Imagine spending five months at Oxford, doing nothing but your own research, surrounded by some of the world's leading minds on the Islamic world — with every bill paid. That is exactly what the Chevening Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS) Fellowship 2027 offers. A collaboration between the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, this fellowship is built for mid-career professionals and academics whose work deepens the understanding of Islamic culture and civilisation and contemporary Muslim societies. Six exceptional candidates will be selected to carry out self-directed research at OCIS from October 2027 to March 2028 — and applications close on 6 October 2026, so the clock is ticking.
In short: The Chevening OCIS Fellowship 2027 is a fully funded five-month research fellowship at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, University of Oxford, for mid-career professionals and academics from eligible countries including Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, and Indonesia. It covers living expenses, return economy airfare, and a research allowance. The application deadline is 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC.
Quick Overview
- Host Country: United Kingdom
- Host Institution: Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies (OCIS), University of Oxford
- Degree Level: Fellowship for mid-career professionals and academics (not a degree program)
- Program Duration: 5 months (October 2027 – March 2028)
- Funding Type: Fully funded
- Deadline: 6 October 2026, 11:00 UTC
Benefits of the Chevening OCIS Fellowship 2027
Each fellowship includes the following, according to the official Chevening fellowship details:
- Five-month research residency — Spend five months at OCIS in Oxford pursuing your own self-directed research project.
- Living expenses covered — Your living costs are covered for the full duration of the fellowship.
- Return economy airfare — A return economy flight between your home country and the UK is included.
- Research allowance package — An allowance is provided for research-related activities during the fellowship.
- No application fee — There is no fee to apply for this fellowship.
- World-class academic access — You gain access to OCIS's academic resources, mentorship, seminars, and a multidisciplinary network of scholars focused on the Islamic world.
- Cultural and policy events — Fellows can take part in cultural events and activities organised by the FCDO and the Chevening Secretariat, sharpening leadership and policy insight.
Eligibility Criteria for the Chevening OCIS Fellowship 2027
In addition to meeting the standard Chevening fellowship criteria, you must:
- Be a citizen and resident of an eligible country — You must be a citizen of one of the following countries AND resident in one of these countries at the point of application: Afghanistan*, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Senegal, Sudan*, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, or Uzbekistan. (*Under current UK rules, Afghan and Sudanese citizens cannot obtain a UK Study Visa, but this does not affect fellowship visa routes — they remain eligible.)
- Hold a postgraduate qualification — You must hold a postgraduate-level qualification, or equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant area, at the time of application.
- Have at least five years of experience — You need significant professional and/or academic research experience — at least five years. This is a mid-career fellowship, not an early-career one.
- Have a genuine research focus — Your work should contribute to a more informed understanding of Islamic culture and civilisation and contemporary Muslim societies, across areas such as Islamic history, classical Islamic sciences, Islamic economics and finance, public health, science and technology in the Muslim world, Muslims in the West, international relations, interfaith dialogue, and policy.
How to Apply for the Chevening OCIS Fellowship 2027
Applications go through the official Chevening application system. Here is the process:
1. Confirm your eligibility — Check that your citizenship and residency match the eligible country list, and that you hold a postgraduate qualification (or equivalent experience) with at least five years of professional or research experience. 2. Draft your research proposal — Prepare a short research proposal covering your topic, your main research question, and how you plan to carry out the research during the five months at OCIS. 3. Go to the Chevening application system — Start your application on asams.chevening.org, the official Chevening application portal. 4. Complete the fellowship application — Fill in the online form with your personal details, education, career history, and research proposal. 5. Submit before the deadline — Applications must be submitted by 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC. Late submissions are not accepted. 6. Attend interviews if shortlisted — Shortlisted candidates go through a two-stage interview process: embassies or high commissions assess suitability and motivation, and OCIS representatives focus on your research proposal.
Required Documents
Based on the official fellowship guidance, prepare the following:
- Completed fellowship application form (online)
- Short research proposal (topic, main research question, and research plan)
- Academic and professional CV
- Proof of postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional training/experience
Chevening OCIS Fellowship 2027 Deadline
The application deadline is 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC. Because the system operates on a strict cutoff, treat 5 October as your real deadline — upload your proposal early in case of technical issues. After submission, the reading committee assesses applications (around November to December 2026), interviews take place in stages, and results are typically announced around June 2027, ahead of the October 2027 start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Chevening OCIS Fellowship 2027 fully funded?
Yes. It covers living expenses for the five-month duration, a return economy flight between your home country and the UK, and an allowance package for research-related activities. There is no application fee.
How many fellows are selected?
Six exceptional candidates are selected for the fellowship each year.
Who is this fellowship for?
Mid-career professionals and academics with at least five years of significant professional or academic research experience, whose work relates to Islamic culture and civilisation or contemporary Muslim societies.
Can Pakistani applicants apply?
Yes. Pakistan is on the eligible country list, along with countries such as Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria, Malaysia, Turkey, and others. You must be both a citizen and resident of an eligible country when you apply.
Do I need a PhD to apply?
Not necessarily. You need a postgraduate-level qualification OR equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant area. A master's degree plus strong professional experience can be enough.
What should my research proposal include?
A short proposal explaining your research topic, your main research question, and how you plan to carry out the research during your five months at OCIS. This proposal is central to the second interview stage, so make it specific and feasible.
Is there an age limit?
The official criteria do not state an age limit. The key filters are the five-year experience requirement and mid-career standing, so most fellows are established professionals.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?
No English test is listed among the requirements. However, you will be working in English at Oxford, so strong English proficiency is expected in practice.
How competitive is the fellowship?
Very. Only six fellows are chosen from across all eligible countries each year, so your proposal and track record need to stand out. The two-stage interview means both motivation and research quality are tested.
Can I apply for the Chevening Scholarship and this fellowship in the same year?
The Chevening Scholarship (for master's study) and the OCIS Fellowship are separate programs with different applicant profiles — one for emerging leaders seeking a master's, the other for established mid-career researchers. Check the official Chevening guidance before applying to more than one scheme in the same cycle.
Final Words
The Chevening OCIS Fellowship is not a generic award — it is a rare, fully funded invitation to spend five months thinking, writing, and researching at Oxford. If you have five years of serious work behind you and a research question worth five months of someone's time, this is your lane. But move quickly: 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC is a hard cutoff.
