The Thatcher Scholarships are a new initiative by Somerville College and the University of Oxford, made possible as a result of the support of a number of generous benefactors. The aims of the Thatcher Scholarships are to foster academic excellence, to support individuals who have a determination to succeed and to equip them to excel in their chosen field.
The Oxford-Qatar-Thatcher Graduate Scholarship has been created as a result of a £3 million donation by the Qatar Development Fund, which supports international education, health and economic development causes. This will create at least four scholarships at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, the first of which is expected to be awarded in 2017/18 to a postgraduate student.
In the early years as we build up the number of Thatcher Scholars, Somerville will operate a rota of departments/faculties for the awards. In 2017/18, three scholarships will be available for students starting postgraduate study, one in the Faculty of English Language and Literature, the Department of Engineering Science and the Faculty of Law.
The scholarship is only tenable at Somerville College. All eligible applicants will be considered for this scholarship, regardless of which college (if any) you state as your preference on the graduate application form. However, successful applicants will be transferred to Somerville College in order to take up the scholarship.