University of Oxford Ertegun Scholarships

The University of Oxford offers the Ertegun Graduate Scholarship Programme in the Humanities. The University states that it selects Ertegun Scholars to choose “the very best students” who will realise Mica Ertegun’s Mission and become leaders in their fields. The Humanities Division offers taught graduate and research degrees across a range of subject areas within Humanities.

Applications may be made for fields covered by eligible Humanities faculties and approved course listings, including specified courses in areas such as Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Classics, English Language and Literature, Fine Art (a specified DPhil only), History (including History of Art and History of Architecture), Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics, Medieval and Modern Languages, Music, Philosophy, Theology and Religion, and certain interdisciplinary courses. Only courses administered by the Humanities Division and its faculties are eligible, with some exceptions for jointly administered courses.

Selection is handled by an Ertegun Scholarships Selection Committee made up of the Head of Oxford’s Humanities Division and one representative from each eligible faculty, acting in consultation with the Board of Ertegun Overseers. Shortlisted candidates are initially identified by faculties and nominated to the Selection Committee, and are interviewed by a faculty representative, usually via videoconference or telephone, to discuss topics covered in the supporting statement.

Award coverage includes full course fees and a grant for living costs. Awards are made for the full duration of a student’s fee liability for the agreed course, and continuation each year depends on an annual renewal process based on satisfactory academic progress. Scholars also have dedicated use of Ertegun House for writing and research and opportunities to take part in social occasions, lectures, performances, and other activities developed for the Scholars.

• Applicants must be applying for a new full-time graduate course.
• Current graduate students are not eligible to apply for funding for a second or third year of their course.
• The scholarship may not be held in conjunction with any other awards.
• Eligible courses must be within fields covered by the following faculties: Asian and Middle Eastern Studies; Classics (including classical archaeology); English Language and Literature; Fine Art (DPhil in Contemporary Art History and Theory only); History (including History of Art and the History of Architecture); Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics; Medieval and Modern Languages (covering most European languages and their literature); Music; Philosophy; Theology and Religion; and the interdisciplinary courses of Celtic Studies, Comparative Literature & Critical Translation, Medieval Studies, Film Aesthetics, Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies, and Digital Scholarship.
• Courses must be administered by the Humanities Division and its faculties (with some exceptions for courses jointly administered by a faculty of the Humanities Division and the School of Archaeology or Global and Area Studies, which are included in the eligible courses list).
• Applicants must meet the entry criteria for their course, including English language requirements.
• Students from all countries and all backgrounds are welcome to apply, including UK students.
• The University’s application portal determines scholarship options available for a course; if the course is not on the list of eligible courses, it is not eligible to apply for the Ertegun scholarship.

• Course fees covered in full.
• An annual grant for living costs in the amount of £21,805.
• Dedicated use of Ertegun House, providing space for each Scholar for writing and research.
• Opportunities to participate in social occasions, lectures, performances, and other activities developed for the Scholars.

1. Apply to Oxford for a graduate course and, within the University’s Graduate Application Form Funding Section, select “Ertegun Graduate Scholarships in the Humanities”.
2. Complete a supporting statement using the provided Word doc format and upload it as a PDF together with the Graduate Application Form by the application deadline.
3. Ensure the supporting statement answers the three questions that relate to the aims and mission of the Ertegun Scholarship programme, because the Selection Committee will consider it alongside the course application.

• Graduate Application Form.
• Supporting statement (Word doc completed and uploaded as a PDF), answering three questions related to the aims and mission of the Ertegun Scholarship programme.