Jana Nedelkoska

The Reach Scholarship was created by the Oxford University Student Union to ensure that talented students from low-income countries have equal access to the opportunity to study at Oxford. The Scholarship is funded collaboratively by the University, the College (through donations from alumni and friends) and the JCR. 

“Growing up, studying at the University of Oxford felt like a dream that I could never quite reach. I never got my hopes up too high and never imagined what it would be like to be a student here because it just felt too impossible. I decided to apply as a last effort to achieve that dream, but I knew that with my financial situation it would be practically impossible to cover my tuition fees, accommodation costs etc. During those months of applications, exams and interviews, I searched for any opportunity which could help me and when I found out about the Reach scholarship, it almost felt unreal. Coming from a small town in North Macedonia, I never expected that I would be able to continue my studies in the UK, let alone Oxford, but this scholarship gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. With the Reach Oxford Scholarship, I am now able to make that childhood dream a reality and explore the world of Classics better than I ever could have.

“Being a Merton Reach Oxford Scholar is something that I am very proud of. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to everyone who participated in making this Scholarship a reality and everyone at Merton who continues to donate to the fund. I am so glad that an opportunity like this exists for students with experiences like mine, enabling them to finally achieve their childhood dreams.”

Jana Nedelkoska (2020, BA Classics), Reach Scholar