Full Program Details
The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) is funding doctoral study at the University of Oxford for October 2027 entry. Graduate Ellison Scholars get a funded full-time DPhil, and applications to EIT close at 5pm UK time on Tuesday 1 December 2026. Nigerian and other African graduates are not excluded: EIT says it looks for candidates from around the world and publishes no nationality restriction. One route, Correlates of Immunity, has an earlier deadline of 16 November 2026.
Funded full-time DPhil at Oxford, with tuition and a living stipend. Apply to EIT by 5pm UK time on 1 December 2026.
Details at a glance:
- Programme: Graduate Ellison Scholars, run by the Ellison Institute of Technology, for DPhil (PhD) study at the University of Oxford
- Entry: October 2027, full-time DPhil only (EIT does not fund Master's degrees)
- Deadline: 5pm UK time, Tuesday 1 December 2026 (EIT reviews applications as they arrive, so earlier is better)
- Nationality: no restriction published; EIT says it seeks candidates from around the world
- Cost to apply: EIT lists no application fee; Oxford's own application is a separate step
- Official source: EIT graduate page and FAQs (linked below)
What It Covers
According to the EIT FAQs, a Graduate Ellison Scholarship covers:
- Tuition fees for the length of the course
- A living-cost stipend for Oxford (EIT does not state the amount)
- Travel and conference costs
- Personal technology setup
- Arrival costs, including flights, visa charges and healthcare access
EIT describes the programme as fully funded doctoral study, and scholars also get mentorship from researchers in their field. Three Oxford routes have their own funding packages: the Generative Biology DTP, the Fundamentals of AI CDT and Correlates of Immunity. Check the package for your route before you apply.
Who Can Apply
- You must meet Oxford's entry requirements for your chosen DPhil course. These are set by Oxford and vary by course.
- You can apply in your final degree year; offers are conditional on meeting the entry requirements.
- EIT scores applicants against six criteria: Alignment, Excellence, Innovation, Collaboration, Tenacity and Integrity. For Excellence, it cites examples such as a first-class degree, a Master's distinction or a GPA of at least 3.7 out of 4.
- Fields named include computer science, AI, economics, mathematics, robotics, plant sciences, machine learning, chemistry, biology, engineering, medicine and microbiology.
- You can submit up to two graduate applications. Only full-time DPhil study is funded.
Research areas run through EIT projects: Pathogen Programme, Materials and Devices for Life Sciences, Plant Biology and Economics apply through the EIT portal. AI and Robotics and Generative Biology apply directly to Oxford through their own courses, and strong offer holders may then be nominated for funding. Correlates of Immunity is a two-stage EIT route with an earlier deadline of 16 November 2026, applied for through an Airtable form linked from the EIT research areas page. EIT makes the final funding decision.
How to Apply
- Pick a research area and project on the EIT research areas page, and read the selection criteria.
- For the Pathogen, Materials and Devices, Plant Biology and Economics areas, apply through the EIT graduate application portal before 5pm UK time on 1 December 2026.
- For AI and Robotics and Generative Biology, apply through the relevant Oxford course by Oxford's own deadline (check the Oxford course page for the date). For Correlates of Immunity, the EIT page lists a Stage 1 deadline of 16 November 2026.
- If EIT selects you, you receive a conditional funding offer and then apply to Oxford through its normal admissions process. An Oxford offer confirms you as a Graduate Ellison Scholar.
- Questions go to scholars@eit.org.
Timeline
- Mid-September to 1 December 2026: EIT application window (Correlates of Immunity: 16 November)
- January to March 2027: conditional funding offers and Oxford applications
- April 2027: scholars announced
- October 2027: studies begin
GizPulse Verdict
Who this is for: Nigerian and African graduates with a first-class degree, a Master's distinction or a GPA near 3.7 of 4 (the examples EIT gives for Excellence, not cutoffs), a clear research fit in biology, materials, plant science, economics, AI or robotics, and the ability to name a project they want to work on. Final-year students can apply.
Who should pause: Anyone who wants a Master's (not funded), a part-time course, or a field outside the listed areas. Also pause if you have not yet checked Oxford's own entry requirements, because EIT funding only follows an Oxford offer.
One tip to stand out: Attend an information session and the Project Q&A with the EIT project team before you apply, then write to the project you actually fit. EIT lists Alignment first among its criteria.
Last checked: 24 October 2026 on the official EIT pages. EIT does not publish the stipend amount or an English language requirement, so email scholars@eit.org for those, and check Oxford's course pages for the AI and Robotics and Generative Biology deadlines.
Apply and read the full rules on the official Graduate Ellison Scholars page and the EIT FAQs.
Applying for other Oxford funding? Compare the Clarendon Scholarship and the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship.
