An innovative program called the Oxford Pakistan Program (OPP) aims to increase the number of British and Pakistani students at the University of Oxford. It aims to raise Pakistan’s academic standing within the institution and promote cooperation between Oxford and the academic community in Pakistan.
OPP’s main objectives are to
- Increase the academic profile of Pakistan and Pakistan-related research in Oxford.
- Increase the enrollment of graduates who are Pakistani and British Pakistani.
- Serve as a link between Oxford and Pakistan’s academic community by fostering scholarly exchanges and sharing of knowledge.
The OPP is a domestic initiative led by Pakistani academics and graduates. It acts as a unique arena for conversation about Pakistan at Oxford and works closely with a number of departments and colleges within the University of Oxford.
PROGRAM OFFERED
OPP Graduate Scholarship
- Portal will open in the first week of April 2025 and close on 11.59pm GMT on Sunday, 28 April 2025
- The OPP Scholarship Committee will invite those applicants who made the short list for an online interview. Before the end of May, decisions will be taken.
- Does OPP offer scholarships for undergraduate programs?
At this time, OPP exclusively provides scholarships for graduate and postgraduate degrees.
- If I were to enroll in a part-time degree program, would I be eligible for a graduate scholarship? If yes, how much funding would be provided?
Graduate scholarships given by the OPP are now only available for full-time degree programs at the University of Oxford, mainly one-year taught master’s courses (MBA programs not included). While longer programs such as M.Phil and D.Phil may be offered in lieu of full sponsorship, partial support may be given.
- How many scholarships are typically awarded annually?
The number of scholarships varies based on available funding, with an increasing trend. For the current year, 11 scholarships were offered.
- What expenses does the OPP Scholarship cover?
The screening committee decides which cases qualify for OPP scholarships on an individual basis based on merit and circumstances. All of these elements determine whether a full scholarship is given out or not.
- Am I still eligible for OPP Scholarships if my selected program is not available at the listed colleges?
OPP Scholarships are associated with Oxford’s Lady Margaret Hall College. Nevertheless, after being accepted to other Oxford colleges, candidates may have to transfer to Lady Margaret Hall in order to be eligible for an OPP Scholarship. The MBA program is not eligible for the Tareen Oxford Scholarship, which is limited to full-time graduate studies at Kellogg College.
OPP Graduate Studentships
OPP Graduate Studentship, applicants must be:
- Either Pakistani nationals who are ordinarily resident in Pakistan or a British Pakistani; and
- Studying for a Master’s, MPhil, or DPhil degree. OPP Graduate Studentships are designed to provide support to students of Pakistani origin, who remain the most underrepresented BAME group at the graduate level at Oxford. Doctoral students applying for the OPP Graduate Studentships must have completed their transfer of status although, in some cases, preference may be shown to those who have completed their confirmation of status. While students may apply from any Oxford college, successful applicants may be asked to migrate to Lady Margaret Hall to take up their award.
Sheikh Family Studentships
Thanks to the generosity of the Sheikh family through the COSARAF Foundation, up to three Sheikh Family Studentships are available, each offering an award between £3,000 and £3,500. Established in 2007 by Mr. Haroon Sheikh, Farouq Sheikh, and the wider Sheikh family, the COSARAF Foundation aims to support communities and individuals both in the UK and internationally. These scholarships are given to students who have excellent academic promise and financial need.
Amir Hashmi Studentships
The Amir Hashmi Studentships offer up to three incentives, ranging from £3,000 to £3,500. Mr. Amir Hashmi, a London-based businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, has supported these studentships. The scholarships are intended for students who show both academic excellence and financial need.
Liaquat Ali Khan Studentships
Named in honor of Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan, Pakistan’s first Prime Minister and an Oxford alumnus, the Liaquat Ali Khan Studentships are supported by the High Commission of Pakistan in London. Two awards of at least £2,000 each will be granted, with preference given to students who have completed their confirmation of status and are pursuing STEM subjects.
Mian Zahur ul Haq Studentships
Up to two Mian Zahur ul Haq Studentships are available, with awards ranging from £3,000 to £3,500 each. These studentships are funded by the Dunya Foundation, which was founded by Mian Amer Mahmood, and aim to improve access to quality education in Pakistan. The Dunya Foundation works with many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to help poor areas through education, research, and development activities.
How to Apply?
The deadline for applying to the OPP’s Graduate Studentships Program for the academic year 2023-2024 is 23:59pm (UK time) on 26th April 2025.
Research Grants
Bilal Hussain Research Grant
The Bilal Hussain Research Grant was established thanks to the kind sponsorship of Syed Bilal Hussain, an Engineering graduate from the University of Oxford (2019) and Associate Director at Three Comma Capital Advisors, a Dubai hedge fund. The Syed Bilal Hussain Research Grant awards up to £2,000 to Oxford researchers of all backgrounds to study Pakistan or a Pakistan-related field of interest.
Allama Iqbal Lecture Series
The Allama Iqbal Lecture Series was formed via the financial sponsorship of Mr. Abdullah Dadabhoy’s family, whose son, Mr. Abdul Ghani Dadabhoy, is an Oxford graduate. It is implemented in collaboration with St. Peter’s College and the LMH-Pakistan Initiative. It is named after poet, philosopher, and writer Sir Allama Muhammad Iqbal and provides a platform for internationally renowned scholars and policymakers to present talks in Oxford on broad issues of Eastern philosophy. It focuses on notable Eastern intellectuals such as Maulana Rumi, Ibn Arabi, Guru Nanak, Imam Ghazali, and Iqbal himself. The Allama Iqbal Lecture Series will bring new views to Oxford’s academic offerings and serve as a forum for varied ideas and thought. It draws on Allama Iqbal’s broad, cosmopolitan, and universal worldview and is thus open to speakers from a variety of fields, including politics, economics, theology, philosophy, literature, and international relations.
Visiting Fellow Program
Hamid Ismail Visiting Fellows Program
The Hamid Ismail Visiting Fellows Program was formed by the generous generosity of Mr Hamid Ismail, a graduate of the MBA program at the University of Oxford (2021), Director of Ismail Industries Limited, and Founder / President of the Ismail Foundation. It provides one senior Pakistani scholar (the “Visiting Fellow”) with the chance to spend an academic term at Oxford each year, allowing them to expand their academic network and participate actively in Oxford’s academic calendar. The laureate will also benefit the academic faculty at Oxford by increasing variety of thought and widening Oxford’s global reach. During their time at Oxford, the Visiting Fellow will draft a working paper and deliver it publicly. The Visiting Fellow must be a senior Pakistani academic who,
- ia a PhD holder.
- Is a Pakistani.
- Holds a faculty position at a Pakistani university. Academics who can demonstrate their work will be preferred.
- Contributes to Pakistan’s sustainable development, broadly defined.
- Advance an area of subject competence that is underdeveloped in Pakistan.
- Fills a gap in Oxford’s subject expertise across four divisions.
Malala Visiting Fellowship in Education
The Malala Visiting Fellowship in Education, a pioneering initiative launched in collaboration with the Malala Fund, Lady Margaret Hall (LMH), the Oxford Pakistan Program (OPP), and Oxford’s Department of Education. This Fellowship is designed to support the development of a teacher training course aimed at enhancing the quality of education for teachers in Sindh, Pakistan.
The Malala Visiting Fellow will be a recent PhD graduate or an early career academic who will spend two terms at Oxford. During this period, they will collaborate with the Department of Education and local partners, including the Government of Sindh and Durbeen, to design and implement a two-year Master’s of Education program. This program is specifically targeted at addressing the shortage of trained teachers, particularly female educators, who are essential for improving educational opportunities for girls in Pakistan.
The Fellow will work closely with Ann Childs, a Fellow at LMH, and other experts in the Department of Education to create a tailored educational development curriculum. Their role will include providing valuable local insights and context to ensure the curriculum meets the needs of teachers in Sindh.
Visiting Student Program
The Visiting Student Program invites one student annually from a Pakistani university to spend four months at the University of Oxford, residing at LMH. This program offers a unique opportunity to study a subject of choice offered by the College. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.7 or higher and have completed at least two years of their undergraduate studies.
Access Program
The Oxford Pakistan Access Program (the “Access Program”) is dedicated to increasing the representation of both British Pakistani and Pakistani students at Oxford University. The program supports a variety of activities in both the UK and Pakistan to encourage and assist these students in their applications to Oxford.
Key initiatives include:
- Engagement Initiatives: Organizing talks and workshops where Oxford students and alumni engage with prospective applicants in UK schools with significant Pakistani student populations, as well as virtual interactions with schools in Pakistan.
- Direct Engagement: Running outreach activities in schools in the UK and Pakistan to inspire and support students in applying to Oxford.
- Application Support: Collaborating with Oxford’s Undergraduate Admissions & Outreach team to develop resources that aid Pakistani students in the application process.
These programs aim to make higher education at Oxford more accessible and to support students from underrepresented backgrounds in pursuing their academic goals.
Pakistan Work Experience Program
Are you a graduate or postgraduate student at Oxford University or a Pakistani university with dreams for worldwide development? The World Bank Group is thrilled to start the Pakistan Work Experience Program as a pilot program this November. This program is designed to provide meaningful job experience to highly motivated individuals from Pakistan and Oxford.
Program Overview:
The Pakistan Work Experience Program offers a great chance for selected applicants to hone their talents in a diverse and dynamic environment dedicated to eradicating extreme poverty and promoting prosperity. Participants will gain:
- Onboarding and Training: Comprehensive orientation and training sessions.
- Networking and Mentoring: Guidance and mentorship from World Bank Group staff and the Oxford Pakistan Program (OPP).
- Practical Experience: Hands-on involvement in various projects, including client meetings and site visits.
The program is collaboration between the World Bank Group and the Oxford Pakistan Program (OPP), an initiative at Oxford University designed to strengthen academic ties between Oxford and Pakistan. For this inaugural cohort, we are offering up to seven short-term assignments from November to January 2022. The roles will cover sectors including private sector development, agriculture, social development, climate change, and education. Participants will receive paid consulting contracts and will be hosted by relevant Country Offices and Task Teams.
Available Assignments
Assignment 01: Agriculture Sector, WB
Assignment 02: Agriculture Sector, IFC
Assignment 03: Education PER, WB
Assignment 04: Energy Global Practice, WB
Assignment 05: Pakistan Regulatory Modernization Initiative (PRMI), IFC
Assignment 06: Trade, WB
Assignment 07: Transport (A), WB
Assignment 08: Transport (S), WB
Assignment 09: Water Sector
Eligibility Criteria
To apply, candidates must:
- Have an undergraduate degree and be enrolled in a full-time graduate program (master’s or PhD) with plans to return to school full-time.
- Show a strong interest and commitment to international development.
- Be enthusiastic about working in multicultural and cross-border teams.
- Possess fluency in written and spoken English. Additional computing skills and knowledge of other languages (e.g., Urdu, Arabic) are advantageous.
- We encourage individuals from diverse professional and academic backgrounds, particularly women, to apply. Our goal is to attract and recruit exceptional talent from Pakistan and Oxford.
Application and Selection Process
Applications will be accepted via email from October 17 to November 9, 2022. The Human Resources team will review submissions and recommend candidates for long listing. Short-listed candidates will then be assessed by the relevant hiring departments. Only those selected for interviews will be contacted, with final decisions expected by November 23, 2022.
Required Documents
- CV
- Proof of enrollment or completion of graduate program
- A writing sample (approx. 1000 words)
- A cover letter specifying the assignment applied for and how your profile fits the role
- For more details and to apply, please email your application to the World Bank Group and IFC Pakistan office.
- We look forward to receiving your applications and to potentially welcoming you to this unique professional experience.
