ISLAMABAD: Scholarships have been announced for Pakistani students to pursue graduate studies at the University of Oxford under the Oxford Pakistan Programme (OPP).
Under the initiative, up to six outstanding students from Pakistan’s Sindh province will receive financial assistance each year to study at Lady Margaret Hall.
The scholarships include three awards for female candidates under the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Scholarship and three under the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Scholarship.
These awards will be part of OPP’s broader graduate scholarship programme, which seeks to expand access to Oxford for talented students from underrepresented backgrounds in Pakistan.
The announcement was made during a visit to Oxford University by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
1/ The Oxford Pakistan Programme (OPP) is pleased to announce that the @GovtofSindhPK will fund up to 6 new OPP graduate scholarships at @oxford_uni, announced by @BBhuttoZardari & @CMSindh at Oxford🎓🇵🇰 @sindhinfodepart @TJPirzada @saqib_minahil @HaroonZ004 @AdeelMalikOx #OPP pic.twitter.com/G8Y9iOANyc
— Oxford Pakistan Programme (@OxfordPakistan) February 21, 2025
The initiative comes as part of a broader effort to address educational disparities, as students from wealthier backgrounds have traditionally had greater access to top-tier universities such as Oxford, while those from less privileged areas often face financial and institutional barriers.
The OPP is led by a group of Oxford academics and alumni, including Professor Adeel Malik and Dr. Talha J. Pirzada, along with corporate lawyer Haroon Zaman and alumna Minahil Saqib. The programme offers scholarships and assistance to Pakistani students and academics, along with an annual lecture and a graduate access programme.
Last year, the OPP awarded two scholarships to students from Sindh and one to a student from Balochistan. Since its inception, the programme has provided over £600,000 in financial support, enabling 48 Pakistani scholars to study at Oxford.
The Oxford Pakistan Programme offers various forms of support to Pakistani students and academics, including scholarships, an annual lecture series, and a graduate access initiative.
Israr Khan, President of the Oxford Union, who is a Pakistani scholar from Balochistan, played an important role in creating these scholarships.
