.
- Submit your graduate application for study by the relevant November, December, or January deadline, depending on the chosen course.
- Tick the scholarship box on your graduate application form to indicate interest.
- If shortlisted, complete the additional scholarship application form to provide socio-economic background information.
- Applications will be assessed by a panel of academic staff based on merit and potential.
- Successful candidates will be contacted by email, with most scholarship offers sent in May 2026.
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