Christ Church, Oxford, has opted to join a number of other colleges which fund a Reach Scholar, a student from an economically disadvantaged nation who might otherwise struggle to study for a degree at Oxford or in their home country.

The Reach Oxford Scholarship is available to students applying to any course except Medicine and to applicants from any country “who receive official development assistance from the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)”. This includes countries from every corner of the globe from Argentina to Albania, Gambia to Guinea.

The scholarship covers course fees, a living grant and the cost of one return air fare each year. It is offered to undergraduate students, and preference is given to those “students who have not studied at undergraduate level before” and who are “intending to return to their country of ordinary residence following their studies”. Recipients of the scholarship are expected to remain in good academic standing during their time with the University, and to write an annual report on their academic and social experiences of studying in Oxford.

Mansfield College also runs the Reach Scholarship.

Christ Church noted in an email to current JCR members that the scholarship at Christ Church would be funded by a combination of University and college-wide sources as well as a “£5 termly levy” on battels. As at other colleges, this donation will be opt-out, and students were encouraged to give the £5 per term, as the scholarship is seen to represent a “chance to meaningfully contribute to improving access to Oxford”.

Previously, Reach Scholar applicants to a college like Christ Church which did not participate in the Reach Scholarship would be reallocated to a college which did participate, and so the move by Christ Church will be seen as a step toward making the college environment a more welcoming one for a diverse range of students.

Christ Church and the University of Oxford’s Press Office have been contacted for comment.

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