The Oxford and Cambridge Society of India Scholarships are part-cost awards for undergraduate, second undergraduate, graduate study and research in any subject available at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, UK.

The Oxford and Cambridge Society of India (OCSI) is a not-for-profit alumni organisation based in New Delhi, India. The scholarships offered by OCSI are Equal Opportunity, i.e. the decisions made in awarding these scholarships are not based on race, colour, religion, disability, age (except for maximum age criterion), sex or ancestry.

Relatives of the Executive Committee of the Oxford and Cambridge Society of India are not eligible for these scholarships.

Institutions for which the scholarships are offered:

• University of Cambridge, UK
• University of Oxford, UK

Courses / Fields of study

• Research leading to the PhD degree
• One-year post-graduate courses (e.g. MPhil, LLM, BCL, Diploma, CASM or Part III Maths, MBA, PGCE etc.)
• Taught and research based Masters programmes of various durations (including M.Sc., engineering, medicine)
• Second Bachelors degree as an Affiliated Student/Senior Status
• Bachelors degree programme

• Must be a citizen of India
• Must be ordinarily resident in India
• Must be not more than 30 years of age on 1 September of the year of application for the award

• Must be a citizen of India
• Must be ordinarily resident in India
• Must be not more than 30 years of age on 1 September of the year of application for the award
• Must be a graduate of an Indian university if applying to a second undergraduate or for a post graduate course (applicants who are expected to graduate in the year of the award are also eligible to apply for the awards), or be from a school in India if applying for an undergraduate course.
• Must have applied for and secured admission to study a full-time course at the University of Cambridge or the University of Oxford. Candidates are required to present proof of admission before grant of the scholarship, and proof of having taken up residence at Cambridge or Oxford before the scholarships funds are released.
• Must intend to pursue a course of study that is one of the following:
  • Research leading to the PhD degree
  • One-year post-graduate courses (e.g. MPhil, LLM, Diploma, CASM or Part III Maths, MBA, PGCE etc.)
  • Taught and research based Masters programmes of various durations (including M. Sc., engineering, medicine)
  • Second Bachelors degree as an Affiliated Student/Senior Status
  • Bachelors degree programme
• Must be admitted to the University of Cambridge or the University of Oxford through the University’s normal academic procedures. OCSI cannot admit students or assist in this process.

Scholarship Criteria

• Scholarships are awarded on the basis of the candidate’s academic excellence, a good fit between the Scholar and the University, evidence of leadership potential and a commitment to improving the lives of others, particularly in India.
• It is important that a convincing argument can be made for reading for a particular degree at Cambridge or Oxford. Those invited to interview for the OCSI scholarships will be expected to be academically first rate, having been ranked by departments in Cambridge or Oxford as the most academically outstanding applicants in a given year.
• The OCSI scholarship programme is designed to catalyse support for worthwhile Indian candidates who otherwise would be unlikely to attend the two universities (Oxford/Cambridge). The Oxford and Cambridge Society of India seeks to encourage students through its scholarships, who have ideally not been exposed to the Oxbridge experience. As a result, those students who are already enrolled at Oxford/Cambridge, or those currently in study programmes abroad, would be at a disadvantage, other things being equal.
• While it is an eligibility requirement for the candidate to have graduated from a university in India, there is an added preference that the final years of schooling have been completed from India. Therefore, students who are currently studying abroad would be at a significant disadvantage for the OCSI scholarship programme.
• Candidates who have already received commitments for full outside support should not apply; those who receive such support after being selected are required to inform the Oxford and Cambridge Society of India, so that the scholarship award(s) may then be offered to the next-ranked candidate.
• Candidates must also be aware of the responsibilities that being awarded a prestigious, part-cost scholarship at one of the world’s leading universities (Cambridge or Oxford) brings. There is an expectation that OCSI Scholars will use the education they gain at Cambridge or Oxford to become leaders in their field and give back to society in ways that they are best placed to do so. There is an expectation that OCSI Scholars will return to India in a reasonable time frame after completing their course of study at Cambridge or Oxford.

Scholarship Parameters

OCSI will evaluate candidates based on three broad dimensions, namely:

• Soft skills include presentation skills, clarity of thought and presentation, demeanor, and confidence.
• Hard skills include unique proposition in the field of study, impact on society in general, likely impact on India, consistent academic performance and Extra curricular activities.
• Financial means – Candidates may, on request, be required to give details of resources available to them with supporting documents. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of means and financial resources available to them. While means is not the overriding criteria, it will be given due deference while awarding any scholarship.

Candidates who are admitted to Oxford and Cambridge for any course may apply, including for undergraduate programs. Individual scholarships may be limited to specific universities, colleges or courses which will be specified separately. However, while considering applications, preference will be given to candidates pursuing graduate and research-based programmes including post-doctoral research.

• Application forms for OCSI scholarships will be available on the website of the Society by March every year.
• All application forms must be submitted online by June 7th, 2025.
• Candidates who are shortlisted for the interviews shall be informed by Mid-June 2025. The decision of the OCSI Scholarship Committee on the short-listing and selection of candidates shall be final.
• All short-listed candidates will be required to attend an interview with the OCSI scholarship committee tentatively  Mid-July 2025. Details of the interview shall be intimated to shortlisted candidates in due course.
• Award offers will normally be made to selected candidates by July 31, 2025.

• Online Application
• Academic Transcripts
• English Langauge Proficiency