How can I increase my chances of getting a postgraduate scholarship?

Hi, I hope you're doing ok (whoever is reading this).
I'm taking the leap and applying to Oxford (MPhil in Water Sciences, Policy and Management) and Cambridge (MPhil in Anthropocene Studies). I'm going to apply yo all the scholarships I think I could be eligible for, and it says that these universities nominate candidates for other scholarships as they see fit, based on your application.
How can I increase my chances of actually getting a scholarship? I want to know that, whatever the outcome, I did all that I could and gave it my 100% because it would be a dream to study one of these courses. A lot of the external scholarships I find require I coma back to my home country to work within 2 years of the end of my studies. However, what if I want to pursue a Doctorate degree after that? What if my country continues in this downward spiral of political and economic instability and I don't want to come back so soon? (Especially since my whole family is planning on leaving at some point.) Is it worth applying to these scholarships anyway? Or would it be a waste of energy if I already know I do not agree to the terms?
I would love any helpful advice, personal experience or fresh perspective on my conundrum. Or maybe even information on scholarships or bursaries I haven't considered that aren't listed in the unis' sites.
Thanks so much for reading this far

Get strong academic grades. Nearly all scholarships are awarded based on academic grades. The pool of competition may be reduced by eligibility factors such as nationality, subject, gender, age, disadvantage etc, but within those features, the money goes the strongest academic record.