Applications for the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust's Scholarship and Leadership Programme are now open.
The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme supports the development of future global leaders by offering fully funded graduate scholarships complemented by a comprehensive leadership development programme, long-term mentoring, and access to an international professional network.
This scholarship forms part of the Oxford Graduate Scholarships, established through a pioneering matched funding initiative. Under this model, the University of Oxford contributes 40% of the funding, while the remaining 60% is generously provided by donors to the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust, including Fondation Hoffmann.
Leadership Development Programme
A key component of this scholarship is the year-long Leadership Programme, during which scholars participate in:
- Philosophical and ethical discussions
- Business and professional skills training
- Advanced communication and presentation workshops
- Participation in a dynamic and supportive leadership community
Further details are available on the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust website.
Funding Coverage
The scholarship provides:
- 100% of course fees, and
- A living-cost grant of at least £20,780, covering the full duration of your fee liability for the approved programme.
Please note:
Any costs not covered by the scholarship will be the responsibility of the applicant.
Eligibility Criteria
The programme supports exceptional graduates and professionals primarily from developing and emerging economies who would otherwise be unable to fund graduate study at Oxford.
Applicants must meet all the following requirements:
- Be applying to start a new full-time graduate course at the University of Oxford;
- Intend to return to their country of ordinary residence upon completing their studies;
- Demonstrate a clear connection between their field of study and long-term career goals, particularly how their work will contribute to improving public life in their home country, region, or internationally;
- Not hold a deferred offer for 2026–27;
- Not be a current Oxford student, unless already a Weidenfeld-Hoffmann scholar.
Additionally:
- Applicants must be ordinarily resident in an eligible country. South Africa is one of the eligible countries;
- Applicants must receive an offer for an eligible course.
Eligible courses
Law, Business, and Public Policy
- BCL Bachelor of Civil Law
- MBA Master of Business Administration
- MJur Magister Juris
- MPP Master of Public Policy
Humanities and Area Studies
- MSc African Studies
- MSt Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
- MSt Diplomatic Studies
- MSt Islamic Studies and History
- MSt Jewish Studies
- MSt Japanese Studies
- MSt Korean Studies
- MSc Latin American Studies
- MSt Slavonic Studies
- MSt Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Social Sciences and Global Affairs
- MSc Comparative Social Policy
- MSc Contemporary Chinese Studies
- MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice
- MSc Economics for Development
- MSc Education (Comparative and International Education)
- MSc Education (Digital and Social Change)
- MSc Education (Higher Education)
- MSc Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation
- MSc Global Governance and Diplomacy
- MSc Migration Studies
- MSc Refugee and Forced Migration Studies
- MSc Russian and East European Studies
- MSc Social Data Science
- MSc Social Science of the Internet
Science, Environment and Technology
- MSc Advanced Computer Science
- MSc Biodiversity, Conservation and Nature Recovery
- MSc Energy Systems
- MSc Environmental Change and Policy
- MSc Global Health Science and Epidemiology
- MSc Health Service Improvement and Evaluation
- MSc Law and Finance
- MSc Mathematical Modelling and Scientific Computing
- MSc Modern Middle Eastern Studies
- MSc Modern South Asian Studies
- MSc Nature, Society and Environmental Governance
- MSc Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment
- MSc Water Science, Policy and Management
How to Apply
To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must:
- Choose the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme under the University of Oxford Scholarships section of the graduate application.
- Apply for the chosen course by the relevant December or January deadline. Check individual course page for exact dates.
- Complete and upload the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships Statement together with the graduate application before the deadline.
Contact
For detailed application guidance, refer to the University of Oxford Application Guide.
Documents and links
Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust website
Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme course page
Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships Statement
Note
Please note that this opportunity is not offered by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Applicants are required to undertake their own research into programmes and institutions and are responsible for ensuring that the qualifications will be recognised in South Africa by contacting the South African Qualifications Authority and the relevant professional bodies. If there are any discrepancies in the details provided, the information given by the sponsor supersedes the details provided above. No additional financial support will be provided by the Department of Higher Education and Training.
