The Martingale Foundation has announced a major expansion of its postgraduate scholarship programme for STEM students. By the end of the decade, it will support 800 scholars across partner universities including Oxford. Applications for 2026 entry are now open.
The scholarships provide fully funded support to postgraduate students from low socio-economic backgrounds, enabling them to pursue research at top UK universities. They cover tuition fees, research costs, and a tax-free living stipend. Scholars also receive access to mentoring, leadership training, and academic networking opportunities.
Since launching in 2022, the Foundation has supported over 100 Scholars across ten UK universities. At Oxford, students have already been supported in mathematical sciences. New opportunities are emerging in artificial intelligence, data science, and biomedical research.
For statistics students, Oxford offers several pathways through the programme. The Oxford Masters in Mathematical Sciences is taught jointly by the Department of Statistics and the Mathematical Institute. Students can tailor their studies across mathematics and statistics, choosing from options spanning probability and mathematical geoscience to data mining and machine learning.
The MSc in Statistical Science offers dedicated statistical training. The twelve-month programme focuses on modern computationally-intensive theory and methods. Students learn to solve real-world statistical problems. They train in applied and computational statistics, statistical machine learning, and fundamental principles of statistical inference. The programme includes hands-on computer laboratory sessions and substantial dissertation research.
Students can also access statistics-focused research through artificial intelligence pathways. Both the MSc in Advanced Computer Science and MSc in Mathematics and Foundations of Computer Science incorporate significant statistical and computational elements. These are essential for modern data science applications.
At doctoral level, several programmes support statistical research. The DPhil in Mathematics enables original statistical research. The DPhil in Fundamentals of AI focuses on computational statistics and machine learning foundations. The DPhil in Autonomous Intelligent Machines and Systems provides opportunities to develop statistical methods for intelligent systems.
The expansion is supported by over £25 million in donor funding. Major contributors include XTX Markets, Google DeepMind, UK Atomic Energy Authority, and Alzheimer's Research UK. XTX Markets, the founding donor, has pledged an additional £10.5 million. This will support more than 100 Masters and PhD Scholarships, including new focus areas in AI and data science.
Full details are available at martingale.foundation.