Fully funded scheme will support up to six Sindh students a year for graduate degrees at Oxford
Students from Sindh aiming for graduate studies at the University of Oxford will soon be able to apply for the Bhutto Graduate Scholarships, launched by the Oxford Pakistan Programme with support from the Government of Sindh.
The scholarship is designed to support academically strong students from Sindh, a group that has historically been underrepresented at Oxford.
It offers a fully funded pathway for students to pursue master’s, MPhil or doctoral degrees at the university.
Each year, up to six students will be selected. Half of the scholarships will be reserved for women.
Preference will be given to candidates pursuing STEM and development-focused studies.
The award covers full tuition fees and living expenses, including maintenance costs.
The scholarship is awarded for one academic year but may be renewed depending on the duration of the recipient’s degree programme.
Applicants must be domiciled in Sindh and hold a valid CNIC and Permanent Residence Certificate.
They must have completed an undergraduate degree from a recognised Pakistani university.
Candidates must also have secured admission to a graduate or doctoral programme at Oxford.
Speaking at the launch event last week, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said, “OPP is creating opportunities for Pakistanis, especially talented students from underprivileged backgrounds.”
“I want to thank the Governments of Sindh and Balochistan for launching scholarship programs in collaboration with OPP for students from their provinces,” he said.
The Oxford Pakistan Programme is led by Oxford academics and alumni, including Professor Adeel Malik, Dr Talha J. Pirzada, Haris Zaman and former Oxford student Manahil Saqib.
The programme supports Pakistani students and researchers through scholarships, hardship funds, the annual Iqbal Lecture and the Graduate Access Programme.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said the scholarships would benefit both students and the province.
“These scholarships will provide students from Sindh the opportunity to study at one of the world’s best universities,” he said.
“Not only will these students benefit from this opportunity, but Sindh as a whole will also gain when these scholars return to their communities with knowledge and skills to drive progress,” Shah added.
Six outstanding students from Sindh will receive financial support each year for graduate degrees at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.
Three scholarships will be awarded to women under the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Scholarship.
The remaining three will be awarded under the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Scholarship.
Pakistani scholar and former Oxford Union President Israr Khan played a key role in facilitating the scholarships, officials said.
Balochistan Finance Secretary Imran Zarkoon Khan said his province was the first to partner with OPP on such an initiative.
“We take pride in the fact that Balochistan was the first province to launch these scholarships,” he said.
“We hope this initiative will create new opportunities and enable talented students from Balochistan to succeed at Oxford and contribute to the development of the province,” Zarkoon added.
He said the Oxford Pakistan Programme has provided more than £600,000 in financial assistance since its inception.
The funding has enabled 48 Pakistani graduate scholars to pursue studies at Oxford, he said.
OPP said preference will be given to candidates who have not previously received government-funded scholarships.
Priority will also be given to applicants whose proposed area of study is linked to the social or economic development of Sindh or Pakistan.
The application portal is expected to open in early 2026. Applications will close in April 2026.
Candidates will be required to submit academic records, proof of residency, confirmation of admission to Oxford and a personal statement.
Applications will be reviewed by the OPP Scholarship Committee based on academic merit and financial need.
Pakistani students can also apply for other fully funded Oxford scholarships, including the Rhodes Scholarship and the Clarendon Fund.
Other options include the Vicky Noon Educational Foundation and the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust.
For undergraduate students, the Reach Oxford Scholarship provides full financial support for those from low-income backgrounds.
Officials said the Bhutto Graduate Scholarships mark a major opportunity for students from Sindh to study at a leading global university and bring their expertise back to Pakistan.
