This week a new cohort of Master of Public Policy (MPP) students arrive in Oxford, 156 students hailing from a record 61 different countries around the globe. They bring with them a wealth of expertise and experience, ready to take the next step in their journey to becoming dynamic public sector leaders. 

Almost 9 in 10 students of the class of 2024 are receiving some funding to support their participation in the programme, with 79% of students receiving full scholarships and 8% receiving partial funding. 

It is a priority for the Blavatnik School that the best students are able to study with us, regardless of their financial situation. This year there are fourteen Chevening scholars, fourteen Rhodes scholars and seven Joint Japan/World Bank scholars. There is a wide range of support available for students who are considering an application next year.  

The cohort is richly diverse, not just from a geographical point of view, but with a variety of ages, ethnicities and experiences represented. This year’s exceptional cohort include: 

• a legislator in the Zimbabwean Parliament who was the youngest MP at age 25 
• the founder of an award-winning campaign that mandated consent education in Australia 
• Uganda’s first Fridays for Future striker and a Young Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals 
• a public policy expert from Armenia who has advised the Deputy Prime Minister 
• the founder of an app that shares emergency real-time information to communities in Afghanistan 
• the youngest female Minister in the history of Sudan and the first woman to hold the position of Minister of Youth and Sports 
• a Taiwanese activist dedicated to period equity, sexual and reproductive health and gender equality who established the world’s only “period museum” 
• a local councillor in England, who recently stood as a candidate for the UK election in Blackpool 
• a Malaysian public servant who has served in the Speaker of the House of Representatives’ Office and the Leader of the Opposition’s Office 
• the spokesperson for the Ministry Of Finance and Economic Affairs in Malawi 
• a political journalist who has presented the Today Show in Australia 

Applications for the MPP,  MSc in Public Policy Research and DPhil in Public Policy are open until Friday 9 January 2025  but we strongly recommend submitting your application before the winter holidays. 

For those thinking of applying, join our Admissions Q&A on 23 October.