The Tareen Oxford Scholarship has been announced by the Oxford Pakistan Programme (OPP), which seeks to offer means-tested financial support for Pakistani students, particularly those with exceptional abilities from South Punjab. The scholarship will be awarded to students who have received admission offers for eligible graduate courses at the University of Oxford’s Kellogg College, but who do not possess the financial means to accept them.
Criteria for scholarship recipients
According to a statement from the OPP, priority will be given to students who have the potential to contribute to the development of South Punjab and for whom the scholarship would be a life-changing opportunity. The scholarship will cover tuition fees and living costs for recipients and will be part of OPP’s graduate scholarship program, through which at least three scholarships are awarded annually to talented Pakistani and British Pakistani students.
Funding and duration
The Tareen Oxford Scholarship will be a five-year program, funded annually and distributed on a rolling basis. It has been made possible thanks to the support of Ali Tareen, who is an alumnus of Kellogg College, Oxford.This opportunity is expected to play a crucial role in uplifting talented young scholars from South Punjab, which is one of the most underdeveloped regions in Pakistan.
Positive impact of the scholarship
The scholarship is not only expected to benefit the awardees but also create a positive spillover effect in terms of raising the aspirations of other talented scholars in the communities from which Tareen scholars will be drawn. Moreover, it will be a significant stride towards fostering a more diverse and inclusive academic community at Oxford.
Initiatives under the program
The program comprises two initiatives:
Access program for final year students
The first initiative is an access program designed for final year students who are in the process of applying for MSc and PhD degrees abroad. The program will feature an Access Conference for final year students from South Punjab. Free one-on-one mentorship with an Oxford student or recent alumnus will be offered to the top 20 attendees of the Access Conference.
Mentorship program for FSc toppers and first-year public sector university toppers
The second initiative will benefit FSc toppers and first-year public sector university toppers. A total of 100 students will be selected from South Punjab who have either topped their FSc boards or obtained the highest marks in their first year at university. These students will be provided with mentorship on how to make the most of their next three to four years, guidance on career prospects, and one-on-one mentorship to help them aspire to be the best minds globally.
Read more: Oxford University Offering Scholarships Worth £10,000 for Pakistani Students
The Tareen Oxford Scholarship is a much-needed initiative that will enable talented Pakistani students to pursue higher education at the prestigious University of Oxford. The program is expected to have a positive impact on not just the recipients of the scholarship but also their communities, as it will raise the aspirations of other talented scholars from South Punjab.The scholarship aims to promote diversity and inclusivity at Oxford by providing talented students from underprivileged regions with the means to pursue their education.
