Oxford Master of Public Policy 2027/28: Scholarships and 2 December Deadline
- Study in
- United Kingdom
- Levels
- Master's
- Funding
- Full and partial scholarships
- Covers
- Course fees and living grant (full awards), part of fees (partial awards)
- Who can apply
- Graduates of any country with a first or strong 2:1, public service commitment, usually 2+ years' work experience
- Run by
- Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
On this page
The Master of Public Policy (MPP) is a one-year, full-time degree at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. It is for people from any country and any degree subject who want a career in public service. If you apply by the December deadline, you are considered for most Oxford scholarships. Many of these pay full fees and a living grant.
Status: Open. Applications for 2027/28 opened in September 2026. The deadline is 12:00 midday UK time on Wednesday 2 December 2026 (checked October 19, 2026).
What the scholarships cover
There is no single MPP scholarship. The School lists more than 40 awards from the University, the School and outside funders. Some pay full fees and living costs. Others pay part of the fees. The School says that in recent years about 90% of MPP students received full or partial scholarships, and 75% or more received full scholarships.
Awards that may suit readers in Africa and India include:
- Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: for students from African countries. It pays full fees, a living grant, flights, and visa and health surcharge costs. You must apply by the December deadline.
- Poler Family Oxford Scholarship: full fees and a living contribution for MPP applicants resident in Africa. There is no separate application.
- Aig-Imoukhuede MPP Scholarship: full fees and a set living amount for people ordinarily resident in Nigeria and working in the Nigerian public service. One award is made each year.
- Oxford-Indira Gandhi Graduate Scholarship: course fees and a living grant for residents of India or former students of Indian institutions. It has a January deadline.
- Clarendon Fund: full fees and a living grant, based on academic merit. There is no separate application.
The School also offers its own awards, such as the Public Service Scholarship and need-based Blavatnik School Scholarships. Chevening and Commonwealth awards are run by outside funders with their own rules. The School’s funding page lists the Chevening deadline as early October.
Who can apply
- You need a first-class or strong upper second-class honours degree in any subject. For a US degree, a GPA of at least 3.6 out of 4.0 is normally needed.
- You should show a clear commitment to public service and proven leadership.
- Most successful applicants have at least two years of work experience.
- You need English at Oxford’s higher level. For IELTS Academic, this is 7.5 overall with at least 7.0 in each part.
GRE or GMAT scores are not required, but the School strongly encourages you to send them.
Key details
| Programme | Master of Public Policy (MPP) |
|---|---|
| School | Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford |
| Length | 12 months, full-time in Oxford |
| Start date | 27 September 2027 |
| Course fee 2027/28 | £54,650, the same for home and overseas students |
| Application fee | £75, with waivers for eligible applicants |
| Deadline | 12:00 midday UK time, 2 December 2026 |
| Funding | Full and partial scholarships from many sources |
How to apply
- Read the Oxford MPP course page and the MPP fees and funding page. Note any scholarship that needs its own application.
- Prepare your documents: official transcripts, a CV of one to two pages, a statement of purpose of up to 800 words, a reflective policy essay of up to 1,200 words and a public service essay of up to 400 words. Each written piece needs a statement on your use of AI.
- Ask three referees early. At least one must be an academic referee.
- Submit the University of Oxford graduate application before 12:00 midday UK time on 2 December 2026. The School’s how to apply page explains each step.
- If a scholarship has its own process, such as Mastercard Foundation or Oxford-Indira Gandhi, follow its steps and dates as well.
- If you get an offer, complete the Blavatnik School Scholarship Questionnaire, usually within one week of your offer letter. School awards are only considered through this questionnaire.
Tips before you apply
- Apply by 2 December. The School cannot accept funding requests after you arrive in Oxford.
- Give your referees several weeks. Their references must arrive on time for your application to be complete.
- Use the public service essay to describe real work you have done and what changed because of it.
- Check the fee waiver rules if the £75 application fee is a problem for you.
Related guides
- Wageningen University Scholarships 2027: Fully Funded MSc in the Netherlands for African Students
- France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship 2027: Monthly Allowance for Master’s and PhD Study in France
- Clarendon Scholarships 2027: Fully Funded Master’s and DPhil at the University of Oxford
Details are taken from the official University of Oxford and Blavatnik School of Government websites, checked on October 19, 2026. Confirm the current rules there before you apply.
