Oxford Pakistan Programme

The 2026 OPP Studentships cycle is now open. Apply Here ×

Fostering academic exchange and supporting the next generation of Pakistani leaders.

About The Oxford Pakistan Programme

The Oxford Pakistan Programme (the ‘OPP’) is the first initiative of its kind through which a concerted effort is being made to generate momentum on various Pakistan-related activities at the University of Oxford.

Our Core Objectives

Support Students

Address the underrepresentation of Pakistani and British Pakistani students at the University of Oxford.

Promote Academic Exchange

Academic exchange between Oxford University and Pakistan’s institutions of higher learning.

Support Students

Address the underrepresentation of Pakistani and British Pakistani students at the University of Oxford.

Our Model and Vision

The OPP has been conceived as an embryonic initiative that is built on an unconventional model of fundraising where a series of small donations are joined up to deliver high-impact initiatives on a spend-down basis. Funds raised for the OPP are ring-fenced and held within the University of Oxford to protect their security and integrity.

 

Support for OPP activities is being secured for the next five years, to create a “proof of concept” that can be institutionalised on a long-term basis.

“You walk on the way and the way appears”

– Jalal-ud-Din Rumi

Why Is The OPP Needed

Despite a deep historical connection, Pakistanis and British Pakistanis remain underrepresented at Oxford. Financial constraints are a primary concern, with a typical graduate degree costing £45,000 a year. This loss of intellectual capital is to the detriment of both Pakistan and Oxford.

20 Pakistani students every year cannot accept offers from Oxford because they cannot afford it.