Oxford-Weidenfeld & Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme 2026: Fully Funded Graduate Scholarships
- Omran Aburayya
- Oct 16
- 5 min read
If you are an outstanding university graduate or early-career professional committed to making a positive impact in your country or region, applications are now open for the Oxford-Weidenfeld & Hoffmann Scholarships & Leadership Programme 2026. This highly competitive opportunity offers full graduate funding at the University of Oxford, alongside leadership training, mentoring, and a global network of peers. Here's everything you need to know.
🎓 Scholarship Summary
Location: University of Oxford, United Kingdom
Funded by: Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust in partnership with Oxford Graduate school
Study Level: Graduate (Master’s / taught programmes). Doctoral (DPhil) studies are not eligible.
Target Group: Outstanding graduates and young professionals from developing and emerging economies and other countries who could not otherwise afford to study at Oxford.
Eligible Programmes: A specified list of master’s / graduate programmes at Oxford; wide variety including law, public policy, environment, social sciences, area & cultural studies, etc. (see section below).
Value & Coverage:
100% of course fees / fee liability for chosen course at Oxford.
Grant / stipend for living costs (grant amount at least ~£18,600-£20,800 depending on year)
Full cost of the Leadership Programme (training, seminars, mentoring etc.) included.
Duration: Duration equals the full time of the selected graduate course (often 9-12 months for many master’s) plus the year-long Leadership Programme (from mid-September to early/mid-July in many cases).
Application Deadline: Typically in December or early January preceding the course start (i.e. courses starting in 2026-27). For example, the MBA version has deadline 7 January 2026. Deadlines vary by course.
Start Date: The academic year typically begins in October at Oxford. Leadership Programme induction begins shortly before (often September).
🧭 Scholarship Overview: Structure, Curriculum & Activities
Alongside your graduate degree, scholars join a Leadership Programme during the academic year, which includes:
Seminars (including philosophical / ethical reflection)
Business, communication & professional skills training
Long-term mentoring and networking, linking scholars with alumni, professionals, and peers globally.
Cohort-based community experiences, workshops, potential retreats / induction in Oxford.
There are partnership schemes:
With Hualan Education Group
With Chevening (for certain applicants)
The “Hope Scholarships” for displaced persons via Oxford’s Sanctuary Community.
Selection process includes: application to Oxford’s graduate degree + graduate scholarship section, submission of Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship Statement, references, etc.; shortlisted candidates will be interviewed (often online) in April / late April or early May before decisions by end May.
🎁 Programme Benefits
Fee Coverage: All course fees (tuition, college fees etc.) for the full period of study.
Living Costs / Stipend: A grant/allowance sufficient to cover living expenses while in Oxford. The minimum is around £18,600-£20,800 (depending on year) for the academic year.
Leadership Programme Costs Covered: Participation costs, training, seminars, mentoring etc. are included within the award.
Networking & Mentoring: Scholars are connected with alumni & external professionals; gain global peer network.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To be considered, applicants must satisfy all of the following:
Be applying to start a new full-time graduate course at Oxford (Master’s / taught degree). Not eligible if you hold a deferred offer to start in that course cycle.
Be ordinarily resident in an eligible country at the time of application.
Demonstrate a strong connection between chosen subject of study and longer-term career goals; ability to show how your work contributes to public life, in home country or region. Leadership potential and commitment to social change.
Be able to return to home country / region upon completion of the degree.
Not be an existing Oxford student (unless already a Weidenfeld-Hoffmann scholar).
Also, you must be offered a place in an eligible course (see below) by Oxford, and apply by the relevant course’s deadline (often Dec/Jan) selecting the scholarship in the application, and submit required statements etc.
📚 Eligible Study Programmes
Here are some of the eligible master’s / graduate programmes that the scholarship supports (this list may change; always check the official website for up-to-date eligible courses). Courses include (but are not limited to):
BCL (Bachelor of Civil Law)
MBA (Master of Business Administration)
MJur (Magister Juris)
MPP (Master of Public Policy)
MSc in Economics for Development
MSc in Global Health Science and Epidemiology
MSc in Environmental Change and Policy
MSc Education (various streams: Comparative & International Education; Digital and Social Change; Higher Education)
Area Studies & Regional / Cultural / Language Studies (e.g. Modern Middle Eastern Studies; Contemporary Chinese Studies; Latin American Studies; African Studies; Diplomatic Studies; Islamic Studies; Jewish Studies; Korean / Japanese Studies; Slavonic Studies etc.)
Social policy / social intervention programmes (evidence-based social intervention; refugee and forced migration studies; migration studies; social data science; social science of internet; etc.)
Sustainability, enterprise & environmental governance programmes; energy systems; water science, policy & management; biodiversity, etc.
(Note: Doctoral (DPhil) courses are not eligible under this scheme.)
🌏 Eligible Countries
The Oxford-Weidenfeld & Hoffmann Scholarship is open to applicants from a large number of countries (over 100), especially developing, emerging economies, and those who could not otherwise afford to study at Oxford. See full list of eligible countries here.
📝 Application Procedure
How to Apply:
Identify an eligible graduate course at the University of Oxford you wish to pursue.
Check the deadline for that course (often December or early January 2026).
Submit your graduate course application to Oxford by the course deadline. In that application, select the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships & Leadership Programme in the Scholarships / Funding section.
Complete and upload the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships Statement form, which is distinct from (but in addition to) your general personal statement. In it you must explain your motivations, your leadership potential, how your chosen degree relates to your long-term goals, and how you intend to contribute to public life or your community or country.
Submit all relevant supporting documents required by the course: academic transcripts, references, proof of residency / nationality, language proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL etc if required), etc.
If shortlisted, attend interview (often online in April / late April or early May).
Final decisions are expected by end of May 2026.
🗂️ Documents Required:
Graduate course application form via Oxford admissions portal.
Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships Statement (motivation, goals, leadership etc.).
Academic transcripts.
Letters of reference.
Proof of residency / nationality.
English language test results if required.
Any additional materials required by the particular course (e.g. test scores if course demands, writing samples, etc.).
💫 Additional Useful Information / Tips
Be very clear in your Scholarship Statement about how your chosen programme will help you achieve impact in your home country or region. The selection committee emphasizes public service / social improvement.
Make sure you meet the deadlines for both the course application and the scholarship application (they go together). If your course has a December or January deadline, missing that likely disqualifies you.
Be prepared for the interview stage: expect questions about leadership, ethics, how you plan to use the degree in practice, and how you have already demonstrated leadership and public service.
Check whether your country is listed among ordinary residence and eligible countries. Also check whether you are eligible regarding current student status (if you are already at Oxford etc.).
