Felix Scholarship 2026-27: Eligibility, Stipend in INR, and How to Apply at Oxford, SOAS, and Reading

What the Felix Scholarship Covers for Indian Postgraduate Students

The Felix Scholarship is fully funded. It covers every major cost of postgraduate study in the UK for the duration of your fee liability, up to three years for PhD students.

Conversion rate used throughout: £1 = Rs.124.82 (as of June 2026). Verify the current rate before budgeting.

Sources: University of Oxford Felix Scholarships page | University of Reading Felix Scholarships page | SOAS Felix Scholarships page

Counselor insight: The living grant figure matters a lot for your budget planning. Oxford’s £19,000 (Rs.23,71,580) is higher than Reading’s £17,894 (Rs.22,33,145) because London and Oxford cost more. Neither grant covers a spouse’s expenses. If you are married, your partner has to fund themselves independently. Do not rely on finding your spouse employment in the UK quickly; in practice it can take months. 

For more fully funded scholarships in UK worth applying alongside Felix, check that guide.

Felix Scholarship Eligibility for Indian Students (and Non-Indian Applicants)

Indian Applicants

To be eligible for the Felix Scholarship as an Indian student, you must meet all of the following criteria as stated on the Felix Scholarship Trust’s official website:

• Hold at least a first-class bachelor’s degree from a recognized Indian university. In exceptional cases, a candidate with an upper second-class degree combined with a first-class master’s degree from India may be considered.
• Be an Indian national who is currently living and studying in India. You must not be ordinarily resident outside India at the time of application.
• Not have studied outside India for one year or more (study completed while on a previous Felix award is excluded from this rule).
• Demonstrate financial need. The scholarship is not merit-only; financial background is assessed at every stage.
• Commit to returning to India after completing your studies. Every successful scholar signs a letter of undertaking to this effect.
• Apply for a full-time postgraduate program (master’s or PhD) at Oxford, SOAS, or the University of Reading. Part-time courses, distance learning, MBAs, medicine, and pre-sessional English programs are not eligible.
• Not hold a degree at the same level as the one being applied for. For example, if you already hold a master’s degree, you cannot apply for a master’s scholarship. Only a PhD award is possible in this case.

Non-Indian Applicants

Each of the three universities offers one non-Indian scholarship seat. At Oxford, the non-Indian seat is awarded to a national of an OECD DAC “Other Low Income Country” or “Least Developed Country,” excluding India. No in-person interview is held for non-Indian applicants at Oxford. At SOAS, the non-Indian scholarship currently prioritizes nationals of Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Iraq, and the Palestinian territories living in their country of origin at the master’s level only. At Reading, one scholarship targets candidates from developing countries, primarily Africa; other nationalities require Felix Trustee approval.

Counselor insight: The financial need bar is real, not a formality. If your family can fund part of your fees, you may still qualify, but you must document why you cannot cover the full cost. A bank statement alone is not enough. Income certificates, Form 16, and parent salary slips are typically expected.

How to Apply for the Felix Scholarship at Oxford, SOAS, and Reading

The application process is different at each university. Read the correct section for your chosen institution.

University of Oxford

At Oxford, there is no separate Felix Scholarship application form. As confirmed on the official Oxford Felix Scholarships page:

1. Apply for your chosen postgraduate course by the relevant December or January funding deadline for that course. Check your specific course page on the Oxford graduate admissions site. Deadlines vary by program.
2. In the “Nationality and Ordinary Residence” section of your graduate application form, ensure your details are accurate. Oxford uses this information to assess Felix eligibility automatically.
3. Do not apply after the December/January deadline in the hope of being considered in the March window. Course applications held over to the March deadline are not eligible for Felix consideration.
4. Shortlisted Indian applicants may be asked to complete a short questionnaire, followed by an in-person interview in New Delhi or Bangalore.
5. Decisions are expected by the end of May 2026.

SOAS University of London

At SOAS, Felix’s consideration is not automatic. You must submit a separate scholarship application in addition to your program application. The full process is outlined on the SOAS Felix Scholarships page:

1. Apply for a full-time master’s or PhD program at SOAS as soon as possible. Give yourself enough time: the department can take up to 4 weeks (sometimes 6 weeks during busy periods) to process an admission application.
2. Once you have your admission application submitted, complete the separate electronic Felix Scholarship application form.
3. Submit your complete Felix application by 12 noon UK local time on 2 March 2026. Late or incomplete applications are not considered.
4. The SOAS panel will notify only shortlisted candidates by March 2026.
5. Shortlisted candidates are invited for an online interview conducted by members of the Felix Trust, not SOAS staff. Interviews take place between April and May 2026.
6. Successful candidates are notified by June 2026.

Note: SOAS also offers a PhD Felix pathway for Felix master’s alumni who have obtained a distinction at SOAS. If you are a prior Felix scholar with a SOAS distinction, you can apply for this route directly.

University of Reading

At Reading, you apply for admission first and then complete a separate Felix form.

1. Apply for a full-time postgraduate program at Reading through the university admissions system.
2. On receiving a confirmed admission offer, complete the Felix Scholarship form via the me@reading applicant portal.
3. The 2026 entry scholarship is now closed. For 2027 entry, check the Reading website from late 2026 for updated deadlines.
4. Shortlisting takes place in March and April.
5. Shortlisted candidates attend an interview in India (in person or Zoom) between April and May.
6. Deferral of the award is not permitted. Scholars who cannot start in the offered session lose the scholarship.

Counselor insight: At SOAS and Reading, if your admission offer is conditional on IELTS, book your test immediately after applying. The panel will not wait for a pending result. Aim for IELTS 6.5 overall as a minimum baseline and check your specific program page for the exact requirement.

Felix Scholarship Application Deadlines and Planning Calendar for Indian Students

Month-by-Month Planning Calendar: 2027-28 Entry (Indian Academic Year)

Documents Required for the Felix Scholarship Application

For SOP help specific to scholarship applications, see LeapScholar’s SOP for scholarship guide.

Which Felix Scholarship University Should You Apply To?

1. If you are a final-year undergraduate or recent graduate from an Indian university with a first-class degree in humanities, development studies, economics, politics, law, or a South/Southeast Asia-related discipline: 

SOAS is your strongest academic fit. It is the only Felix University with a distinct non-Indian scholarship for candidates from conflict-affected countries, and its programs are specifically structured around Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The SOAS Felix process requires a separate application, so plan your timeline around the 2 March deadline. 

See SOAS scholarships for the broader funding picture at SOAS.

2. If you are applying for a DPhil (PhD) or a master’s at Oxford in any subject other than medicine: 

Felix’s consideration at Oxford does not add any extra cost. You tick a box and submit your course application by the December or January funding deadline. The highest-value living grant (£19,000 / Rs.23,71,580 per year) is at Oxford. The admission bar is also the highest, so pair your Felix application with a competitive research proposal and strong IELTS. 

See how to get into Oxford from India for the admissions guide.

3. If you are a prior Felix scholar who completed a SOAS master’s with a distinction: You are eligible for the SOAS PhD Felix pathway, a route very few students know exists. Felix master’s alumni with a distinction can apply for a PhD Felix Scholarship at SOAS through the same scholarship application channel. This is one of the only automatic progression routes in any UK postgraduate scholarship scheme. 

For the broader PhD funding landscape, see UK PhD scholarships for Indian students.

Counselor insight: The Felix interview tests your fit with the specific institution. A student whose SOP clearly connects to SOAS’s Asia/Africa focus will outperform one who is hedging across all three universities. Pick the program that genuinely fits your research interest first, then build your application around it.

What to Do When Things Go Wrong with Your Felix Scholarship Application

• You missed the Oxford December/January deadline: Oxford is strict with its deadlines. Course applications held over to the March deadline, or placed on a waiting list, are not eligible for Felix consideration. If you miss the December/January window, you cannot apply for Felix at Oxford that cycle. Plan your Oxford application well before the deadline, not in the final week.
• Your SOAS or Reading admission offer is conditional on IELTS: The Felix panel at SOAS and Reading will not wait for a pending IELTS result. Book your IELTS test immediately after submitting your university application. If you do not have a confirmed English proficiency result by the time the scholarship panel meets, your application will be weakened or disqualified. The Felix Scholarship also does not cover pre-sessional English courses.
• You did not hear back after the results date: Oxford states clearly on its Felix Scholarships page, “If you have not heard from us by the end of May 2026, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.” Unsuccessful applicants are not contacted individually, and no feedback is provided. Do not wait for a rejection email. It will not come.
• You received the Felix Scholarship but cannot start on time: Deferral of the Felix award is not permitted at any of the three universities. If you are offered a Felix Scholarship for September/October 2026 and cannot start that session, you lose the scholarship. Apply only when you are genuinely ready to begin your studies that academic year.
• You are married: No extra allowance is granted. Your spouse’s accommodation and living costs in the UK are entirely your responsibility. Married accommodation exists at participating universities but comes with long waiting lists and is not guaranteed. 

For UK scholarships for Indian students to apply alongside Felix, see our guide.

3 Takeaways on Felix Scholarship for Indian Students

• First, confirm that you meet all three non-negotiable eligibility conditions: first-class undergraduate degree from an Indian university, current residence in India, and a demonstrable financial need. If any one of these is missing, address it before applying.
• Second, if Oxford is your target, your only task is to submit a strong course application by the December or January funding deadline. No separate scholarship form exists. Every minute spent looking for one is wasted. It does not exist.
• Third, SOAS and Reading require a separate Felix application with a hard submission deadline. At SOAS, the deadline is 12 noon UK time on 2 March. Submit your university application as early as October or November, not two weeks before the scholarship deadline: processing takes up to 6 weeks, and you need a complete admission application in the system before the scholarship panel meets.

Verified by: LeapScholar’s UK counseling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian students through Felix Scholarship applications, Oxford and SOAS admissions, and UK student visa processes.

Have questions about the Felix Scholarship or UK postgraduate admissions? Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor.

Frequently Asked Questions About Felix Scholarship for Indian Students