Afghan educationist donates $2.5 million to fund Oxford scholarships for Afghan women
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Afghan educationist and Oxford alumna Shabana Basij-Rasikh has donated $2.5 million (approximately Rs 23.76 crore) to establish an annual scholarship for Afghan women pursuing master’s degrees at the University of Oxford.
According to the university’s official announcement, the scholarship will be open to women of first- or second-generation Afghan descent who meet Oxford’s academic admission requirements and secure an offer for an eligible master’s course.
The scholarship will cover full course fees, provide a stipend for living expenses, and include a pre-travel grant to help recipients meet expenses before arriving in Oxford.
Basij-Rasikh co-founded the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA), at the age of 18. She later studied at Oxford through the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme, completing a Master of Public Policy in 2019-20.
Speaking about the initiative, Basij-Rasikh said, “This is all we have ever asked: not to be pitied or patronised, but only to have access to the tools we need to build our own futures, our own successes. At Oxford, an Afghan woman leader’s journey will begin. Another Afghan woman will come the following year, and it will continue, year after year, woman after woman.”
The university said the scholarship forms part of its broader efforts to expand access to graduate education for talented students from under-represented and at-risk backgrounds.
Through initiatives such as its Academic Futures scholarship programme, Oxford provides financial assistance to students who face barriers to higher education, including refugees and people affected by displacement.
The university was recognised as a University of Sanctuary in 2023 for its commitment to supporting people affected by conflict and persecution.
The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust supports graduates and professionals, primarily from developing and emerging economies, with fully funded graduate study at Oxford and a leadership programme designed to help them address challenges in their home countries and beyond.