OPP Graduate Studentships
OPP Graduate Studentships 2025
The Oxford Pakistan Programme (OPP) is pleased to announce the third edition of its Graduate Studentships Programme for on-course graduate students.
To be eligible, applicants must:
i) Be either Pakistani nationals ordinarily resident in Pakistan or British Pakistanis.
ii) Be enrolled in a Master’s, MPhil, or DPhil programme at the University of Oxford.
The OPP Graduate Studentships aim to support students of Pakistani origin, who remain one of the most underrepresented BAME groups at the graduate level at Oxford. Doctoral applicants must have completed their transfer of status, with preference given, in some cases, to those who have also completed their confirmation of status. Students from any Oxford college are eligible to apply.
Awards will be granted based on academic excellence and financial need, with preference given to applicants whose research or graduate studies have direct relevance and benefit to Pakistan or the British Pakistani community. Successful candidates must be in residence for the 2024-25 academic year and will be expected to volunteer some time to support OPP activities during Hilary and Trinity Terms.
The following OPP Graduate Studentships are available for the academic year 2025:
The Sheikh Family Studentships
Up to three Sheikh Family Studentships with an award of £3,000 – £3,500 each are available for eligible students, made possible through the generous support of the Sheikh family through the COSARAF Foundation. The COSARAF Foundation was established in 2007 by Mr Haroon and Farouq Sheikh, and the wider Sheikh family, to benefit communities and individuals in the UK and abroad. The Sheikh Family Studentships will be made available to applicants who demonstrate both academic potential and financial need.
The Amir Hashmi Studentships
Up to three Amir Hashmi Studentships with an award of £3,000 – £3,500 each are available for eligible students. These studentships are made possible with the generous support of London-based businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mr Amir Hashmi. The Amir Hashmi Studentships are available to applicants who demonstrate both academic potential and financial need.
The Mian Zahur ul Haq Studentships
Up to two Mian Zahur ul Haq studentships with an award of £3,000 – £3,500 each are available for eligible students. These studentships have been established by Mian Amir Mehmood though Dunya Foundation.
How to Apply?
The deadline for applying to the OPP’s Graduate Studentships Programme for the academic year 2025 is 23:59pm (UK time) on Friday 7 March 2025. To apply for an OPP Graduate Studentship, eligible students should complete an online application on this link, and request a letter of support from their supervisor indicating their academic progress and financial need. The OPP Scholarship Committee may ask applicants to provide evidence of financial need. Questions in the form also ask you to spell out the relevance of the course and / or research for Pakistan or to the British Pakistani community. DPhil students should additionally submit their thesis proposal. The thesis proposal and supervisor’s reference should be sent to: opp@lmh.ox.ac.uk copying: Professor Adeel Malik (adeel.malik@qeh.ox.ac.uk) and Dr Talha Pirzada (talha.pirzada@materials.ox.ac.uk).
For further details, please visit the website of the OPP or contact the OPP via email on: opp@lmh.ox.ac.uk
About the Oxford Pakistan Programme
The Oxford Pakistan Programme (OPP) is an academic initiative led by Pakistani alumni and academics, aimed at expanding opportunities for Pakistani-origin scholars at the University of Oxford. It fosters academic exchange between Oxford and Pakistan’s higher education institutions while enriching discussions on Pakistan within the university. The OPP is based at Lady Margaret Hall. For more information visit: https://oxpakprogramme.org/