University of Oxford BCL/MJur Needs-Based Bursaries 2027 – £20,000 Award

University of Oxford – Faculty of Law Master's Degree (BCL/MJur) United Kingdom

University of Oxford BCL/MJur Needs-Based Bursaries - £20,000 Award

Scholarship Description

The BCL and MJur Needs-Based Bursaries are offered by the Faculty of Law at the University of Oxford to support talented students who wish to undertake the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) or the Magister Juris (MJur) programmes. These prestigious bursaries were introduced in 2018–19 to further the Faculty's aim of making its programmes accessible to all students who are good enough to be admitted, regardless of their financial means.

The bursaries are awarded on the basis of financial need, not academic merit, and are designed to assist students who would otherwise be unable to take up their place at Oxford. The Faculty will be making available a number of £20,000 bursaries for students accepted for the BCL and MJur programmes. Up to 10 awards of up to £20,000 each are available each year.

Scholarship Location

The bursaries are tenable at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. The BCL and MJur programmes are delivered by the Faculty of Law, one of the oldest and most prestigious law faculties in the world. The awards are available to students at any Oxford college.

Scholarship Deadline

The application for the bursary is not a separate process. Applicants must first submit their BCL or MJur application to the University of Oxford by the January application deadline. After receiving an offer of a place, students will be invited to complete a Means Assessment Form to apply for the bursary.

BCL/MJur Application Deadline: 27 January 2027 (12:00 midday UK time)

Means Assessment Form: Sent with offer letters (typically March)

Bursary Decision Notification: April/May 2027

Course Begins: October 2027

Note: Applicants must submit their BCL and MJur applications to the University of Oxford by the January application deadline. The Means Assessment Form will be included in the offer letter, and students normally have from two to three weeks to complete it.

Host Institution

University of Oxford – Faculty of Law – The Faculty of Law at Oxford is one of the largest and most distinguished law faculties in the English-speaking world. The BCL is a taught master's programme of outstanding academic quality, and the MJur is its equivalent for students from non-common law jurisdictions. Both programmes are highly selective and attract top law graduates from around the world.

Level and Fields of Study

Level: Master's degree (postgraduate taught).

Eligible Programmes:

BCL (Bachelor of Civil Law) – A one-year taught master's programme for students who have completed a law degree in a common law jurisdiction.
MJur (Magister Juris) – A one-year taught master's programme for students who have completed a law degree in a non-common law (civil law) jurisdiction.

Duration: One year (full-time).

Target Group

The bursaries are open to all students who have been accepted for the BCL or MJur programmes, regardless of nationality or domicile. The awards are specifically targeted at students who demonstrate genuine financial need and who would not be able to attend Oxford without this support. There are no restrictions based on country of origin; both home and international students are eligible to apply.

The bursaries are intended to support students who are academically outstanding but face financial barriers to studying at Oxford. The Faculty is committed to ensuring that no student who is good enough to be admitted is prevented from attending due to financial constraints.

Scholarship Duration & Amount

Duration: One year.

Number of Awards: Up to 10 bursaries available.

Scholarship benefits include:

£20,000 award – A bursary of £20,000 to assist with the costs of the BCL or MJur programme.
Based on financial need – Awarded solely on the basis of demonstrated financial need, assessed through the Means Assessment Form.
Can be held with other awards – The bursaries will not prevent students from holding scholarships and bursaries from other sources, as long as the total does not exceed the value of the full costs of fees and maintenance for the programme.
College allocation – The award is available to students at any Oxford college.

📊 Summary of Benefits:
Award Value: £20,000
Duration: One year
Number of Awards: Up to 10
Basis: Financial need
Application: Means Assessment Form (after offer)

Scholarship Eligibility

Essential criteria for 2027:

Admission: Must have received an offer of a place on the BCL or MJur programme at the University of Oxford.
Application: Must have submitted the BCL/MJur application by the January deadline.
Financial Need: Must demonstrate genuine financial need through the Means Assessment Form.
Nationality: Open to all nationalities (both home and international students).
College: Available to students at any Oxford college.
Means Assessment: Must complete and submit the Means Assessment Form by the deadline specified in the offer letter.
Academic Standing: Must meet the academic conditions of the offer.

✅ Eligible Candidates

Students who have received an offer for the BCL or MJur programme.
Students who demonstrate genuine financial need.
Open to all nationalities (home and international students).
Students at any Oxford college.
Students who complete the Means Assessment Form by the deadline.
Students who meet the academic conditions of their offer.

❌ Ineligible Candidates

Students who have not applied for the BCL or MJur programme.
Students who do not receive an offer of a place.
Students who do not demonstrate financial need.
Students who fail to complete the Means Assessment Form.
Students who do not meet the academic conditions of their offer.
Students whose total funding exceeds the full cost of fees and maintenance.

Application Procedure

Apply for the BCL or MJur programme – Submit your application to the University of Oxford for the BCL or MJur by the January deadline (27 January 2027, 12:00 midday UK time).
Receive an offer of a place – If your application is successful, you will receive an offer letter from the Faculty of Law. The offer letter will include a link to the Means Assessment Form.
Complete the Means Assessment Form – The form will ask for information on your household composition, the income of your household members, your own income, the funds you have already secured towards your studies in Oxford, and the funding you have applied for but which is not yet confirmed, including other scholarships. You normally have from two to three weeks to complete the form.
Submit the form by the deadline – Ensure the Means Assessment Form is submitted by the deadline specified in your offer letter. Late submissions may not be considered.
Await notification – Funding decisions are typically released throughout April and May 2027. If you applied for the bursary, you can normally expect to receive a direct communication regarding the outcome.
Accept your award – If selected, you will need to accept the bursary and confirm your enrollment at the University of Oxford.

Important notes: There is no separate scholarship application form for the bursary beyond the Means Assessment Form. The information you provide will be used not only for the Needs-Based Bursaries but also for scholarships where financial need is one of the criteria. The bursary does not prevent you from holding other scholarships, as long as the total does not exceed the full cost of fees and maintenance.

Official Website & Application Link

BCL and MJur Needs-Based Bursaries – Official Oxford Page

Oxford Faculty of Law Funding: https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/law-student-funding/faculty-funding-new-taught-students

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💡 Final Thoughts and Key Requirements

The BCL and MJur Needs-Based Bursaries at the University of Oxford represent a significant opportunity for talented law graduates who would otherwise be unable to afford the costs of studying at Oxford. With up to 10 bursaries of £20,000 each available, this scheme reflects the Faculty of Law's commitment to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent the best students from accessing its world-class programmes.

Key strategies for a successful application:

Submit your BCL or MJur application by the January deadline – this is the essential first step, as you cannot be considered for the bursary without an offer.
Be prepared to provide detailed financial information through the Means Assessment Form, including household income, your own income, and any funding you have already secured or applied for.
Complete the Means Assessment Form promptly – you will typically have only two to three weeks after receiving your offer to submit it.
Remember that the bursary is based on financial need, not academic merit – be honest and thorough in documenting your financial circumstances.
You can hold other scholarships alongside this bursary, as long as the total does not exceed the full cost of fees and maintenance.
Keep an eye on your email during April and May, as this is when funding decisions are typically communicated.

Important reminders: The bursary is available to students at any Oxford college and is open to all nationalities. There is no separate scholarship application beyond the Means Assessment Form. The Faculty also offers a range of other scholarships, including merit-based awards and mixed-criteria awards, for which you may be automatically considered. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official Oxford Faculty of Law website.

University of Oxford BCL/MJur Needs-Based Bursaries 2027 – FAQ

What are the BCL/MJur Needs-Based Bursaries?

They are bursaries of £20,000 offered by the Oxford Faculty of Law to students accepted for the BCL or MJur programmes, awarded on the basis of financial need. Up to 10 bursaries are available each year.

What does the bursary cover?

The bursary provides a £20,000 award to assist with the costs of the BCL or MJur programme. It does not prevent you from holding other scholarships, as long as the total does not exceed the full cost of fees and maintenance.

Who is eligible to apply?

All students who have received an offer for the BCL or MJur programme, regardless of nationality. The bursary is awarded solely on the basis of financial need.

What is the application deadline?

The BCL/MJur application deadline is 27 January 2027 (12:00 midday UK time). After receiving an offer, you will be invited to complete the Means Assessment Form, which normally must be submitted within two to three weeks.

Do I need to submit a separate scholarship application?

No. The only additional form required is the Means Assessment Form, which will be included in your offer letter. There is no separate scholarship application.

How many bursaries are available?

Up to 10 bursaries of up to £20,000 each are available each year.

Can I hold other scholarships with this bursary?

Yes. The bursaries will not prevent students from holding scholarships and bursaries from other sources, as long as the total doesn't exceed the value of the full costs of fees and maintenance for the programme.

When will I know if I have been awarded a bursary?

Funding decisions are typically released throughout April and May 2027. You can normally expect to receive a direct communication regarding the outcome.