Chevening OCIS Fellowship 2027 in the United Kingdom | Fully Funded — UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies

Five months in Oxford, a small handpicked cohort, and eligibility restricted to citizens of roughly two dozen named countries spanning the Muslim world. The Chevening OCIS Fellowship funds independent research on Islamic civilization and contemporary Muslim societies, hosted at one of the field’s most respected academic centers.

A partnership between the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, the fellowship treats intercivilizational dialogue as central to its mission, not incidental to it.

About the Scholarship

Fellows conduct self-directed research on a topic connected to the culture and civilization of Islam and contemporary Muslim societies, spending five months in residence at OCIS in Oxford. The scope is genuinely broad within that frame, spanning Islamic history and classical sciences, public policy, economics and Islamic finance, science and technology in the Muslim world, and the experience of Muslims in Western societies. Fellows work alongside a multidisciplinary group of scholars focused on the Islamic world, developing contacts and engaging directly with academics who bring both Islamic and Western perspectives to shared questions.

Applicants must submit a short research proposal identifying their main research question and explaining how the work would be conducted while resident at OCIS. Because eligibility is restricted to citizens of a specific list of countries across the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and North and West Africa, the fellowship functions as a targeted capacity-building program rather than an open global competition. Applicants weighing other short, prestigious UK-based research fellowships sometimes also compare it to the New York Public Library Cullman Center Fellowships, a similarly structured residential fellowship for scholars and writers, though based in New York rather than Oxford and open to a global applicant pool.

Scholarship Benefits

• Return economy airfare
• An allowance package for research-related activities
• Living expenses for the full five-month duration
• A structured five-month residency at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies
• Participation in mentorship programs and seminars alongside a multidisciplinary scholarly community
• Access to world-class academic resources at Oxford
• Development of leadership skills, policy insight, and intercultural engagement
• Membership in a global professional network of Chevening alumni and OCIS-affiliated scholars

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a citizen of one of the eligible countries: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iraq, Indonesia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Nigeria, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Senegal, the Philippines, Syria, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Turkey, or Uzbekistan
• Must hold a postgraduate degree, or equivalent professional education or experience, in a related field at the time of application
• Must have at least five years of substantial academic or professional research experience
• Must meet the standard Chevening fellowship eligibility criteria in addition to the OCIS-specific requirements
• Must reside in Oxford for the full duration of the fellowship, with OCIS able to advise on accommodation options once selected

Fields of Study Covered

• Islamic history and classical Islamic sciences
• Public policy and Islamic finance
• Economics
• Science and technology in the Muslim world
• Muslims in Western societies
• International relations, interfaith dialogue, and diplomacy connected to the Muslim world

Required Documents

• A short research proposal identifying the main research question and outlining how it would be pursued while resident at OCIS
• Evidence of a postgraduate degree or equivalent professional education and experience
• Documentation of at least five years of academic or professional research experience
• Standard Chevening application materials confirming citizenship and eligibility

How to Apply (Step-by-Step)

1. Confirm your citizenship falls within the eligible country list before starting an application.
2. Visit the official Chevening application platform and select your home country.
3. Choose the OCIS fellowship from the list of programs available for your country.
4. Review the fellowship-specific eligibility criteria carefully.
5. Draft your short research proposal, clearly identifying your research question and methodology.
6. Complete the online application form and upload all required documents.
7. Submit before 6 October 2026.

Selection Process

Reviewers assess the clarity and originality of the research proposal alongside the applicant’s demonstrated academic or professional research experience, since the fellowship exists to fund genuine, self-directed scholarship rather than general professional development. Because the cohort is small and drawn from a defined set of countries each year, fit with OCIS’s specific interdisciplinary community, spanning Islamic and Western scholarly perspectives, also factors into selection.

Tips to Improve Your Chances

• Ground your research proposal in a specific, answerable question rather than a broad survey of Islamic civilization or Muslim societies generally
• Clearly explain how five months in residence at OCIS specifically, rather than research conducted remotely, would shape your findings
• Draw on your professional or academic experience to show sustained engagement with your proposed topic, not just current interest
• Applicants interested in comparable international, area-focused postdoctoral opportunities might also look at the Harvard Academy Scholars Program, a longer US-based fellowship for social science and law researchers focused on regions outside the US and Canada
• Be ready to describe how your research connects to real policy or intercultural dialogue outcomes, since the fellowship values impact beyond pure scholarship

Frequently Asked Questions

Which countries are eligible to apply?

Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iraq, Indonesia, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Nigeria, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Senegal, the Philippines, Syria, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

How long is the fellowship?

Fellows spend five months in residence at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies.

Do I need an advanced degree to apply?

You need a postgraduate degree or equivalent professional education or experience, along with at least five years of academic or professional research experience.

Where do fellows live during the program?

Fellows reside in Oxford for the full five months; OCIS provides guidance on accommodation options once fellows are selected.

Is this fellowship only for academics?

No. It welcomes both mid-career academics and professionals whose work connects to modern Muslim societies and Islamic civilization, not exclusively university-based researchers.

What kind of research proposal works best?

A proposal with a clear, specific research question and a realistic plan for how the five-month residency at OCIS would support answering it, rather than a broad thematic interest in Islamic studies generally.