Oxford to welcome Christchurch students
24 March 2011
Oxford University has offered 42 places to students from New Zealand during Trinity term (22 April to 16 June 2011), after the earthquake of February 22 devastated the city of Christchurch.
The University and its colleges will offer places to 32 undergraduate and ten postgraduate students from the University of Canterbury in the arts, humanities, social sciences and law.
Students will receive a scholarship to cover international travel, taxes and insurance, while the University of Oxford and its colleges have waived fees for all participants and will provide residential accommodation.
Professor Andrew Hamilton, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, said: ‘I am immensely proud of the response from the collegiate University to the earthquake in New Zealand which had such a devastating effect on our friends and colleagues in Christchurch. We are looking forward to welcoming University of Canterbury students here next term.’
Dr Frances Lannon, Chairman of the Conference of Colleges, said: ‘We look forward to welcoming the students from Canterbury University as temporary members of our colleges in what is a difficult time for the people of Christchurch. We hope they will enjoy their time in Oxford and benefit from all that the colleges have to offer.’
Professor Ian Town, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canterbury, said: ‘The University of Canterbury was founded in 1873 by virtue of its links with Christ Church and the University of Oxford. Immediately after news of the 22 February earthquake reached the UK the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Hamilton, contacted us to see if Oxford could be of help, and subsequently these fully funded places for UC students were offered by the University and its colleges.
‘This offer of 42 places for the spring term represents a tremendous opportunity for our brightest senior students to study at a world leading university for part of 2011.’
For more information, contact Matt Pickles on 01865 270046 or matt.pickles@admin.ox.ac.uk