STEM master’s at Oxford: full scholarship for women from low and middle-income countries including Bangladesh
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Applications are now being accepted for the Optiver Foundation Scholarship 2027 at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. International students who want to pursue a postgraduate degree abroad can apply for this fully funded scholarship. Many dream of studying at Oxford, but that dream often stalls once the costs are calculated. The Optiver Foundation has opened a way to ease that worry.
The scholarship is for meritorious women from low and middle-income countries, including Bangladesh. It will offer the opportunity to pursue postgraduate studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
According to Oxford, the programme will open new doors of opportunity for women. Applications are now formally being accepted. To ensure that eligible candidates in genuine financial hardship receive the scholarship, the university is using a new socio-economic assessment method on a trial basis.
The initiative is running on a large grant from the Optiver Foundation. Over five years, a maximum of 30 students on taught master’s programmes will receive the scholarship. The fourth cohort of scholars is starting studies at Oxford in October 2026.
There is evidence of teaching at this collegiate research university, located in the city of Oxford in England, since 1096. It is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and ranks second among surviving institutions in the world. Oxford ranked first in the world in the Times Higher Education 2025 rankings.
The scholarship covers full tuition fees and a living allowance.
The departments in which eligible students can do their master’s are: Statistics; Computer Science; Physics; Chemistry; Engineering Science and the Mathematical Institute. The list of specialised courses includes Mathematical and Theoretical Physics, Quantum Technologies, Statistical Science, Advanced Computer Science and Energy Systems.
Applicants must be female residents of an eligible low or middle-income country. More than a hundred countries, including India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, South Africa, Egypt, Brazil and Vietnam, are on this list. They must choose any one of the approved master’s courses, and their gender must be stated as ‘female’ on an official identity document such as a passport or visa. Students currently studying at Oxford or who have deferred admission cannot apply.
To be considered for the scholarship, the postgraduate admission application must be submitted within the regular deadline; depending on the course, this is November or December 2026 or January 2027. The additional scholarship form must also be completed along with the admission application. After eligible applicants are assessed, those selected will be informed by May 2027.
Background
According to a 2022 announcement by the University of Oxford, the first students under this programme, launched with a grant from the Optiver Foundation, enrolled in October 2023.
According to the university’s scholarship page, up to six scholarships were awarded for the cohort admitted in October 2026; scholars also receive mentoring support.
At a glance
According to a University of Oxford press release of 25 March 2026, Oxford ranked first in the world for Arts and Humanities in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 and also took first place in four subjects.
Sources
Background sources: University of Oxford, 2022; University of Oxford (scholarship page), date not stated; University of Oxford, 25 March 2026
