Apply for the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme 2027-2028 at Oxford - fully funded master's tuition and living grant.
Applications are officially open for the prestigious Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme 2027-2028 at the University of Oxford. Established in 2015 to cultivate tomorrow’s visionary leaders from emerging and developing economies, this premier UK scholarship offers 100% full course fees, a generous annual living grant of at least £21,805, and a year-long intensive leadership curriculum designed to empower scholars to transform public life in their home countries.
Administered collaboratively by the University of Oxford and the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust - with substantial matched endowment from André Hoffmann and the Fondation Hoffmann - the programme is open to exceptional graduates and early-to-mid career professionals across more than 180 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. Over 40 specialized master's degree programs are eligible, including the Master of Public Policy (MPP), MBA, and leading MSc degrees in development, environmental governance, global healthcare, and technology policy.
Application deadlines correspond to your selected course’s December or January admissions deadline (at 12:00 midday UK time): December 2, 2026 for the Blavatnik School MPP; January 6, 2027 for MBA and MFE applicants; and January 26, 2027 for most MSc programs. Early submission of the Oxford graduate application alongside the official Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships Statement form is strongly advised.
Quick Facts - Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships 2027-2028
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Convening Bodies | University of Oxford & The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust (in partnership with Fondation Hoffmann) |
| Host University & Landmark | Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom 🇬🇧 (Radcliffe Camera & Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Square) |
| Degree Level | Full-time Master’s degrees (1-year and select 2-year postgraduate degrees; DPhil courses excluded) |
| Financial Coverage | Fully Funded: 100% Course & College fees + at least £21,805 annual living stipend |
| Leadership Programme | Compulsory year-long tailored leadership development, philosophical retreats, and enterprise training |
| Eligible Nationalities | Citizens ordinarily resident in ~188 transition & emerging economies across Africa, Asia, Latin America & Middle East |
| Target Candidates | Academically exceptional graduates committed to returning home to advance public life, policy, and society |
| Application Deadlines | Course-specific: Dec 2, 2026 (MPP), Jan 6, 2027 (MBA), or Jan 26, 2027 (MSc degrees) at 12:00 midday UK time |
| Interviews & Notification | Shortlist in late March 2027; online interviews in April - May 2027; decisions by end of May 2027 |
| Application Method | Select scholarship in Oxford Graduate Application portal + upload Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Statement |
| Official Gateway | ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/fees-and-funding |
About the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust & Oxford Partnership
The Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme was established in 2015 to honor the 95th birthday of visionary publisher and public servant Lord Weidenfeld. In 2017, André Hoffmann, Trustee and Chairman of the Trust, contributed a landmark £9 million donation which, matched with £6 million from the University of Oxford, permanently solidified the scholarship's position as one of the world’s foremost leadership development platforms.
The scholarship forms part of the prestigious Oxford Graduate Scholarships framework. Unlike conventional academic grants that provide only financial support, Weidenfeld-Hoffmann scholars participate in a structured ecosystem that equips emerging global leaders with ethical, managerial, and communication tools to navigate complex geopolitical, economic, and environmental challenges upon returning to their home regions.
The Signature Leadership Programme
A defining cornerstone of the scholarship is its comprehensive, compulsory Leadership Programme, tailored specifically to cultivate ethical decision-making, strategic problem-solving, and cross-cultural communication:
- Philosophical Retreats: Residential seminars held in the historic English countryside exploring foundational moral philosophy, statecraft, the ethics of governance, and civic responsibility.
- Enterprise & Innovation Challenge: Scholars work in multidisciplinary international teams to design viable business or social enterprise plans that address urgent systemic development bottlenecks in the Global South.
- Executive Skill Masterclasses: Intensive practical training in negotiation, policy advocacy, public speaking, media handling, and crisis communications led by senior diplomats, executives, and international journalists.
- Long-Term Mentorship & Global Network: Scholars are paired with established industry mentors and gain permanent access to an active, worldwide alumni network across government ministries, multilateral bodies, tech ventures, and NGOs.
Financial Coverage & Benefits
Selected scholars receive a complete funding package for the agreed duration of their master’s degree:
- 100% University and College Tuition Fees: Paid directly to the University of Oxford and the scholar’s collegiate society.
- Annual Living Grant: A generous stipend of at least £21,805 per annum to comfortably cover accommodation, dining, books, and essential living expenses in Oxford.
- Leadership Programme Sponsorship: All transportation, accommodation, meals, and materials for retreats, workshops, and leadership trips fully covered by the Trust.
- Lifelong Alumni Network: Permanent membership in the international Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholar Community.
Eligible Master’s Programs
The scholarship supports over 40 intensive full-time graduate degree programs spanning public policy, business, law, sciences, and global governance, including:
- Public Policy & Administration: Master of Public Policy (MPP) at the Blavatnik School of Government
- Business & Finance: Master of Business Administration (MBA), MSc Financial Economics (MFE)
- Law: Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL), Magister Juris (MJur)
- International Development: MSc Economics for Development, MSc Global Governance and Diplomacy, MSc Refugee and Forced Migration Studies
- Environment & Climate: MSc Environmental Change and Management, MSc Nature, Society and Environmental Governance, MSc Water Science, Policy and Management, MSc Biodiversity, Conservation and Nature Recovery
- Health & Sciences: MSc Global Health Science and Policy, MSc International Health and Tropical Medicine
- Technology & Society: MSc Social Science of the Internet, MSc Computer Science
Note: Doctoral (DPhil) programs and part-time executive courses are not eligible for this scholarship.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must satisfy all of the following requirements:
- Academic Excellence: Must be applying to commence a new, full-time master's degree program at the University of Oxford for the 2027 - 2028 academic year and hold an outstanding undergraduate degree record (first class or strong upper-second class honors equivalent).
- Country of Ordinary Residence: Applicants must be ordinarily resident in one of the ~188 eligible developing or emerging economies across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Oceania. (Candidates holding refugee or displaced status are assessed based on nationality).
- Commitment to Return: Applicants must demonstrate a firm intention to return to their country of ordinary residence upon graduation to contribute directly to public life, sustainable development, or regional governance.
- Leadership Track Record: Demonstrated commitment to social impact, ethical leadership, and a clear connection between the chosen Oxford course of study and future public service or entrepreneurial career goals.
- Ineligibility Restrictions: Current Oxford students (unless already Weidenfeld-Hoffmann scholars) and candidates holding deferred admission offers for 2027 - 28 are not eligible. Applications held over to the March admissions field or placed on waiting lists cannot be considered.
Step-by-Step Application Guide
- Select an Eligible Course: Research the list of eligible master’s courses at Oxford and check your specific course deadline (either December 2, 2026, January 6, 2027, or January 26, 2027).
- Prepare Graduate Application Materials: Complete your formal application for graduate study via Oxford’s online application portal, including academic transcripts, CV, written work, and three letters of reference.
- Tick the Scholarship Box: In the 'University of Oxford Scholarships' section of your graduate application form, select Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme.
- Complete the Scholarship Statement: Download the official Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships Statement 2027/28 form, complete the specific essay questions detailing your leadership vision, career trajectory, and intended contribution to public life, and upload it to the application portal before submission.
- Submit Before the Deadline: Submit your complete graduate application by 12:00 midday UK time on your course’s December or January deadline. No separate application to the Trust is required or accepted.
Selection Timeline (2026 - 2027)
- Application Deadline: Course-specific (December 2, 2026 or January 6/26, 2027 at 12:00 midday UK time)
- Departmental Assessments: January - March 2027
- Scholarship Shortlist Notification: Late March 2027
- Virtual Selection Interviews: Late April or early May 2027
- Final Scholarship Awards Confirmed: By end of May 2027
- Arrival in Oxford & Induction Retreat: September / October 2027
Official Links & Resources
Official Oxford Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship Page
University of Oxford Graduate Application Portal
The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust Official Website
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is there a separate application portal for the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship?
No. You apply directly through the standard University of Oxford graduate application portal. You simply tick the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann option in the funding section and upload the completed Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships Statement form before your course deadline.
Can DPhil (PhD) applicants apply for this scholarship?
No. The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme is exclusively for full-time master's degree courses. DPhil candidates are encouraged to explore Oxford graduate university-wide and Clarendon awards.
Do I have to return to my home country immediately after graduation?
Yes. A central objective of the Trust is to foster domestic leadership in emerging nations. Scholars are expected to return to their home country or region upon finishing their studies to apply their knowledge to public administration, civil society, healthcare, business, or education.
What if my course application is placed on a waiting list or held over to March?
Under Oxford's scholarship guidelines, applications that are waitlisted or deferred to the March evaluation round are not eligible for Weidenfeld-Hoffmann scholarship consideration. You must be recommended from the December or January deadline intake.
Is there an age limit to apply?
No. There is no official age limit. Successful applicants range from recent university graduates with compelling leadership track records to mid-career professionals with several years of public sector or entrepreneurial experience.
