Blavatnik School of Government and Roma Education Fund Scholarship: Master in Public Policy at the University of Oxford

Are you a Roma graduate with at least a BA degree? Are you thinking of pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public Policy? Did you know that the University of Oxford and the Blavatnik School of Government have partnered with the Roma Education Fund to provide a scholarship to one successful Roma applicant in the 2020/21 academic year? Now is your chance to apply to develop the analytical and critical skills relevant for understanding and delivering effective policies from on of the leading universities in the world!

Background  

Roma Education Fund has entered into a seven academic year partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government in order to support Roma applicants based on the shared value of inspiring and supporting better public policy and government around the world.  To achieve this, the School aims to educate the most able and aspiring Roma leaders to take forward a commitment to public service.

Each year, 2018/19 to 2024/25, inclusive, the partnership will bring one qualified individual of Roma ethnicity to join the Oxford MPP from a number of eligible countries; Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo*, Macedonia, Montenegro, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey, or Ukraine.

The Roma Education Fund Scholarship at the Blavatnik School of Government

From 2020/21, the Roma Education Fund and the Blavatnik School of Government will fund one scholarship at the Oxford Univeristy’s Blavatnik School of Government. The scholarships will be available to those who can demonstrate academic excellence, proven leadership and commitment to public service and who intend to return to the public sector in their countries of origin after completing their studies.

Scholarships are awarded on the basis of exceptional academic and leadership merit and/or potential commensurate with the requirements of the Oxford Master of Public Policy (MPP) course of study at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford.  In order to qualify for this scholarship, the applicant must first get accepted into the MPP program via Oxford’s admission committee. 

About the course

The Oxford Master of Public Policy (MPP) is a one-year taught degree course. It enables the students to develop analytical and critical skills relevant for understanding the challenges of public policy and its implementation. It also equips the students with skills that are essential for effective policy delivery.

Admissions to the MPP course for 2020/21 academic year is now open.  The closing date for submission of applications is  January 10, 2020.

Find further details on the course, entry requirements and how to apply, click here.

In addition, MPP scholarship recipients will be required to complete an obligatory summer project in host institutions. Students will be obliged to write a fortnightly blog reporting on their Summer Project for the Roma Education Fund.

Further details on the core School requirements of the Summer Project can be found here.

Eligibility for a Roma Education Fund Scholarship:

  • To identify oneself as Roma
  • Ordinarily Resident in one of the eligible countries specified above
  • Achieved an academic standing sufficiently advanced to ensure admission to Oxford and the MPP programme. This means a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in any discipline.
  • Strong commitment to public service and an intention to work in your country’s public sector after your studies.

Amount of the Scholarship

The Scholarship covers fees and a contribution towards living expenses.

Click here to see an estimate of your monthly and annual living costs in Oxford.

The Blavatnik School of Government is committed to ensuring that the financial burden of undertaking the MPP does not impede the brightest and best applicants from pursuing programmes at the School.

How to Apply for Scholarship:

For this scholarship, you do not apply through REF, instead in your MPP application state REF as a funding source.

Within two weeks of receiving your offer of acceptance letter, you must then contact REF and complete and submit a Scholarship Questionnaire to be eligible for the scholarship.

IMPORTANT UPDATE : Upon request we have JUST been informed that applicants wishing to apply to the MPP program with the REF scholarship can waive the application fee. For more information please email: ebader@romaeducationfund.org

About The Roma Education Fund

The main goal of the Roma Education Fund is to contribute to the emergence of a critical mass of Roma, higher education graduates, confident and proud of their Roma identity, academically and socially adept, equipped with skills and competences that enable them to become professionals in their fields, as well as remain solidly connected to the Roma community and support its further advancement and inclusion into the wider society. For more information, please click here.

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For inquiries and questions please first carefully read the Frequently Asked Questions provided by the Blavatnik School of Government.

For inquiries regarding REF’s involvement please contact Erzsébet Báder at ebader@romaeducationdund.org

 

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.