Vicky Noon Educational Foundation - Vicky Noon Educational Foundation Oxford Scholarships

What the Vicky Noon Oxford Scholarship gives you

You will receive a full or partial scholarship to study at the University of Oxford. Oxford and the Vicky Noon Educational Foundation jointly fund this scholarship. A full scholarship covers all your tuition fees as well as a contribution towards your living costs. For Master’s students, this allowance is at least approximately 22,000 euros per year (£19,237). A partial scholarship provides a smaller allowance, for example amounting to approximately 3,500 euros (£3,000). The funding covers the entire duration of your studies. Up to two scholarships are awarded each year. You can apply for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (Master’s or DPhil), on either a full-time or part-time basis.

Who can apply

• Nationality and home: You are from Pakistan and normally live there.
• Schooling: You have studied for at least 12 years at Pakistani schools, colleges or universities.
• No prior study abroad: You have not yet studied abroad, in particular at a higher education institution in Europe, North America or Australasia.
• Field of study: All academic subjects are open.
• Level: Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s degrees and DPhil degrees are recognised. Postgraduate certificate or diploma programmes, as well as programmes not leading to enrolment, are not recognised.
• Grades: You have achieved excellent results at school.
• Financial need: You need financial support for your studies.
• English: You have excellent English.
• Return plan: You plan to return to Pakistan after completing your studies to pursue a career or carry out research there, and can explain how you will contribute to Pakistani society.

How to apply

To begin with, you do not need to complete a separate scholarship application form. You simply apply to the University of Oxford for your degree programme by the relevant deadline (October for undergraduate students; the corresponding deadline in January for postgraduate programmes). Oxford will then automatically assess all applicants against the criteria. If you are shortlisted, you will receive an email from Oxford by the end of April asking you to complete a short scholarship application form and to provide a statement confirming your intention to return to Pakistan. The final selection is expected to take place in July, before you start your studies.

How realistic are your chances?

The scholarship is restricted to Pakistani students who have not previously studied abroad, which means the pool of eligible candidates remains small. However, as only up to two scholarships are awarded each year and there are many applications, there is genuine competition amongst the strong candidates. If you clearly meet all the requirements – in particular, excellent grades and a convincing plan for returning to Pakistan – you stand a real chance. A well-reasoned statement outlining your future contribution is what sets shortlisted applicants apart.