Felix Scholarship: Eligibility, Deadline & How to Apply

The Felix Scholarship was the dream of a generous individual who wished to remain anonymous and is referred to as "the Founder". It was the Founder's wish that the scholarships would allow gifted underprivileged students the chance of furthering their education by attending a university in the UK. 

After consultation with various agencies, it was decided that scholarships would be offered at three universities - the University of Oxford, the University of Reading and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), part of the University of London.  The Scholarships are awarded on the basis of outstanding academic merit and financial need.

The original country of choice for the recipients of the scholarships was India for several reasons: it has an excellent and broad pool of very fine educational establishments; it offers an excellent infrastructure to facilitate the selection of the Felix scholars; it has a very high regard for higher education and the English language, both written and spoken; and English is the second language at the majority of the higher education establishments.

The scholarships cover tuition fees at the international rate and provide a stipend (maintenance grant) to cover living expenses (around £17,894). They also provide generous allowances for clothes, books and a return flight home

Please note, candidates who already hold a master's degree cannot apply for a master's degree scholarship.

To be eligible for all the Felix Scholarships offered, you must be applying to start a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Reading. You must be able to demonstrate academic excellence and financial need and are expected by the Trust to return to work in your home country after completing your studies.

For the scholarship for Indian citizens, the following eligibility criteria apply:

• You must be an Indian national and not currently be living or studying outside of India.
• You must have not previously studied for one year or more outside India (unless you are Felix Alumnus).
• You must have at least a first-class bachelor's degree from an Indian university or comparable institution.
• You must not hold a degree from a university outside of India.

Only those candidates who have been accepted for admission will be considered for short listing. You can apply online for a master’s or PhD on their website. Short listing by all three universities will take place in March and April 2025.

• Short listed candidates will be invited for interview in India between April and May 2025 either in person or via Skype/Zoom. Candidates cannot be considered for an award without an interview.
• Candidates who are interviewed and subsequently offered a Felix Scholarship for entry in September/October 2025 are not permitted to defer the award. Any scholars unable to commence at the academic institution concerned for the session 2025-26 will lose his/her scholarship.
• Felix Scholarship scholars are expected to complete their course of study within the time frame set by the individual universities. It is anticipated that scholars should be able to accumulate, by proper financial management, enough savings from the maintenance allowances paid to personally fund any extension required in order to complete their course.
• It is anticipated that scholars who undertake extended fieldwork trips during their course of study should be able to accumulate, by proper financial management, enough savings from the maintenance allowances paid during fieldwork trips to personally fund all expenses incurred in order to facilitate their fieldwork.
• It is a condition of the Felix Scholarship that candidates, when accepting a scholarship, undertake to return to their country of origin on completion of their course of study so as to make a contribution to that country. Each candidate will be expected to sign a letter of undertaking to this effect.

You must be an Indian national and not currently be living or studying outside of India.

You must not hold a degree from a university outside of India.

• Online Application
• Academic Transcripts
• Two Academic/Professional References
• Statement of Purpose
• Copy of Passport  
• English Language Proficiency