Other funded programmes

It is also possible to become a DPhil student in NDORMS through admittance via other funded programmes. It is recommended that you also apply for these as this will increase your chances of securing funding.

Some of the major external scholarships relevant to Medical Sciences applicants are:

• The National Institutes of Health Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program funds US students to do a PhD at the NIH and Oxford.
• The NIH-Wellcome Trust Programme funds UK students to do a PhD at both the NIH and Oxford.
• The Joint Skaggs Oxford Programme funds students to do a PhD at the Scripps Research Institute and Department of Biochemistry in Oxford.
• Rhodes Scholarships support student from a range of countries to study at Oxford.
• Commonwealth Scholarships fund students from Commonwealth countries.
• China Scholarship Council funds students from China.
• Croucher Scholarships fund students from Hong Kong.
• A*Star funds Singaporean students.
• CNPq Scholarships support Brazilian students.

The main University Funding site lists many of these external scholarships.

There are also several schemes specifically for clinically-qualified applicants.

A-Z of Scholarships.

Henni Mester Studentship in Orthopaedics or Rheumatology (Nuffield Dept of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences)

A biennial fully-funded Henni Mester studentship is available to an outstanding candidate who applies for DPhil study in the area of arthritis or rheumatism within the Nuffield Dept of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (NDORMS). The next intake will be in October 2026.

3.5 years of full funding is available in partnership with the NDORMS annual studentship funding competition.

The studentship provides fees at the home rate and does not require an additional explicit application (although when making their online Oxford application candidates must either list University College as their preferred college, or be willing to migrate colleges to take up the award).

The Lord Nuffield and Girdlestone Scholarships

Two Full DPhil (PhD) Scholarships in Orthopaedic-related Surgical Research offered by NDORMS at the Botnar Research Centre, University of Oxford, first awarded in October 2023.

The Lord Nuffield and Girdlestone scholarships in orthopaedic surgical research were established in 1937 after a generous endowment by Lord Nuffield.

These scholarships are awarded every 3 years and support Orthopaedic Surgeons in training (in the UK), who wish to undertake research at the Botnar Institute of Musculoskeletal Sciences, at the University of Oxford. These awards include a tax-free bursary, tuition fees at the home rate and support for consumables over a 3-year period.

If not applying for an advertised project, applicants must contact potential supervisor(s) to plan a project and to ensure that any planned proposal is within the remit of the scholarships. In case of any queries, please contact graduate.studies@ndorms.ox.ac.uk. 

Applicants should apply for the D.Phil in Musculoskeletal Sciences and use the course code RD_ML2.

The Girdlestone Scholarship is available for October 2026 entry.