Ellison Undergraduate Scholars Programme 2027 | Fully Funded Oxford Scholarship

The Ellison Undergraduate Scholars Programme 2027 is one of the most extraordinary fully funded scholarships available to undergraduate students anywhere in the world. Administered by the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) Oxford — a cutting-edge science and technology research institute funded by Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle — the Ellison Undergraduate Scholars Programme 2027 fully funds a complete undergraduate degree at the University of Oxford in any subject, while providing scholars with paid summer internships on EIT’s world-leading research projects in health, food security, climate change, and AI. With full tuition coverage, a generous living stipend, paid internships, travel costs, personal technology setup, and visa support all included, this is one of the most comprehensive undergraduate scholarship packages ever created.

Applications for the Ellison Undergraduate Scholars Programme 2027 are now open and close on 31 July 2026 at 4pm your local time. The programme is open to students from all countries and all academic backgrounds. Scholars start at Oxford in October 2027 following a multi-stage selection process. This is the third cohort of Ellison Scholars — and competition is intensifying each year.

Key Highlights

Detail Description

The Ellison Undergraduate Scholars Programme is the flagship undergraduate funding initiative of the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) Oxford — a new research institute established at the Oxford Science Park with a £130 million strategic alliance with the University of Oxford announced in December 2024. EIT is funded by Larry Ellison, the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Oracle, who is also a Member of the EIT Faculty of Fellows. EIT’s mission is to solve humanity’s most urgent challenges through the integration of science, technology, and engineering with real-world applications across four Humane Endeavours: Health and Medical Science, Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture, Climate Change and Managing Atmospheric CO2, and Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.

The Ellison Undergraduate Scholars Programme 2027 brings together academically exceptional students from around the world to pursue any undergraduate degree at the University of Oxford — one of the world’s oldest, most internationally recognized, and most consistently highly ranked universities — while simultaneously working on EIT’s cutting-edge research projects as paid summer interns. The programme is now in its third year: the inaugural cohort (2025 entry) was announced in March 2025, the second cohort (2026 entry) was announced in April 2026, and the third cohort (2027 entry) applications are open now.

What makes this programme uniquely powerful is the combination of Oxford’s world-class academic environment with EIT’s hands-on, mission-driven research. Ellison Scholars are not just Oxford undergraduates — they are active contributors to scientific and technological projects designed to produce real-world solutions to global challenges, supported by some of the world’s leading scientists, innovators, and technology experts throughout their degree.

Benefits

The Ellison Undergraduate Scholars Programme 2027 covers all costs associated with undergraduate study at Oxford. According to the official EIT FAQ, the scholarship includes:

• Full Tuition Fees: All tuition fees for the complete duration of the undergraduate degree at Oxford are paid by EIT in full — typically covering 3 years (most courses) or 4 years (sciences, languages, and some other courses).
• Generous Living Stipend: A substantial annual academic scholarship stipend paid monthly to cover living costs in Oxford — accommodation, food, books, and personal expenses. EIT confirms this stipend significantly exceeds the funds needed to cover standard Oxford living costs.
• Paid Summer Internships: Each long summer vacation between academic years, Ellison Scholars undertake a 10-week paid internship at EIT Oxford — working with EIT research teams on projects within the four Humane Endeavours. These are described by EIT as “the equivalent of paid internships.”
• Travel Costs: EIT covers travel between the scholar’s home country and Oxford each year, as well as any additional travel required for programme activities and conference attendance.
• Personal Technology Setup: Initial technology and equipment costs, such as the purchase of a new laptop or computing equipment needed for studies, are covered at the start of the programme.
• Arrival and Setup Costs: Arrival in Oxford costs — including flights, visa charges, and initial setup fees — are covered.
• Healthcare Access: Access to healthcare is included as part of the scholarship package.

Funded by: The generosity of Larry Ellison, Chief Technology Officer of Oracle and Founder of the Ellison Institute of Technology.

EIT Humane Endeavours — Internship Research Areas

All Ellison Scholars undertake 10-week paid summer internships at EIT Oxford working on research projects within one or more of EIT’s four Humane Endeavours:

• Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology: Projects addressing disease prevention, diagnostics, vaccine development, generative biology, cancer research, and AI-driven healthcare transformation.
• Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture: Projects tackling global food production challenges through plant biology, agricultural technology, and sustainable farming innovations at the EIT Plant Biology Institute.
• Climate Change & Managing Atmospheric CO2: Projects developing solutions to climate change including clean energy, carbon capture, environmental science, and sustainable materials.
• Artificial Intelligence & Robotics: Projects at the frontier of AI research, machine learning, robotics, and their applications across EIT’s other Humane Endeavours.

Eligibility Criteria

• Academic Qualifications: Must have, or be on track to receive, a secondary education qualification (A-Levels, IB, CBSE, WAEC, Tawjihi, Baccalauréat, or equivalent) accepted by the University of Oxford for undergraduate entry. Check Oxford’s international qualifications page at ox.ac.uk/admissions for your country’s accepted qualifications.
• Grades: Must have met, or be on track to meet, the minimum grade requirements for your chosen Oxford undergraduate course. These vary by course — check the relevant course page at ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses.
• English Language: Must meet the University of Oxford’s English language requirements for your chosen undergraduate course. Check ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/for-international-students/ELR for specific requirements.
• Age: Must be at least 18 years of age by the end of the first academic year at Oxford. Applicants for Medicine must be at least 18 by the start of the course.
• Subjects: All Oxford undergraduate subjects are eligible. STEM subjects (computer science, AI, mathematics, biology, chemistry, engineering, medicine, economics, plant sciences, robotics, microbiology, machine learning) are most strongly preferred given EIT’s research focus. Non-STEM applicants must provide a strong rationale explaining how their chosen course will enable them to contribute to EIT’s Humane Endeavours.
• Not eligible: The 4-year Graduate-entry Medicine course at Oxford is not eligible for this scholarship. Applicants currently studying at Oxford or starting in October 2026 are also not eligible. EIT does not recommend deferring Oxford entry to apply for this scholarship.
• Nationality: Open to applicants from all countries worldwide — no nationality restrictions.

Required Documents

1. Completed online application form at ellisonscholars.eit.org — including personal and contact information, education details, passport/ID copy, and passport-sized photograph
2. Name and email address of 3 referees (referees are contacted directly by EIT via the application system — reference deadline is 10 August 2026)
3. Evidence of predicted or achieved grades (e.g. official letter from school or examination centre with official stamp)
4. Portfolio of relevant achievements — competition awards, research projects, internships, scholarships, advocacy campaigns, volunteer work, publications, or other relevant experiences
5. Short essay answers — including a 250-word response to “Why do you want to become an Ellison Scholar and what makes you a great candidate for your chosen programme?”
6. Selection of EIT Humane Endeavour(s) and Research Area(s) most aligned with your interests and skills, with explanation of the global problem you are passionate about solving
7. Diversity and Inclusion section responses (as part of the application form)

Note: Predicted grades are accepted — many applicants have not yet received final results when applying. AI tools such as ChatGPT may be used when completing the application. Institutional nominations from your current school or university are optional but welcome if provided.

Application Process

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Use the official eligibility checker at eit.org/education-and-scholarships/undergraduate to confirm you meet Oxford’s entry requirements for your chosen course and EIT’s selection criteria. Check Oxford’s international qualifications, grade requirements, and English language requirements for your specific course before starting your application.

Step 2: Choose Your Oxford Course and Humane Endeavour

Identify the Oxford undergraduate course you want to study and the EIT Humane Endeavour and Research Area you are most passionate about contributing to. The strongest applications show a clear, credible connection between your chosen Oxford course, your skills and interests, and the EIT research project you want to work on during your summer internships.

Step 3: Submit Your Ellison Scholars Application by July 31, 2026

Apply at ellisonscholars.eit.org before 31 July 2026 at 4pm your local time. Your 3 referees have until 10 August 2026 (4pm UK time) to submit their references through the system. Attend an EIT information session or Q&A session (register at studentportal.eit.org) before submitting if possible.

Step 4: Semi-finalist Selection and Oxford Application (September–October 2026)

EIT reviews all applications and selects semi-finalists in September–October 2026. Semi-finalists are invited to apply to the University of Oxford by 15 October 2026 — EIT provides dedicated support throughout this process. Note that Oxford’s admissions process is entirely separate from EIT’s selection.

Step 5: Finalist Selection and Scholarship Award (January–April 2027)

Semi-finalists who receive an Oxford offer automatically progress to finalist stage in January–February 2027. EIT conducts a final selection process with finalists. Scholarship awards are made in March–April 2027. Scholars then receive full support from EIT’s Education & Scholarships team as they prepare to start at Oxford in October 2027.

Application Timeline

How to Apply

To apply, visit the official website below:

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• 📌 Charlemagne Prize Fellowship 2026-2027 | €25,000 European Research Fellowship

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Ellison Undergraduate Scholars Programme 2027?

It is a fully funded scholarship programme run by the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) Oxford that covers a complete undergraduate degree at the University of Oxford — including tuition fees, living stipend, paid summer internships at EIT, travel, technology setup, and healthcare. Scholars work on EIT’s cutting-edge research projects in Health, Food Security, Climate Change, and AI during their summer internships. The scholarship is funded by Larry Ellison, co-founder and CTO of Oracle.

2. Is the Ellison Scholars Programme open to international students?

Yes — completely. The programme is open to applicants from all countries worldwide with no nationality restrictions. The key requirement is meeting the University of Oxford’s entry qualifications and grade standards for your chosen course, and meeting EIT’s selection criteria. Check Oxford’s international qualifications page to confirm your country’s qualifications are accepted.

3. Do I need to have an Oxford offer already to apply for the Ellison Scholars Programme?

No. You apply to EIT first — before applying to Oxford. Only semi-finalists selected by EIT are then invited to apply to Oxford by 15 October 2026. This means your EIT application and your Oxford admissions application are separate processes that happen at different stages. EIT provides full support to semi-finalists throughout the Oxford admissions process.

4. Which subjects can I study at Oxford under the Ellison Scholars Programme?

All Oxford undergraduate subjects are eligible. STEM subjects (computer science, AI, mathematics, biology, chemistry, engineering, medicine, economics, plant sciences, robotics, and machine learning) are most strongly preferred given EIT’s research focus. Non-STEM applicants must provide a strong rationale explaining how their degree enables them to contribute to EIT’s Humane Endeavours. The 4-year Graduate-entry Medicine course is the only specifically excluded course.

5. What does the Ellison Scholars living stipend cover?

EIT’s official FAQ confirms the annual academic scholarship stipend “significantly exceeds the funds needed to cover” accommodation, meals, books, and other standard living costs in Oxford. The exact stipend amount is not publicly disclosed, but EIT confirms it is designed to be genuinely generous — not just adequate. Travel between the scholar’s home country and Oxford each year, technology setup, visa charges, flights to Oxford, and healthcare access are all covered separately on top of the living stipend.

6. Can I apply if I have already started studying at Oxford?

No. The programme requires scholars to start their Oxford degree as Ellison Scholars from the beginning. Applicants already studying at Oxford, or starting in October 2026, are not eligible. Only applicants starting in October 2027 — either through new applications or through deferred entry offers — are eligible. EIT does not recommend deferring entry to Oxford specifically to apply for this programme, given the highly competitive and uncertain nature of the selection process.

7. How competitive is the Ellison Undergraduate Scholars Programme?

Extremely competitive. EIT states it is looking for exceptional candidates from around the world — academically excellent, with a genuine track record of putting their knowledge and passion into action. The multi-stage selection process includes EIT application review, Oxford admissions (which is one of the most competitive in the world), and a final EIT selection process for Oxford offer holders. Applicants may submit up to two applications to the undergraduate programme across different cycles.

Final Thoughts

The Ellison Undergraduate Scholars Programme 2027 is one of the most remarkable undergraduate scholarship opportunities ever created — combining a fully funded Oxford degree with paid hands-on research at one of the world’s most ambitious science and technology institutes. For high-achieving students from any country who want to study at Oxford and contribute to solving humanity’s greatest challenges, this programme represents a career-defining opportunity that goes far beyond standard scholarship funding.

The application deadline is 31 July 2026 at 4pm your local time. Check your eligibility, register for an information session at studentportal.eit.org, and apply at ellisonscholars.eit.org before the window closes. For questions, contact scholars@eit.org.