Undergraduate Support
The Merton-Oxford Bursary
Hannah comes from what she calls a "normal state school" in Dorset. She’s very grateful for a Sir Howard Stringer Merton-Oxford Bursary, which enables her to make the most of everything that Oxford and Merton have to offer without having to worry about finances. "Having the opportunity to study a subject that I enjoy is a real privilege."
Hannah Smith (BA History, 2017) - read more about Hannah
Tuition fees at Oxford, and most other UK universities, have risen above £9,000 for Home undergraduates. Combined with increased living costs, it is expected that students will now have to pay more than £50,000 for a three-year course – a far cry from the free tuition many of their predecessors received.
Our goal is to ensure that talented students are not deterred from coming to Merton due to high costs or concerns about debt. We have therefore established the Merton-Oxford Bursary, which provides financial help to Home fee undergraduates whose household income is below £50,000. This support is offered on a sliding scale, so that those who are most in need receive the highest levels of assistance. It helps students to pay for accommodation, food, study materials and other essentials.
The Merton-Oxford Bursary is funded through donations. We are enormously grateful to Sir Howard Stringer (BA History, 1961 & Honorary Fellow) and the late Ian Taylor (BA Philosophy, Politics & Economics, 1975 & Wyliot Fellow) for their exceptional generosity, as well as to the hundreds of other Mertonians and friends who have made gifts. As we look to the future, philanthropic support will continue to play an important role in protecting and expanding our funding for the Bursary.
The Reach Scholarship
“Growing up, studying at the University of Oxford felt like a dream that I could never quite reach. 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. 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 N. 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. I am now able to make my childhood dream a reality.”
Jana Nedelkoska (BA Classics, 2020) - read more about Jana
“The JCR’s decision to support the Reach Scholarship was unanimous. There’s a charge to every student of £3 per term on their battels – not a lot, but over time it mounts up. It’s great to support a student from another country who otherwise would have no hope of coming here.”
Lucy Buxton (BA Classics & Modern Languages, 2018), JCR President 2019-2020
The Reach Scholarship provides life-changing opportunities to students from lower income countries. It enables exceptional young people, who otherwise would not have the means, to access a Merton education and realise their potential during their time here.
The Scholarship provides full funding, paying for the student’s tuition fees and living costs for the duration of their course. It is unique in being financed jointly by the University, the College’s donors, and the JCR, through voluntary termly battels contributions from undergraduates.
