AfOx welcomes its largest Graduate Scholar cohort from Africa to Oxford
The Africa Oxford Initiative is thrilled to welcome its largest-ever cohort of over 70 graduate scholars from countries in Africa to the University of Oxford. An additional 11 other scholars will undertake their studies online. This 5th cohort adds to the growing AfOx network comprising over 3,000 active members in 120 institutions across 32 countries that are developing solutions for Healthy People, Green Futures, Integrated Societies and Innovation for Prosperity globally.
Since its inception 8 years ago, the AfOx Graduate Scholars Programme has provided over 93 outstanding African graduates with the opportunity to undertake a fully funded master’s degree at the University of Oxford. Beyond providing course fees and living costs, scholarship delivers tailor-made leadership and impact programmes, networking opportunities and support for students before, during, and after their time at Oxford.
Speaking during the orientation session, Ms Sepiso Dean Mwamelo, Scholarships Programme Manager at AfOx expressed enthusiasm for the new cohort, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome this year's cohort of accomplished AfOx Scholars, each of whom has demonstrated exceptional academic and leadership achievements, including unwavering commitment to the development of the African continent in their respective fields.
Every year, we are continually inspired by the incredible impact our scholars are already making in their communities, workplaces, and beyond. Through this one-year master's program, combined with our bespoke Leadership and Impact Programme, we hope to equip our scholars with the essential technical and soft skills needed to amplify the transformative change they aspire to achieve across the African continent.” Ms Sepiso added.
This vision of delivering meaningful impactful change is well conveyed by Nosiba Abd Elhaleem, a 2023 Mastercard Foundation AfOx scholar from Sudan who says, “My goal is to bring advanced technologies for cancer diagnosis and treatment to Africa at an affordable cost.”
The 2024-2025 scholarship recipients drawn from North and Sub Sharan Africa represent a diverse range of backgrounds and interests. This year’s cohort is set to pursue 30 different masters’ degree courses in Anthropology, Biodiversity, Education, Finance, Governance, Human Health, Law, Water Engineering, Migration studies, Music Performance, Policy and Governance.
Through successful external fundraising and partnerships with Mastercard Foundation, Standard Bank Africa's Chairman Scholarship, Oppenheimer Fund, Kennedy Institute, St Hugh's College and Reuben College, AfOx aims to support over 400 African Graduates in Oxford by 2030.