University of Oxford Ellison Undergraduate Scholars Program 2027 | Fully Funded
Most Oxford scholarships end where the degree ends: you graduate, the funding stops, and whatever research experience you picked up along the way was something you found for yourself.
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The Ellison Undergraduate Scholars Program was built to work differently. Funded by Larry Ellison, Oracle’s Chief Technology Officer and founder of the Ellison Institute of Technology, this scholarship pairs a fully funded Oxford undergraduate degree in any subject the university offers with paid ten-week summer internships inside EIT’s own research teams, tackling problems in health, food security, climate, and AI.
You’re not just funded through Oxford; you’re actively building a research track record alongside global experts before you’ve even graduated. Applications for October 2027 entry are open now, but the window is tight: they close on 31 July 2026, with referees given until 10 August to submit their letters.
Here’s exactly what the scholarship covers, what EIT is looking for, and how the application actually unfolds over the following year.
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What Makes This Scholarship Different
EIT isn’t running a conventional funding scheme layered on top of an Oxford degree; it’s building a pipeline of young researchers it wants working on its own priority problems from undergraduate level onward. The institute organises its work around four “Humane Endeavours”: Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology; Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture; Climate Change & Managing Atmospheric CO2; and Artificial Intelligence & Robotics.
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Every Ellison Scholar’s summer internship connects to one or more of these areas, which is why EIT is explicit that it’s especially interested in students with backgrounds in computer science, AI, economics, mathematics, robotics, plant sciences, machine learning, chemistry, biology, engineering, medicine, or microbiology though the programme states clearly that strong candidates from any discipline are welcome if their interests genuinely align with its mission.
This is a multi-year commitment on both sides: EIT states outright that it doesn’t recommend deferring your Oxford entry just to apply, since the programme is designed around starting your undergraduate degree and your EIT relationship at the same time.
University of Oxford Ellison Undergraduate Scholars Program Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | Ellison Undergraduate Scholars Program |
| Host Country ⇒ | United Kingdom |
| Study Level ⇒ | Undergraduate |
| Benefits ⇒ | Full tuition, living stipend, paid internships, travel, healthcare, and technology setup |
| Funded by ⇒ | Larry Ellison, via the Ellison Institute of Technology |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All countries |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | Applications are open until 31 July 2026, 4 pm local time (referee deadline 10 August 2026) |
Everything the University of Oxford Ellison Undergraduate Scholars Program Covers
- Full tuition fees for the entire duration of your undergraduate course at Oxford, regardless of which subject you study.
- A living stipend described as generous enough to cover your day-to-day costs in Oxford, accommodation, food, and general living expenses, for the full length of your degree.
- Paid summer internships, effectively compensating you as if employed, for ten weeks each long vacation between academic years, working directly inside EIT’s research teams.
- Travel and conference costs, covering both your initial relocation to the UK and any travel tied to your internship or research work during your degree.
- Personal technology setup, meaning EIT provides the equipment you need to actually do the work, not just tuition and a stipend with everything else left to you.
- Arrival costs in full, including flights to the UK, visa charges, and access to healthcare from the moment you land the kind of upfront costs that quietly derail international students who’ve secured tuition funding but hadn’t budgeted for getting there in the first place.
This is a genuinely comprehensive package that few undergraduate scholarships anywhere cover technology setup and conference costs alongside tuition and living expenses, which reflects that EIT is funding your development as a researcher, not just your degree.
What EIT Is Actually Looking For
Before the selection criteria, you need to clear Oxford’s own entry bar. You must:
- hold, or be on track to hold, a secondary education qualification, diploma, or certificate that Oxford accepts
- meet, or be on track to meet, the minimum grade requirements for your specific chosen course
- meet, or be on track to meet, Oxford’s English language requirements for that course
If you don’t meet these, EIT states plainly that you’re strongly discouraged from applying. Check Oxford’s own admissions requirements for your intended course before you start the Ellison application, not after.
Beyond academic entry requirements, EIT assesses applicants against five selection criteria, and understanding what each one is actually looking for matters more than treating this as a checklist:
- Scholarship Alignment: genuine depth of understanding in at least one of the four Humane Endeavours, shown through real experience or achievement, not just stated interest.
- Excellence: top grades, but also things like contributions to research papers, competitive academic programmes such as International Olympiads, or recognised academic honours.
- Innovation: evidence you build and create rather than just study, such as hackathons or innovation-challenge awards, patent contributions, or founding a genuine initiative with measurable impact.
- Collaboration: a demonstrated ability to work with others toward shared outcomes, through coordinating events, mentoring peers, or being recognised for teamwork specifically, not solo achievement.
- Tenacity and Integrity: resilience through genuine setbacks, and honesty and reliability that show up in references, roles of responsibility, or how you’ve handled ethically difficult situations.
Documents and Evidence You’ll Need to Gather
- Academic transcripts and certificates, covering your current and prior secondary education
- Proof of English language proficiency, current or on track to be met, matching Oxford’s requirement for your chosen course
- A personal statement or motivation letter, connecting your background specifically to EIT’s mission, not just to studying at Oxford generally
- Contact details for three referees are provided directly through the application portal. Choose people who can speak concretely to your academic ability and to the selection criteria above, since generic references carry little weight against this level of competition
- A portfolio of supporting evidence, covering awards, research projects, internships, scholarships, advocacy work, or volunteer experience relevant to the selection criteria
- A valid passport or national ID document, plus a passport-style photograph, uploaded as part of your profile
- Any additional materials your specific Oxford course requires, which vary by subject and are worth checking on Oxford’s own admissions page before you submit
One detail that catches applicants off guard: your referees get extra time. The application itself closes 31 July, but referee submissions aren’t due until 10 August, useful if a referee needs a few extra days, but not an excuse to approach them late.
Ask your three referees weeks before the deadline, not days, since a strong reference written under time pressure is rarely as strong as one written with notice.
Your Step-by-Step Process to Apply
1. Check your eligibility against Oxford’s entry requirements first
Using the University of Oxford admissions page, before you touch the Ellison application, this covers accepted qualifications, grade thresholds, and English language requirements for your specific course.
2. Create an account
On the Ellison Scholars application portal, complete your personal and contact information. Enter your education details and select the undergraduate course you intend to study at Oxford.
3. Upload your passport or national ID
Plus a passport-style photo, as part of your profile.
4. Provide the names and email addresses of three referees
Do this directly in the portal, so requests go out to them automatically.
5. Build and submit your portfolio
Covering awards, research projects, internships, scholarships, or volunteer work relevant to the five selection criteria.
6. Answer the Diversity and Inclusion questions and complete every remaining section of the form honestly
EIT explicitly lists honesty and accuracy in the application as part of how it assesses integrity.
7. Submit before 31 July 2026, 4 pm your local time
And confirm that your three referees submit their letters by 10 August 2026, 4 pm UK time.
8. If shortlisted as a semi-finalist (announced September–October 2026)
Apply to your chosen Oxford course through the University’s own independent admissions process, which runs separately from the Ellison application and follows Oxford’s standard timeline and requirements.
9. If you receive an Oxford offer, you automatically progress to the finalist stage
EIT Fellows will interview you between January and February 2027.
Application Deadline
Applications opened on 1 May 2026 and close on 31 July 2026, at 4 pm your local time, roughly three weeks from now. Referees have a short grace period beyond that, with letters due by 10 August 2026, 4 pm UK time. There’s no second round and no indication this scholarship runs on a rolling basis, so treat this deadline as fixed.
Given how much this application asks for a full portfolio, three referee contacts, a personal statement genuinely tied to EIT’s mission rather than a generic Oxford essay starting with three weeks left is workable but tight, especially if any of your referees need advance notice. If you’re planning to apply, secure your referees this week rather than closer to the deadline, since a rushed reference is one of the more common reasons strong applicants underperform in a selection process this competitive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ellison Undergraduate Scholars Program open to all nationalities?
Yes. There’s no nationality restriction; applicants from any country are eligible, provided they meet Oxford’s academic entry requirements and EIT’s selection criteria.
Do I need an Oxford offer before I apply to the Ellison programme?
No, not initially. You apply to the Ellison Scholars programme first; if you’re shortlisted as a semi-finalist, you then apply to Oxford separately through its own admissions process, and only move to the finalist stage once you hold an Oxford offer.
Can Nigerian or other African students apply?
Yes. The programme is open to candidates from around the world, and nationality has no bearing on eligibility; what matters is meeting Oxford’s course-specific entry requirements and demonstrating strength against EIT’s five selection criteria.
Can I apply if I have a deferred entry offer from Oxford?
Yes, provided that the offer is for the October 2027 entry. Applicants with offers to start in October 2026, or who have already started at Oxford, are not eligible for this cycle.
What happens if I’m not selected as a semi-finalist?
The programme doesn’t publish specific reapplication guidance for unsuccessful undergraduate applicants, so if you’re not shortlisted, your best path is reviewing the FAQs on EIT’s official site or contacting [email protected] directly to ask about future cycles.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official Ellison Institute of Technology website before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the University of Oxford or the Ellison Institute of Technology.
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