The Scholarship
Launched in 2021, the Robert Allen Perkins Scholarship is for economically disadvantaged Black British students.
It is open to applicants that both identify as Black British and qualify for an Oxford Bursary – having a household income of under £42,875 – and have already made a successful application to the University of Oxford.
The scholarship will provide a fully-funded place at Oxford for three or four years, depending on the duration of the course studied. Successful students will receive not only a full grant to cover the course fees, but also a significant grant towards living costs, with the aim of allowing the recipients to graduate debt free. The estimated level of fees for 2022-23 is £9,250, while the grant for living costs is £6,500.
Hear from our current Robert Allen Perkins scholar, Manuella.
Please note that the next Robert Allen Perkins Scholarship will be available for the 2024-25 Admissions cycle (2025 entry).
How to apply
Candidates must have made an application to the University of Oxford for an undergraduate course through UCAS by 15 October 2021, and be successful in gaining a place for entry in 2022.
Priority will be given to applicants whose household income is assessed as £27,500 or less. Applicants with a household income of between £27,500 and £42,875 may also apply.
Once candidates have received an offer letter from their College they must supply a statement of between 500 and 1,000 words explaining why the scholarship would be beneficial to your studies at Oxford, how it would help you to achieve your academic goals, and how your education would be of future benefit to your community and/or society. This should be emailed to admissions@new.ox.ac.uk
The selection process for the first year of the scholarship will be undertaken in spring 2022 and applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application in summer 2022.
Scholar reporting
Scholars would be required to submit an annual report to the College, outlining how the scholarship has benefited their studies during the academic year and sharing brief details about how their course is progressing. This information would be shared with the donor funding the scholarship each year to enable them to follow their journey at Oxford and gain an insight into the opportunities the scholarship brings.
Further information
Applicants will be required to have applied to the Student Finance agency in their home region (England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland) for an assessment of their household income and to have agreed for household income to be shared with the University of Oxford. If an applicant is successful in their scholarship application it is their responsibility to cancel their Student Finance loan support.
Priority will be given to successful applicants to New College and to applicants whose household income is assessed as £27,500 or less. Applicants with a household income of between £27,500 and £42,875 may also apply.
Scholars will be expected to write a report at the end of their first term as well as an annual report about their academic and social activities, and achievements at the University.
Receipt of the award in subsequent years is subject to satisfactory academic progress which will be monitored through termly tutorial reports.
Scholars will also be assessed to receive an Oxford Bursary or Crankstart Scholarship in addition to the New College Scholarship.
Any other external sources of funding may be taken into account in determining the value of the Scholarship.
If you have any questions about the scholarship, or about admissions at New College generally, please email admissions@new.ox.ac.uk