Oxford Scholarship. We are in social
Oxford, like most universities in the UK, is state university. Public funding for education for non-British students is non-existent and finding funding to pay for tuition is the task of the student himself.
Scholarships and grants
Financial assistance to talented foreign students is provided by many organizations in the UK that offer grants; the largest are the universities themselves, as well as non-profit charitable foundations, state organizations, research councils and also commercial organizations.Being one of the largest universities in the world, it annually invests significant financial resources to support students whose merits and prospects are recognized by the university. If you are a graduate of a well-known institution in your country, have all or most excellent grades, and have clearly defined your academic and professional goals, then you may be in a position to receive a scholarship from the University of Oxford.
Application for many scholarships offered by the University of Oxford, as well as Research Council scholarships in the humanities and arts, occurs automatically with the application for admission to the master's program. If you are eligible for these scholarships, your Oxford application must be submitted no later than January.
Along with applying for admission, you can also request funding for special scholarships provided by faculties and. Detailed information about these scholarships is posted on the websites of the faculties and colleges of the university.
To help candidates, the university annually publishes information on funding opportunities, which you can find in the "Student Funding" section on the university website. When looking for suitable scholarship programs Pay attention first of all to the following points:
- Does your candidacy meet the selection criteria for the program (for example: academic achievement, nationality, field of study)?
- What is the amount of funding offered by the scholarship? Does the scholarship cover the full cost of tuition and living, or only part of the costs?
- What type of study programs (master's, PhD, full-time/part-time studies) are funded by the program?
- What is the deadline for applying for a scholarship?
Scholarship applications should be prepared well in advance in order to increase the chances of receiving a scholarship, as well as to avoid difficulties in reserving a place in the program due to the inability to provide proof of the availability of funds for tuition and living expenses in a timely manner.
Non-scholarship funding sources
As additional or alternative sources of funding, some Oxford students also use bank loans received at home or in the UK.Part-time work, in agreement with the supervisor, can also help offset the cost of living in the UK. However, the programs and are very intensive and combining study with work can be difficult. Many students
The Fund Coordinator in each University confirms the correctness of closed applications and the accuracy of the information provided in them. After confirmation, the application has the status "Confirmed". Incorrectly executed applications and applications containing false information are not confirmed by the Coordinator and are not allowed to participate in the Contest, their status remains unchanged - "Closed".
Charter of FGBOU VO "VSU";
"Agreement on the provision of a targeted gratuitous donation" dated 01.04.2015, concluded between the "Oxford Russian Foundation" and the Federal State budget institution higher vocational education"Voronezh State University".
As the correspondent of 1ul.ru was explained at USU, in order to become a participant, a student must fill out an application on the competition website, where it is necessary to indicate their scientific achievements, for example, the topic and content of scientific work, participation in conferences, publication of scientific articles, etc. Then the application is closed, and open only in July, so that participants can add a screenshot of their grade book with grades for the last 2 semesters. The winners of the competition will receive a scholarship in the amount of 4,000 rubles throughout the academic year (40,000 rubles).
Oxford scholarships for Tyumen students
Students can participate in the competition full-time department. Applicants must have high academic performance, actively participate in research and social activities. The presence of scientific publications is welcome.
To traditional destinations , added anthropology and ethnology , , as well as digital humanities .
Oxford scholarships for Tyumen students
Can participate in the competition students of Tyumen State University in the humanities (bachelors of the 2nd and 3rd courses and students-specialists of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th courses) students in the full-time department. Applicants must have high academic performance, actively participate in research and social activities. The presence of scientific publications is welcome.
To traditional destinations archeology, journalism, art, history, cultural studies, political science, law, psychology, sociology, philology, philosophy, economics, ethics and religious studies, added anthropology and ethnology , regional studies and international relations , as well as digital humanities .
Oxford Scholarships
The RUF scholarship is received by students of faculties and institutes of socio-economic and humanitarian orientation, studying only for "4" and "5", engaged in social and, most importantly, research work. On this day, 120 such excellent and good students from ISU undergraduate students received certificates from the representatives of the Foundation.
– This is the first time I have received a scholarship and I am very glad that Oxford supports the humanities. It seems to me that apart from the Oxford trustees, no one else believes in us - philologists, journalists, economists, historians, political scientists, sociologists. It is very pleasant to see that many ISU students managed to pass the selection and become a scholarship holder. I think that the Oxford scholarship is a prestige and a very good motivator for further work and study. It is necessary to participate in such programs, and in general, modern students have a huge number of opportunities, and each of them must be used to the fullest.
USU Students Fight for Oxford Scholarship
There are several conditions under which a student can receive an Oxford Scholarship. First, and most importantly, he must study at the university with "good" and "excellent", as well as big time give scientific activity. When choosing a candidate for a scholarship, the commission will pay attention specifically to academic indicators, that is, to grades for the last 2 academic semesters and participation in scientific and practical activities at the department of their university.
Students who study full-time in the following disciplines can take part in the competition for an Oxford scholarship: archeology, history, history and theory of art, cultural studies, world literature, political science, jurisprudence, psychology, sociology, philology, philosophy, economics, ethics and religious studies. As representatives of the Oxford Russia Foundation themselves specified, students who study at budgetary basis, but payers will also be able to compete for the title of winner and lucky winner of the scholarship. We emphasize that a student who previously received a scholarship can also apply and receive a monthly allowance from Oxford in the second or even third race.
Oxford scholarship amount 2019
– I am very happy to receive a scholarship from the Oxford Russia Foundation! This opens up new prospects for me, because you can spend these funds to participate in conferences in other cities and countries. I want to express my deep gratitude to my supervisor Oksana Alexandrovna Polyushkevich for the support she gives me in my scientific work for the fourth year now. I would also like to say thank you to the Oxford Russia Foundation for the wonderful opportunities that it gives to humanities students.
The visit of a delegation of a British charitable organization to ISU was a confirmation of a long-standing partnership. 10 years ago, Irkutsk State University entered the Foundation's program and still remains the only university Eastern Siberia, whose students receive a RUF scholarship. Since this academic year, its amount has increased to six thousand rubles a month.
200 SibFU students will receive charitable Oxford scholarships
The Oxford Russia Fund was founded in 2005 by a group of Oxford University alumni to promote education in the Russian Federation and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The key project of the Oxford Russia Foundation is a scholarship program for students in the humanities. The program started in 2005 and the project is currently being implemented in twenty Russian universities. SibFU joined the program in 2007-2008 academic year.
The list of applicants for the Oxford Russian Foundation scholarship has been approved by the SibFU Academic Council. Scholarships are paid to students of 3-6 courses on a monthly basis during the academic year, subject to high academic achievement, as well as scientific and social activity. In the next academic year, the amount of the scholarship will be increased and will amount to 3.25 thousand rubles.
AMO VOO YOUNG GUARD OF UNITED RUSSIA ->
During the academic year, the Foundation Scholarship Coordinator monitors the educational, scientific and practical activities of scholarship holders, on the basis of which the scholarship is extended. If, as a result of monitoring, it is revealed that a student receiving a scholarship from the Foundation does not meet the requirements for scholarship holders of the Foundation, then the Coordinator prepares materials for stopping the payment of scholarships to this student, submits them for consideration by the Academic Council and the Moscow representative office of the Foundation.
Organization of the competition.
The first stage of the competition is held by the Academic Council of the university with the participation of the Fund's scholarship program coordinator, appointed by order of the rector. After the end of the summer session, the Academic Council of each university participating in the project considers candidates for the Foundation's scholarship and makes a decision on each of the applicants. The recommendations of the Academic Council and the list of students recommended for scholarships are submitted to the Moscow office of the Foundation.
Siberian Federal University
The competition is held for 2nd and 3rd year students studying undergraduate programs (applicants for scholarships in the 3rd and 4th years of the 2019-2019 academic year) and students of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th courses enrolled in specialist training programs (applicants for scholarships in the 3rd, 4th and 5th years of the 2019-2019 academic year).
Competitors can be students with "good" and "excellent" during the last two semesters in the following specialties and areas: archeology, history, history and theory of art, cultural studies, world literature, politics, law, psychology, sociology, philology, philosophy, economics , ethics and religious studies, ethnology, journalism.
Getting an education in the UK is the dream of many graduates around the world. In the future, a British diploma will help you get a prestigious position, and in general, the prospects are very wide. But not all foreigners can pay for education in the UK, because education here is quite expensive. However, there is one big plus - talented applicants and students can apply for scholarships or grants, which will cover the cost of study in part or in full.
Scholarship programs are financed by public, private foundations and the universities themselves. To receive such a "lucky bonus", you need take part in a competition. There are many applicants for the scholarship, and the requirements for the selection are high, but there is always a chance.
Foundations and organizations
In the UK, there are currently several programs created with the support of the government and private foundations. Each year they can use a certain number foreign students.
Chevening Scholarship
Chevening Scholarship – international program support for talented students funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and sponsoring organizations. The scholarship is usually awarded for 1 year for a master's degree.
Anyone can participate in the selection, whose package of documents meets the requirements of the Chevening program: higher education, citizenship and permanent residence, high level English proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS), 2 years of work in the specialty, planned activities in their country after studying in the UK. Among the applicant countries: Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, etc.
The candidate must clearly plan for the future, to know what subjects he needs to master in order to be useful at home. At the 1st stage, an essay contest is held and the packages of documents of candidates that most meet the requirements are considered. 2nd stage - a detailed interview with representatives of the British Council.
Training is available in a variety of areas: science and space, politics and international relations, business and innovation, economics, journalism, law and public administration, architecture, environmental research, climate change, energy sources, etc.
The scholarship is usually given for one year. This includes an amount covering the cost of education (£12,000) and the same amount allocated for food and accommodation. If the cost is higher, the student covers the difference at his own expense. Anyone can apply through the system. You can follow the application deadlines and updates on the program or resource
The Hill Foundation
Charity organization The Hill Foundation provides grants for full-time study in Oxford University students from abroad (including CIS countries). Any direction of bachelor's and master's programs is available. This The scholarship fully covers tuition and living expenses(In the 2015-2016 academic year, the minimum amount was £14,057). The competition is high, so documents should be submitted at least a year before the start of the course.
Special requirements: applicant (citizen of another state) must have an honors degree from a university in their country; personal qualities and activity in social life are important; the desire to apply the knowledge gained in the UK for the benefit of their country. The applicant must confirm that his plans include return to home country (minimum 12 months after completion of studies).
UK university scholarships
Most major universities in the UK provide scholarships and grants to international students. The main condition is the excellent academic performance of the applicant. University scholarships cover tuition costs in full or 30-50%. There are options when accommodation is also compensated.
flickrClarendon Foundation Scholarship - Master's Degree Study at the University of Oxford
Gates Scholarship at the University of Cambridge
Full scholarship for graduate studies university of Westminster
Scholarship for Master's/PhD studies at Birkbeck University, University of London, School of Arts
The School of Arts of the university offers 15 undergraduate and postgraduate students from all countries applying for full-time or correspondence form learning. The scholarship is applied for by students entering the programs of the faculties: art history, cinematography, journalism, English and humanitarian sciences etc. All details on
London Metropolitan University
Multinational provides scholarships to international students. She makes up for the cost. full-time education in the magistracy and one year of residence in the residence of the International Students House. Condition: bachelor's degree in the chosen direction with honors, IELTS - 7 points and 6.5 points for each of the subjects.
Sheffield Hallam University
- the UK's largest university gives talented international students a 50% discount on full-time undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Criteria: excellent academic performance, purposefulness. A scientific degree will be a big plus for obtaining.
Vice Chancellor Scholarship for London South Bank University
The Vice Chancellor's Scholarship will allow you to partially (from £1000) or fully cover the cost of postgraduate study at the university. The program also provides payments to students who have achieved success in their studies in the UK and other countries. The candidate must confirm their success (academic, professional and personal).
Grants for full-time, graduate and postgraduate studies
flickr A study grant in the UK can partially or completely cover all expenses (transport, accommodation and meals. For talented students from countries with a weak economy, amounts are often allocated to cover all expenses.
Mary Orr Paterson Scholarship from the University of Edinburgh
The Mary Orr Paterson Scholarship Grant is awarded to inpatient students in the Faculty of Medicine or veterinary medicine with high academic achievement. The grant (£4,000 per year) can be used to pay for tuition, accommodation, flights. It is extended subject to successful study.
Grant for training for future masters in the specialty: Environmental Protection, Aquaculture
For master's students in the areas of "Aquaculture" and " Environment"a scholarship has been created covering 2 years of study. The first 3 semesters students study in different countries European Union, and then they themselves choose where they will study in the 4th semester. The goal of the program is to solve scientific, technological and social problems in the development of aquaculture worldwide.
Grants for a Computational Linguistics Graduate Course at Cardiff University
In you can apply for a grant for postgraduate study in the department of computer science and computer science towards " Computational linguistics"(PhD program).
The grant (£14,057) covers tuition fees. The term of study is 3 years, the amount of the scholarship is indexed annually. A citizen of any country can apply for participation. Criteria: fundamental training in mathematics, statistics and programming.
Postgraduate study grant University of Hull
The University of Hull offers a grant for graduate students. His can be obtained by foreign students who are not citizens of EU countries and enrolled in a one-year postgraduate program. The grant fully covers tuition fees. Candidates need to provide test results: IELTS 6.5; Standard X11; WAEC; SPM 119.
If your knowledge allows you to apply for better education, it makes sense to find out what universities and colleges in the UK offer. There are those that make it possible to get an education in the UK for free.
We wish you successful studies!
Scholarships and grants in the UK for international students updated: April 19, 2019 by: Annie Krasova
No one knows when the University of Oxford was founded, but the first evidence of education here dates back to 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second oldest functioning university. A major change came in the 13th century when some students and faculty left Oxford to found the University of Cambridge, its rival.
The University of Oxford is made up of 38 colleges and 4 divisions. There are 23,000 students studying at these various institutions, of which 11,728 are undergraduate students and 10,941 are graduate students. Total number foreign students - 9900, which is 42% of the student body. This is good news for international students as Oxford welcomes students from all over the world.
It is very difficult to get an opportunity to study at Oxford, as only one student is selected out of five applications for admission. Therefore, in order to be competitive for Oxford, it is necessary to demonstrate outstanding achievements and have leadership qualities.
Ratings
Ranked by Times Higher Education World University, Oxford ranked first in the world. This is not surprising, because Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and holds fundamental research. Oxford ranks first in not only one, but several ranking systems, including QS World university rankings.
To see ratings, as well as others Interesting Facts and Oxford personalities, open Oxford University Facts and Figures.
Undergraduate Scholarships
Reach Oxford Scholarship
. The scholarship covers tuition, fees, annual living allowances, round trip airfare.
. Eligibility - students from low income countries.
. The number of recipients is approximately 2-3 students per year.
Acceptance Procedure - Students must be admitted to the university before applying for the Reach Oxford Scholarship. The application deadline is October 15, you must apply after you are accepted to the university. For more information about Reach Oxford Scholarship, read this page.
Other Scholarships for Specific Colleges and Majors
The Reach Oxford, Simon and June Li Scholarships are unlimited in the choice of fields of study, except for medicine. However, besides these scholarships, there are many good scholarship programs that focus on a specific field of study as well as nationality. To find scholarships that are right for you, visit the Oxford University Scholarship Search.
Scholarships for undergraduates and PhDs
Clarendon Scholarship
. Eligibility - All local and international students wishing to pursue any degree at the University of Oxford.
. The number of recipients is 140 new students each year.
. Acceptance Procedure - No application for another separate scholarship is required to receive a Clarendon Scholarship.
Ertegun Scholarship
. The scholarship covers tuition, fees, accommodation.
. Eligibility - All local and international students wishing to study in the liberal arts at the University of Oxford.
. The number of recipients is a minimum of 10 students per year.
. You must have completed the individual scholarships you apply for.
Other scholarships for international students
Apart from the Clarendon and Ertegun scholarships, there are other good scholarships for international students. These scholarships, as in the case of scholarships for bachelors, are aimed at a specific field of study. To find these scholarships, go to Oxford scholarship search.
Application dates
. For undergraduate students, the application deadline opens on September 1st and closes on October 15th. Once you have been accepted, you must submit a separate scholarship application on January 1st.
. For postgraduate studies - acceptance of applications begins on September 1 and ends on January 8 or 15, depending on the specialty.
How to Apply for Oxford University Scholarship
The application procedure for international students is clearly explained on the University of Oxford website. If you are an undergraduate student, please read the Undergraduate Student Admissions Guide to learn about the application process. If you are a graduate student, then open the graduate student acceptance guide.
You can find more detailed information about the university in our overview.
That's all! Good luck with your admissions and scholarships!
In the article, one of the GSA subscribers talks in detail about his successful experience of entering Oxford - one of the best universities in the world.
I made the decision to get higher education abroad when I was a student of the 11th grade. First of all, this was facilitated by my participation in the International Chemistry Olympiad, held in Tokyo. In addition to the mass of impressions from Japan, which is geographically and culturally distant, I returned to my homeland with the firm intention of continuing my studies at the university abroad. However, there were significant difficulties in determining a specific direction, mainly due to a lack of information and ignorance of where this information could be obtained.
Where to go to study?
In the end, having abandoned Japan and Germany for language reasons, my choice fell on higher education institutions in the USA and Great Britain. The final decision was made under the influence of two factors. The first is rational: the costs of the admission process to any US university are significantly more expensive than in the case of British universities. Although it was about a couple of hundred dollars, in those days (end of 2010-2011) this was a very weighty argument, because. an economic crisis broke out in Belarus, and it was extremely problematic to acquire currency. The second factor is more emotional. Once I went to my Facebook page, I discovered that one of the participants of the last international Olympiad (a representative of Estonia) entered Cambridge. Then I asked myself the question: "If she, having taken a place below me at the Olympiad (being 2 years older at the same time), entered, why shouldn't I try to do the same?"
So, my destination is UK. Now the need has become to find a scholarship that covers the cost of tuition and living. It is worth noting that the cost of education for the British and EU citizens is noticeably lower than for students from the rest of the world - overseas students. What's more, Her Majesty's nationals and citizens of EU countries have the option of receiving an interest-free study loan, the repayment of which only starts when the graduate starts earning more than £25,000 a year. The sum of the costs mentioned above in the UK is for overseas students around £40,000 per year, and vary slightly depending on the university. Thus, the widespread belief that education at Oxford and Cambridge is noticeably more expensive than at other universities is incorrect. As for scholarships, as it turned out, for bachelor's programs there are, in principle, few of them, and only a few with full coverage. At the beginning of 2011, there was only one such scholarship - Reach Oxford Scholarship (for citizens of the Russian Federation there is a separate Chevening Scholarship). Actually, this fact was the reason for the final choice in favor of Oxford University.
What to do after the 11th grade of school: 2 ways
A very important point is that it is impossible to enter the UK after graduating from an 11-year school, because in Foggy Albion, schooling lasts 12 years. There are three ways to overcome this limitation - after studying for 1 year at the university of the Russian Federation, graduating from high school International Baccalaureate, or study for 1 year in the UK at a university Foundation program- a kind of analogue of our preparatory courses. The advantage of the first two options is the use of a knowledge assessment system known and understood by the British. From a financial point of view, the first option is the most attractive, so I entered the Chemistry Department of the Moscow state university(fortunately, the victory at the International Mendeleev Olympiad made it possible to do this without exams and passing the exam). The second fact that you should pay attention to is that the admission process begins about a year before the expected start of studies at the university (usually on September 15). The deadline for accepting applications is from October 15 for Oxford and Cambridge, until January 15 for most other universities. It is also necessary to remember that for a foreigner to enter any higher educational institution The UK requires a document confirming a high level of English proficiency. Such document can be IELTS (academic), TOEFL, Cambridge exams. Specific requirements depend on the university and the chosen program - in my case it was IELTS (academic) 7.0.
The very process of admission to Oxbridge, as Oxford is also called and cambridge universities, can be divided into 4 stages: applying, interviewing, obtaining academic and other results specified in the conditional offer and, finally, obtaining a British student visa. I was lucky enough to take part in 3 out of 4 stages, which I would like to talk about.
Applying
Applications for UK universities are made entirely online. There is a special organization UCAS (Universities and Colleges Application Service) that accepts and processes applications and then sends them directly to universities. To apply to the university (the maximum number of courses that can be applied for is 5; applying to Oxford and Cambridge at the same time is not allowed), you must register on the website and fill out the Application Form. The form itself includes both rather trivial things, such as personal data, secondary education, work experience, contacts, and sections called Personal Statement (something like a motivation letter) and Reference (recommendation), which are worth dwelling on.
Motivation letter to Oxford
A cover letter is exactly what makes your application stand out among hundreds of others. Of course, excellent grades in the certificate are important, but this data is not very informative for the British (this does not apply to the International Baccalaureate). There is no scale for translating our grades into English, and attempts to do it yourself will almost certainly lead to a refusal to pass the interview. However, even if you have excellent grades on hand British system, do not forget that the best of the best come to Oxbridge. In order to unleash your potential and convince the university that they need you, there is a Personal Statement section. This creation of 4000 characters with spaces should reflect the reasons for enrolling in this program at this university (and this country), motivation, plans for the future, as well as information about the non-academic interests of the applicant. It is very important to mention achievements related to the subject you wish to study.
So, in my case, these were medals of various international olympiads in chemistry. You should not be shy and treat this as a boast, because your achievements are exactly what distinguishes you from other applicants. The central place in the motivation letter is, in fact, the motivation of a potential student. Here it is necessary to vividly, but at the same time, logically present the reasons for studying this subject and entering this university. You can give examples from your own life, famous (and not so) quotes, etc. The main thing to remember is that the main thing in this part is coherence, consistency and logic. Every offer must be thought through. That is why writing a Personal Statement should never be left until the last day before the deadline. It took me about a month to fill out the form “from and to”, of which 2.5 weeks were spent on preparing and editing a motivation letter. The resource turned out to be very useful for me, where examples of successful and not very successful motivation letters from British and international applicants. Some useful information can also be found on the UCAS website. If you're not very confident in your English, it's a good idea to use an interpreter to check your Personal Statement, as I did.
The recommendation ranks second (after the Personal Statement) in terms of impact on the chances of being invited to an interview. Ideally, this part of the Application Form should be written by a person who knows you from an academic point of view - school teacher, supervisor, etc. (the so-called referee). In practice, sometimes for several reasons this turns out to be difficult or impossible, so you need to do it yourself (fortunately, at this stage I did not have to do this). The letter of recommendation itself should contain information about your academic progress and plans for the future, as well as personal qualities from the position of a teacher. Unlike a Personal Statement, both your positive and negative sides can be indicated here. The text of the recommendation is also uploaded to the UCAS website by your "referee". Before that, as well as in the case of a motivation letter, it makes sense to consult with a translator.
After downloading the recommendation, the last step remains - the application fee (£12 - £23 depending on the number of programs chosen). Once payment has been made, the application is considered submitted and cannot be changed.
Interview
It should be noted that at the first stage, quite a few applicants are eliminated - basically, these are those who do not meet minimum requirements for admission. For a chemistry course, the number of interviewees usually exceeds 90%. The main selection takes place at the interview - communication between the applicant and representatives of the university. Only about a third of applicants pass this stage (for the course of chemistry, for other courses the figures may differ markedly).
All interviews take place at the university in early to mid-December. Because between the deadline for submitting an application to Oxford and the decision to invite an interview, it becomes difficult or impossible to obtain a British visa. In this case, the university provides the possibility of passing an interview by phone or Skype. It was the last option that was offered to me.
The Oxbridge interview is unique in many ways. Not everyone British universities conduct interviews with their potential students. Here, this procedure is mandatory, because it is really the selection of the best of the best. I think many of you reading this article have heard or read about the bizarre interview questions that candidates are asked to ask. This does not mean that absolutely every interview contains such questions, but sometimes it does happen. This is how the ingenuity and non-standard thinking of applicants are tested. There is a special site on which people who have been interviewed talk about the questions and tasks that they were offered. It is very useful to read when preparing for an interview. In general, you should prepare for the interview comprehensively in order to narrow down the range of issues that can cause difficulties as much as possible. Important to track latest news in the field you wish to dedicate yourself to. Applying this knowledge to interviews will show your interest in the subject, which is exactly what Oxbridge teachers look for in applicants.
Skype interviews are usually shorter than interactions with teachers on British soil. My interview began at 14:00 Moscow time and lasted only 20 minutes. I still remember that day in detail. It is difficult to convey what was going on inside me when a Skype window appeared on the monitor screen with the inscription: “St. Anne's College is calling." The interview was conducted by three lecturers representing various fields of chemistry: inorganic, organic and physical. The first questions on organic chemistry were fairly simple (some were in the 9th grade curriculum), although one of these questions I couldn't give a full answer to because of the frenzy of excitement. To answer questions about physical chemistry it required the use of a pen and sheets of paper, as well as the ability to substantiate one's assumptions and conclusions - the balance between nitrogen dioxide and its dimer was discussed, as well as the factors by which the balance can be shifted in one direction or another. Finally, it came to my favorite organic chemistry. Here I adequately answered all the questions of the teacher, and after that I breathed a sigh of relief - the interview was coming to an end. In general, the attitude of the teachers was very friendly. It remains to wait for the final verdict ...
Conditional offer
A few days after the interview, a Conditional offer was sent to my email address. This actually meant accepting me to the university, but subject to certain requirements. In addition to providing an official copy of the certificate, I was required to provide the required IELTS results by August 1, as well as provide guarantees of solvency. If the results of the exam English language depended solely on me (I was preparing to take IELTS in the summer), then getting a scholarship seemed a much more incomprehensible and subjective stage on the way from Minsk to Oxford.
The Reach Oxford Scholarship is for citizens of countries with low level income of the population, which, for political or financial reasons, cannot receive higher education in their homeland. Although the description of the scholarship did not quite fit my situation, the main criterion for obtaining it was still outstanding academic performance, so there was a chance of becoming a scholarship holder. The application was submitted in January-February, the result became known in March. To participate in the competition, it was necessary to submit 2 motivational and 2 letters of recommendation.
Without going into detail on letters of recommendation, I will only say that this time I wrote them myself, and my "referees" were teachers from the Faculty of Chemistry of the Belarusian State University, who knew me from the preparation and participation in chemical Olympiads. The first letter of motivation described the motivation for studying the subject and applying for the scholarship. The second is an essay on the topic “How studying at Oxford will help improve the life of my Motherland”. I must say that there is very little information about this program on the Internet. Even having acquaintances studying at Oxford, I could not find a single participant in this program. As far as sample motivation letters are concerned, at the time of application, there was only one example from a student from Vietnam who was about to study theoretical physics. Thus, formally there were no restrictions or requirements regarding the essay.
It is worth noting that Oxford offers special scholarships for students from certain countries: Pakistan, Armenia, Turkey, etc. If you suddenly have the citizenship of one of these countries, this may be your additional chance to get an education in oldest university UK. Unfortunately, in March I was informed that I would not become a scholarship holder. On this mine oxford history was finished. Anyway, until...
What happened next
In July 2012, I still passed IELTS. I passed rather due to the fact that otherwise the work done to prepare for the exam (and it began in March 2011) would have been in vain. In any case, an international English language exam certificate may not be superfluous, especially when looking for internships abroad. However, the motivation was clearly not the same, so it turned out only 6.5 points.
Now I continue to study at the Faculty of Chemistry of Moscow State University. I did not stop thinking about continuing my education abroad, perhaps even at Oxford, for example. there are traditionally more master's and postgraduate scholarships. I have no regrets about the decision I made and the work done for admission. Although, if I had to decide this issue now, I would prefer the United States. Nevertheless, for me it was an invaluable experience of searching for information and communicating with representatives foreign university. In the end, I wrote this article precisely due to the fact that at one time I made studying at Oxford University my dream.
Photos and text provided
