Eight new scholarships available at Oxford for African graduates

16 March 2011

The University of Oxford has announced eight new scholarships each year for African graduates undertaking postgraduate study at Oxford. Graduates who have already been accepted for their courses on their academic merit can apply for the scholarship schemes.

•    Five scholarships a year for graduates from African Commonwealth countries for part-time Master’s in International Human Rights Law (The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and the Foreign Office’s Chevening Scholarship Fund)

•    Three scholarships a year for graduates from Angola, Ghana and Nigeria at St Antony’s College (Eni Scholarship Programme)

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Professor Andrew Hamilton, said: ‘Oxford has a proud tradition of undertaking scholarship on Africa, and encouraging scholars from Africa. We are very grateful for this generous funding which we hope will mean that Oxford can play a bigger role in inspiring and educating Africans who are helping to shape the Continent’s future.’

Five new scholarships a year for students from African Commonwealth countries
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and the Foreign Office’s Chevening Scholarship Fund have announced that they will jointly pay for five new scholarships a year for candidates from African Commonwealth countries. The scheme will apply to candidates who have been offered a place on the two-year part-time Master of Studies degree in International Human Rights Law, jointly taught by Oxford University’s Department for Continuing Education and the Faculty of Law. The five new scholarships cover all University tuition fees, living costs and daily travel. Each scholarship is worth around £23,000 per year and will be available from October 2012.

Dr Andrew Shacknove, Director of the International Human Rights Law programme, said: ‘The Commonwealth and the FCO (the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office) have created a rare opportunity for outstanding African human rights advocates to further their training, irrespective of their financial circumstances. In terms of the University’s commitment to wider access, the scholarships couldn’t be more welcome. The part-time format of the degree programme means that human rights advocates who work or have a family can also further their studies. We are looking for people with an excellent academic record, who have work experience and are likely to take a leading role in furthering the human rights project in the coming years.’

Three scholarships a year for students from Angola, Ghana and Nigeria

Meanwhile in a separate scheme announced last month, international energy company Eni has announced three scholarships a year for candidates from Angola, Ghana and Nigeria. The Eni scholarship programme, which took effect from October 2011, was formally announced by Eni during a visit to Oxford University by former UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan. The Eni Scholars Programme is intended to nurture African students who have the potential to become future leaders in politics, business or public life. Graduates applying for one- or two-year full-time taught Master's programmes offered through St Antony’s College, Oxford, are eligible for the scheme.

There are currently 225 postgraduate students from African countries at the University of Oxford (according to the latest University figures from December 2010). Oxford offers a range of scholarship schemes to students from Africa, including: the Oppenheimer Fund*, which assists South African students, the Kufuor scholarship* for Ghanaian graduates, and the Clarendon Fund* which supports scholars from 46 different nations, including Africa.

Case studies
Dirdeiry Ahmed, 53, from Sudan, self financed his MSt of International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford. Mr Ahmed is part of the team that negotiated the Sudan peace agreement credited with giving Southern Sudan the right to secede following a referendum.

Dirdeiry said: ‘I had to study without the benefit of a scholarship, but I found the Oxford experience immeasurably rewarding. What Oxford provides is the means of taking a fresh start or building on your career experience.The intensified course programmes and the remarkable interaction with professors and colleagues in a truly international set-up were beneficial and a really memorable experience.

’Ayokunu Adedokun, 28, from Nigeria, has a Clarendon Scholarship which pays his tuition fees, college fees and a grant for living expenses for each of the two years of his course. Clarendon Fund awards at Oxford are made to 46 different nations and are based on academic excellence and potential across all subject areas.

Ayokunu said: ‘My childhood dreams of studying for a Master’s degree in Development Studies at Oxford University would not have been fulfilled at all were it not for the generosity of the Clarendon Scholarship. The uniqueness of Oxford lies in its distinctive atmosphere, innovative thinking of staff and students, unparalleled library resources, rich and dynamic curricular, and a college system that provides a close community atmosphere. The benefit of an Oxford education is that it teaches you to approach a topic as an independent scholar.’

For more information or photograph of Ayokunu or Dirdeiry, please contact the University of Oxford Press Office on tel. +44 (0)1865 280534 or email press.office@admin.ox.ac.uk