Media

ExxonMobil Foundation scholarships to train next generation of global health leaders

26 April 2011

Ten new scholarships to train the next generation of health leaders from developing countries will be offered over the next two years by Oxford University and funded by ExxonMobil Foundation. The announcement coincides with World Malaria Day this week, an international day of recognition to highlight global efforts to fight the disease.

The scholarships for Oxford’s Master of Science (MSc) in global health science are meant to encourage students to take their expertise back to their own countries to tackle critical health issues, which for many include malaria. The course is aimed at students who will be able to assume leadership positions in major healthcare organizations and national health ministries in their home countries.

The addition of these scholarships to existing course funding sources means that nearly one-third of the student placements will be supported with full funding. ExxonMobil will provide $680,000 (£430,000) to cover tuition, living and research expenses for a total 10 students over the next two years.

The scholarships are open to students from Angola, Cameroon, Chad, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Equatorial Guinea. Students receiving scholarships will be announced in the fall.

“Access to trained, medical professionals is critical to combatting malaria and improving overall health conditions in the developing world and in emerging markets,” said Suzanne McCarron, president of the ExxonMobil Foundation. “We believe that Oxford is an ideal partner to help provide best-in-class training to students.”

Manisha Nair is a medical doctor from India who received a scholarship in 2008 to complete the MSc in global health. She said: “While introducing me to the challenges in global health, this course enabled me to sharpen my research and health policy skills which are the key pillars for addressing existing health challenges. My perspective on global health was further enhanced by my classmates who were from 17 different countries.

“The research skills which I developed during the MSc were useful in the clinical research work I undertook after finishing, where I trained more than 20 researchers from Pakistan, Nepal and India. I wouldn’t have been able to study at Oxford without the scholarship I received, and I feel these types of scholarships are important because funding that helps educate students from developing countries leads to a cascading effect, because one scholar trained in Oxford can train many more scholars in their home country.”

OxfordUniversity’s strength in global health is unparalleled. Over the past 30 years, and with the generous support of external funders, the University has developed a permanent network of six overseas research units in Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia, working in collaboration with local partner organisations and scientists in Oxford. More than 1,000 scientists and clinicians from Oxford’s global health programme work in developing countries and in Oxford on projects including potential new vaccines for malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.

Funding for these scholarships is part of the philanthropic income generated under the Oxford Thinking Campaign. The Campaign was launched publically in 2008 and raising funds to support students is one of its three strategic priorities, alongside raising funds for academic posts and for buildings.

Students who have completed the MSc in Global Health are available for interview; for more information, please contact the Press Office at Oxford University on 01865 280 528 or press.office@admin.ox.ac.uk 

Notes for editors

  • First offered in 2005, Oxford’s MSc in global health science is a one-year course that aims to develop a pool of talented new leaders in international health, and offers students the opportunity to learn from some of the world's leading figures in global health.

    The course contains a strong focus on global pandemics, including HIV/AIDS and TB, and diseases endemic to resource-poor settings. In addition to coursework on epidemiology, public health and international health and development issues, students go on an in-country research placement as part of their study.

    The course has a diverse student body and in 2009 more than 200 students applied for 25 places. For entry in 2011, 8 scholarships will be available to students, including 5 with support from the ExxonMobil Foundation. Preference will be given to scholars who have a strong first degree in a relevant subject and show significant evidence of their commitment to, or experience in, health in developing countries.
  • OxfordThinking, the Campaign for the University of Oxford, is the largest fundraising campaign in European university history and one of the largest in the world. It has a minimum goal of £1.25bn and has three key aims: supporting students, supporting academic posts and programmes, and supporting buildings and infrastructure. It includes all the colleges, departments, and museums of Oxford University. In October 2010, the Campaign announced that it had raised more than £1 billion for the collegiate University. www.campaign.ox.ac.uk