Oxford University announces scholarship for Indian students

NEW DELHI: Oxford University’s Somerville College, in collaboration with the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development (OICSD), has launched the Dr Gita Piramal Scholarship for Indian students. The scholarship has been announced in honour of the business historian and in recognition of her contributions to academia and corporate leadership.

Piramal served as a senior associate fellow at Somerville College. The scholarship will cover the full tuition fee along with a stipend for living expenses. Only one scholarship is available for 2025 entry.

Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic merit, relevance of studies to the centre’s interdisciplinary aims, understanding of the development challenges faced by India, and leadership and entrepreneurial potential.

As per the eligibility criteria for the scholarship, the following courses will be considered

• MSc in Biodiversity, Conservation and Nature Recovery
• MSc in Economics for Development
• MSc in Education (Child Development and Education)
• MSc in Education (Comparative and International Education)
• MSc in Education (Digital and Social Change)
• MSc in Energy Systems
• MSc in Environmental Change and Management
• MSc in Global Governance and Diplomacy
• MSc in Global Health Science and Epidemiology
• MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Governance
• MSc in Water Science, Policy and Management

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Oxford University scholarship

Reflecting on the partnership, Piramal stated, “India is my family home, and Somerville has been my intellectual home for many years. This scholarship will enable bright young minds from India to benefit from Oxford’s rich academic environment, contributing to India’s future development.”

“It is a privilege to honour such a longstanding friend of the College in this way. Dr Piramal’s name will be associated with empowering brilliant Indian students, allowing them to experience the world-class education Oxford offers, and to give back to India in meaningful ways,” said Jan Royall, principal of Somerville College.

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Sanjana Choudhary, a journalist, has been awarded the inaugural scholarship. She is pursuing MSc in Modern South Asian Studies, and doing research on global solidarity movements, post-colonial labour rights and racial capitalism. Her works featured in prominent publications such as The Caravan and Duke University Press.

Reflecting on her achievement, Sanjana says, “This scholarship is a tribute to the earlier generations of women who paved the way for me. I am honoured to represent this prestigious opportunity and contribute towards the cause of minority rights in South Asian countries.”