Undergraduate Ellison Scholars
Education, Innovation and Solving Global Problems
Alongside their studies at the University of Oxford, Undergraduate Ellison Scholars work on cutting-edge EIT projects that aim to direct their efforts towards positive global impact. These research and innovation projects, conducted as internships, are central to the Undergraduate Ellison Scholars programme. We seek academically excellent individuals who have put their knowledge and passion into action and have the ambition to make a real impact.
Scholars collaborate with each other and with world-leading experts to solve real-world problems, while pursuing a fully-funded undergraduate degree in any discipline at the world-leading University of Oxford. Selection for this programme is highly competitive.
We are particularly interested in students with skills in fields such as computer science, artificial intelligence, economics, mathematics, robotics, plant sciences, machine learning, chemistry, biology, engineering, medicine or microbiology. This list is not exhaustive and strong candidates who believe they have skills that would benefit one of our projects are welcome to apply.
Internships for undergraduate Ellison Scholars
The internships include time at EIT during the vacation periods. Undergraduate Ellison Scholars will work with EIT teams on existing EIT projects that aim to solve big global problems through the advancement and translation of science and technology. Those internship projects will span one or more of the following humane endeavours, which provide focus areas for the global problems that EIT is trying to solve:
Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology
Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
Climate Change & Managing Atmospheric CO2
Artificial Intelligence & Robotics
Application Timeline
This is the timeline for the application journey for undergraduates. Application guidance, further details around entry requirements and other frequently asked questions can be found in our FAQs section.
May – July 2026
Applications open on 1 May and close on 31 July.
August – October 2026
Semi-finalists are selected. They then apply to the University of Oxford and follow the University’s separate and independent admissions process which takes place between October and December.
January – February 2027
Semi-finalists who receive an offer from the University of Oxford automatically progress to the finalist stage. Following the final selection process, Ellison Scholars are chosen from the pool of finalists.
March – April 2027
Ellison Scholars are selected, onboarded, and announced, and are supported by the Education & Scholarships team as they prepare for their arrival in Oxford.
October 2027
Ellison Scholars start their first academic year at the University of Oxford and their engagement with EIT Oxford.
Undergraduate eligibility
Applicants will need to meet the University of Oxford’s entry requirements for their chosen undergraduate course.
Applicants must have, or be on track to be awarded, a secondary education/high school leaving qualification, diploma or certificate accepted by the University of Oxford
Applicants must have met, or be on track to meet, the minimum grade requirements for their chosen undergraduate course
Applicants must have met, or be on track to meet, the University’s English language requirements for their chosen undergraduate course
Eligible applicants must also meet our selection criteria before starting an application
Applicants who do not meet these criteria are strongly dissuaded from applying for this scholarship opportunity.
What do we look for?
Alignment
Applicants must show alignment and commitment to EIT’s vision by demonstrating a deep understanding of global challenges in at least one of EIT’s four Humane Endeavours, evidenced by experience and achievements relevant to an EIT project.
Excellence
They are high-performers who demonstrate outstanding academic achievements, intellectual curiosity and the ability to apply knowledge critically and effectively to solve complex challenges.
Innovation
They are visionary learners who embrace technological advancements with creativity, challenge the status quo and explore innovative solutions to achieve transformative outcomes.
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Collaboration
They are trusted collaborators who build strong relationships, foster teamwork and demonstrate the ability to bring people together to achieve success.
Tenacity
They are tenacious achievers who view setbacks as opportunities to learn and adapt, and demonstrate resilience and determination to overcome challenges and achieve success.
Integrity
They are trustworthy people who value honesty, foster openness and build trust through commitment to collective success.
Explore our resources
We've created these resources so you can explore the Undergraduate Ellison Scholars programme further. We encourage you to register for one of our online information sessions, where you can meet our team and ask any questions you might have about the opportunity.
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