Today the Blavatnik School welcomes its second class of students on the Master of Public Policy programme.
We have come a long way since 20 September 2010, when the Blavatnik School was officially launched. On that day, Oxford’s Vice-Chancellor described the donation by Len Blavatnik that made the foundation of the School possible as: “An act of vision that will enable Oxford to contribute to the world in a new way.”
The vision is now well and truly underway. The Blavatnik School of Government has a Dean, a strong and growing academic faculty, an established team of administrative support, a repertoire of teaching programmes – including the MPP, DPhil and short courses – students, alumni, and a dedicated new building currently under construction.
Our new students, too, have come a long way to get here. For many of them, coming to Oxford was only a dream until scholarship funding came through for them to attend.
Incoming student Manjit Nath from Northeast India will be attending the MPP on a Blavatnik School-Univ Scholarship. He explains, “I come from a remote village in India, and I am coming to the Blavatnik School on a full scholarship. I did not think twice before accepting the admission offer, but I must admit that without the scholarship my Oxford dream could not have been fulfilled. The range of scholarships available to Blavatnik School students is quite unique and an excellent opportunity for students of an economically weak background to achieve their lifelong dream.”
Wanjiku Nyoike, from Kenya, was one of last year’s MPP students, receiving a Blavatnik School-BP scholarship. She said, “Dreams have no walls! Studying at Oxford would have been a mirage if it hadn’t been for the generous funding I received from the Blavatnik School of Government and BP. My scholarship was crucial in enabling me to concentrate on my studies and experience the Oxford culture. It put my foot in the door and opened a whole new world of possibilities.”
One of our generous supporters is the Lemann Foundation, which this year established a series of fellowships for MPP students from Brazil. Denis Mizne, Executive Director, explained, “We’re very excited to have established the Lemann MPP Scholarships. They will help attract the most able and brilliant students from Brazil onto a pathway to public service.”
The School’s fundraising efforts have secured a combination of scholarships and financial awards for students accepted on this year’s MPP. This is in addition to a number of other wider Oxford University and external funding schemes for which MPP students can apply.
It all adds up to taking us closer to the the School’s vision of better government, stronger societies and richer human opportunities across the world.
The Blavatnik School would like to take this opportunity to give deep and heartfelt thanks to all its donors who are supporting this year’s class of MPP students.
Scholarships and awards for MPP students this year include*:
- The African Democratic Institute Scholarships
- The BNY Mellon Blavatnik Award
- BP Awards
- Chevening-Louis Dreyfus-Weidenfeld Scholarships
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme (in partnership with Wadham College and the Blavatnik School of Government)
- David H Pollock & Tomislav Zegarac Memorial Scholarships
- Kounelakis, Zegarac-Pollock Awards
- Lemann (MPP) Fellowship
- Rio Tinto Scholarship
- Sir Peter Elworthy Award
- University College-Blavatnik School of Government Scholarship
- Walter Kwok Scholarships
Many awards have also leveraged support from Oxford University’s Graduate Matched Funding Scheme.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! The Blavatnik School and its students are looking forward to changing the world with your help!
*In addition to the Blavatnik School scholarships, many MPP students were successful in securing generous support from University of Oxford and externally-funded scholarships and awards, including:
- Annemarie Schimmel Scholarship
- Becas Chile
- Chevening Scholarships
- Clarendon Fund
- Jardine Scholarships
- Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship
- People’s Republic of China
- Qatar
- R C Lee Centenary Scholarship
- Rhodes Scholarships
- SPIRIT Scholarship
- China Oxford Scholarship Fund
