Political Leadership Scholarship — Master's Scholarship

The Political Leadership Scholarship supports up to three students each year on the University of Oxford Master of Public Policy. It is administered by the Blavatnik School of Government for offer-holders ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland.

Recipients study the full-time, 12-month MPP in Oxford. The scholarship seeks active party-political participants who plan to pursue elected local or national office within five years of graduation.

Benefits & funding

Full Master of Public Policy course fees.
A set amount toward living expenses; the published scholarship page does not state the figure.
Up to three scholarships are available each year and are distributed among residents of the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and mainland Great Britain.

Eligibility

Hold an offer for the Oxford Master of Public Policy.
Be ordinarily resident in the Republic of Ireland or the United Kingdom; nationality is not stated as an eligibility gate.
Be active in party politics and politically motivated to seek elected office in the near future.
Intend to seek elected local or national office within five years of graduation.
Demonstrate exceptional academic merit and potential. MPP admission normally requires a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours, or its equivalent.
There is no fixed work-experience minimum for the MPP; Oxford says most successful applicants have one or two years of experience.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

Residence required
Ireland · UK
Education required
Bachelor

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Application process

1
Submit the online Oxford MPP application by 12:00 midday UK time on 2 December 2026.
2
Complete the course application with transcripts, a CV, an 800-word statement of purpose, two written pieces, and three registered referees.
3
If offered an MPP place, complete the Blavatnik School of Government Scholarship Questionnaire sent to offer-holders.
4
Use the questionnaire to document academic merit, party-political activity, and the plan to seek elected office.

Program timeline

September 2026
Applications open for the 2027 MPP intake.
MPP application deadline.
2 December 2026, 12:00 midday UK time
MPP offer letters are issued.
Mid-to-late March 2027
After receiving an offer
Complete the Blavatnik School of Government Scholarship Questionnaire.
Funding arrangements are completed.
March–June 2027
MPP induction begins.
September 2027