20 Mar 07

A new scholarship scheme to provide financial support for the leaders of tomorrow in their graduate studies has been announced by Oxford University and the Weidenfeld Institute for Strategic Dialogue, London.

The Weidenfeld Scholarships are designed to complement the University's existing range of scholarships, including the famous Rhodes Scholarships. The programme will be open to candidates primarily from Eastern Europe (including Russia), North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. Around 25 Scholarships will be awarded each year in the first three to five years of the scheme, with financial support to cover all University tuition fees and living costs - amounting to £25,000 per annum for each student.

The programme also aims to foster active regional networks with the wider European neighbourhood and promote the post-university careers of its Scholars through work placements, long-term mentoring, and engagement in leadership and conference programmes. Postgraduate research students will be expected to undertake a pro bono project in the UK or their home country during the long vacation. The Scholars selected for the programme are expected to return to their country of origin in due course and play a significant leadership role in public life in their own countries or internationally.

The Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, Dr John Hood, said: 'Oxford is a truly international university and the presence of overseas students who can contribute new perspectives and different experiences is an important element. We are enormously grateful to the Weidenfeld Institute for procuring this generous support from a single donor and for the vision for this new programme, which will help to ensure that Oxford continues to play a role in educating and shaping future leaders.'

Lord Weidenfeld, President of the Weidenfeld Institute, commented: 'Oxford University has a worldwide reputation for nurturing the leaders of the future, and so the idea of a supporting a major Scholarship programme for graduate students was a natural choice. Ultimately, however, we aim to expand the number and possibly the geographical reach of the scholarship programme, and to acquire a property in Oxford to serve as a base for Weidenfeld Scholars. We look forward to supporting, and developing a lasting relationship with, the first cohort of Weidenfeld Scholars who will start at Oxford in October.'

The inaugural year-group of Weidenfeld Scholars will be selected in the next few months from amongst those eligible students who have already been accepted for a Master's or Doctoral course at Oxford, starting in October 2007. In the first year, all applicants who have been offered a place for graduate study in the first, second or third gathered field will be considered automatically and do not need to do anything further. The International Office will contact them in due course.

The Weidenfeld Institute is a London-based policy organization working with leaders in business, politics, and the media to bridge international and inter-communal divides. It runs a series of policy fora and projects, including the Franco-British-German Club of Three, which address long-term social and political challenges and foster Europe's relations with its neighbours, with Russia, the US and the Middle East.