OPP x Project EduAccess

Many Pakistani learners, in particular those from disadvantaged backgrounds, have limited access to quality higher education in universities abroad due to information and dispositional barriers. Moreover, many who are able to secure admission offers are ultimately unable to take up their place due to financial constraints. This not only leads to the underrepresentation of Pakistani learners in universities abroad, but also denies these learners access to better opportunities and resources.

In a modest attempt to address this problem, the Oxford Pakistan Programme and Project EduAccess have partnered this year to launch two mentoring programmes for Pakistani learners:

Our flagship initiative is the Pakistan Graduate Mentorship Programme 2023-24, which focuses on mentoring individuals from disadvantaged social and financial backgrounds from Pakistan to apply to their dream universities in the United Kingdom for graduate studies.
We are separately also planning to provide mentorship support to 100 students who have either topped their FSc boards or obtained the highest marks in their first year at public sector universities. These students will receive long-term mentorship on how to maximize their potential over the next 3-4 years, exploring career prospects and leadership opportunities.

Pakistan Graduate Mentorship Programme 2023-24

The Pakistan Graduate Mentorship Programme 2023-24 is a mentoring initiative that seeks to help Pakistani learners apply to universities in the United Kingdom for graduate studies (Master’s and PhD). Preference will be given to applicants disadvantaged by social position, ethnicity, identity, economic ability and/ or geography.

Mentees may be selected either for cohort mentorship (in small groups) or for one-on-one mentorship. We aim to provide both technical mentorship (depending on the course/ discipline of interest to the mentee) and affinity-based mentorship, in respect of both university and scholarship applications.

Applications to become a mentee will open soon – stay tuned! Applications for mentors are currently open. More information below.

Mentors

We could not run this programme without the generous and dedicated support of volunteers who embrace our core commitment to equality and representation.

Mentoring can be a rewarding experience! By sharing your expertise and experience, you can positively impact the future of students from historically marginalised and disadvantaged communities. You can also become part of and benefit from the community of mentors working with Project EduAccess and the OPP. We are home to a team of expert mentors, comprising of individuals who have pursued, are currently pursuing or have received offers to pursue their higher education from top universities abroad (including the US, UK and Europe). They come from diverse disciplinary backgrounds and universities and have benefitted from diverse funding, internship, and research avenues.

If you would like to volunteer with us for our Pakistan Graduate Mentorship Programme 2023-24, please fill the application form below. Before applying, we ask that you keep the following in mind:

We are looking for mentors who are currently pursuing or have pursued graduate-level programmes at universities abroad, particularly UK universities. Please apply only if you have such experience.
We expect mentors to provide stable support to any assigned mentees throughout the upcoming applications cycle. Mentors are expected to commit 5 hours per month on average to the programme. They are also expected to attend an hour-long in-house training and sensitisation session before joining the programme.

Please note that filling this form does not guarantee that you will be onboarded as a mentor. You will be contacted by our team to follow through on the selection process.

We are committed to inclusion and representation. Therefore, we particularly encourage individuals from marginalised communities in Pakistan to apply.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Mentees

The Pakistan Graduate Mentorship Programme 2023-24 focuses on providing free mentorship and support to Pakistani individuals looking to apply for postgraduate degrees (including PhD) at higher education institutions in the United Kingdom.

Benefits

Through this programme, mentees can expect:

personalised 1:1 mentorship on all aspects of university and scholarship applications;
access to a network of expert mentors who have pursued postgraduate studies abroad;
exclusive mentee-only workshops on all aspects of university application processes, including: identifying degrees/ universities/ funding avenues of relevance, drafting good CVs, personal statements, writing samples, and preparing for interviews;
tailored support programmes for scholarships (like Commonwealth, Chevening, etc.);
capacity-building workshops on communication and leadership skills; and
mental well-being and welfare support.

Eligibility

You are eligible to apply if:

you are a Pakistani national;
you have completed, or are in the final year of, an undergraduate degree at a college/ university in Pakistan; and
you are planning to apply for a postgraduate degree (including PhD) at a university in the United Kingdom to start in Fall 2024.

Preference will be given to applicants disadvantaged by social position, ethnicity, economic ability and/ or geography.

Application Process

If you meet the eligibility criteria specified above, we encourage you to apply to be a Mentee with us by filling the Application Form below. Before doing so, please have the following details ready:

Personal Information, including contact details, residence, education level of your parents, household income, etc.
Information about your Educational Background, including your school information, college/ university degree, medium of instruction, etc.
Supporting Information including your CV, plans of higher education, a statement on why we should select you as a mentee, etc.

Applications are open now and will close on Tuesday, 25 July 2023. All applicants will hear back on the status of their application by email.