Organ scholarships
Organ scholars are students (usually undergraduates) who direct or assist with the music in a college chapel. The nature and scope of the responsibilities varies from college to college: you could be working with an experienced choral director as organist and/or assistant conductor of a choir that sings several times a week, or you could be recruiting your own team of singers and working directly with your college chaplain to organise music in one or two services per week. There is huge variety, so it’s worth giving thought to how your application matches the duties and responsibilities you find most attractive. All organ scholars study toward a degree alongside their organ scholarship; many read Music, but other subjects are also available (and some colleges offer an organ scholarship but do not accept Music students).
In a number of colleges, the organ scholar also acts as an organiser of general musical activity. All organ scholars earn a modest fee, but in most colleges this is supplemented by free organ tuition.
In some colleges the organ scholar is effectively in charge of chapel music, and works with the college chaplain to plan and execute services. In these colleges, duties range from one to three services per week. Elsewhere, the organ scholar assists a professional Director of Music: in this group, the range of commitment varies widely from two services a week to nearly daily commitment at the choral foundations (Christ Church, Magdalen and New College).
All organ scholars benefit from the programme of activities organised by the Betts Centre for Organ Studies.
Organ award application form 2026/27 entry
The organ award application form consists of three sections: your personal details, your school details, and your college preferences. In addition to submitting this form, you must also submit one reference. Please read the introductory information carefully before completing the form.
The form requires a lot of mandatory information, and you will not be able to edit these details once you have submitted them. We advise you, therefore, to save your entry elsewhere (e.g. in a Word document), and to check the information you have entered carefully before clicking Submit.
If you have queries about completing this form, please contact us by email (academic.admin@music.ox.ac.uk) before submitting.
Section 1: Personal Information
Please complete all your personal details. Please ensure in particular that your contact details are entered carefully and that you provide an alternative phone number (which can be a parent/guardian’s number).
Section 2: Your school information
Please complete details of your schooling, even if you are applying post-qualification.
Section 3: Organ award application Information
The third section of the application form allows you to nominate all colleges currently offering an organ award in order of preference. This grid shows which colleges are offering organ awards for 2025 and 2026 entry.
|
College |
Organ awards in 2026 |
|
Balliol |
Yes |
|
Brasenose |
Yes |
|
Christ Church |
Yes |
|
Corpus Christi |
Yes |
|
Exeter |
Yes |
|
Harris Manchester* |
Yes |
|
Hertford |
No |
|
Jesus College |
Yes |
|
Keble |
No |
|
Lady Margaret Hall |
No |
|
Lincoln |
No |
|
Magdalen |
No |
|
Merton |
Yes |
|
New College |
No |
|
Oriel |
No |
|
Pembroke |
No |
|
The Queen's College |
Yes |
|
St Edmund Hall |
Yes |
|
St Peter's |
No |
|
Somerville |
Yes |
|
Trinity |
No |
|
University College |
Yes |
|
Worcester |
Yes |
*Students at Harris Manchester College must be 21 or over by the start date of their course; the organ scholarship is however open to students at other colleges, to whom the age restriction would not apply.
You may like to print this grid to plan your order of preferences.
You should first check that the college preferences you are naming all offer the subject you intend to study. You can find which colleges offer your proposed course here.
Supporting material
Reference
In addition to completing this online application form, your application must be supported by a report on your abilities as an organist, completed in confidence. This report may be from (for example) your organ teacher, director of music, or choir director. The report may be from one such person, but incorporate material from one or more other suitably qualified people.
It is your responsibility to ensure that the person writing the reference knows the arrangements and deadline for submission of the reference. We do not require an academic reference at this point: this is only required in connection with your UCAS application to Oxford.
Your referee can submit the reference by email: as an attachment, in either doc or pdf format, to the admissions officer at your first-choice college of preference. We encourage you to submit by email, but the reference can if necessary be posted. Email and postal addresses for colleges can be found on the college pages.
Please ensure that emails and attachment file names clearly indicate your name.
The deadline for applying is 1 September 2025. Applications will open in the summer.
The deadline for receipt of the reference is 15 September 2025.
Please note that you should receive an immediate automatic acknowledgement of receipt by email. If you do not receive an automatic acknowledgement, please email academic.admin@music.ox.ac.uk. We will also email you within a few days of the deadline (at the latest), once we have processed all applications received on time.
You should monitor your inbox and spam folders to ensure that you do not miss correspondence from us in early September, but please do not worry if you have not heard from us before then.
Betts Centre for Organ Studies exists to support Organ Scholars at Oxford. The Betts Fellow in Organ Studies, Katharine Pardee, organises masterclasses in organ by internationally-renowned performers and teachers, catch-up classes in topics that may be of use to organ scholars, and social occasions during the academic year.
In addition, the Betts Centre for Organ Studies organises trips to the Continent once or twice a year to visit and play historic organs. These trips, generously supported by the Betts Fund, are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to play some of the magnificent organs so often seen in pictures and heard in recordings. Not only are these study tours true eye-openers to the rich world of organ literature and music history, but they are also tremendous fun and a good way to get to know colleagues.
Choral and Organ Awards Open Day
Saturday 26th April 2025
Oxford's college chapels provide outstanding opportunities for participating in liturgical music as well as offering exceptional performance, touring and recording experience. Many colleges offer awards to singers and organists who contribute to this aspect of college life. Choral scholars are trained to a very high level through their college chapel choir and some go on to become professional singers. Toby Spence, Emma Kirkby and Robin Blaze were all Oxford choral scholars.
Organ scholars also play a crucial part in Oxford music. In some colleges, they direct the music in chapel; in others they assist professional directors. The role develops skills in choral accompanying, direction, and administration. Many Oxford organ scholars have gone on to become celebrated musicians whilst others have attained distinction elsewhere, including a Prime Minister and a Hollywood actor.
Join us on our open day to find out what's involved in being an organ or choral scholar and how you can apply! The open day includes informative talks and Q&As with current students and Directors of Music, as well as advice on how to prepare for auditions. You'll also have the opportunity to take part in choral, organ, and conducting workshops in various historic college chapels, and to join one of our college choirs for Evensong.
Under normal circumstances, you are welcome to visit the University. College grounds are usually open to prospective applicants but you can also get in touch with the college linked to your region and let them know you are coming. You may also be able to attend an event listed in our outreach calendar whilst you’re here.
Please check back later in March for the sign up form for the Open Day.
