The Louis Dreyfus–Weidenfeld Scholarship and Leadership Program supports outstanding postgraduate students from transition and emerging economies throughout Africa, Asia and South America.
The Louis Dreyfus Foundation aims to promote sustainable agriculture, food security and self-sufficiency, particularly through education and direct support to farmers, with a specific focus on emerging countries in the above-mentioned regions.
One of the Foundation’s goals is to address the challenge facing humanity to double global food production in a sustainable way in order to feed a rapidly growing population.
The Louis Dreyfus-Weidenfeld Scholarship and Leadership Program is part of the Weidenfeld Scholarships and Leadership Program, which cultivates the leaders of tomorrow by providing outstanding university graduates and professionals from Africa, Asia and South America with the opportunity to pursue fully funded graduate studies at the University of Oxford in conjunction with access to a comprehensive program of leadership development, long-term mentoring and networking.
- An annual Leadership and Public Policy Seminar – including moderated discussions and workshops on political philosophy and leadership development;
- Practical skills training in presentation, negotiation, exam-writing and interviewing techniques;
- A London Leadership Forum at the end of the academic year;
- Engagement in the Institute for Strategic Dialogue’s projects and conferences; and
- Numerous networking opportunities throughout the year.
The Program is managed by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD). ISD is an independent think tank working with leaders in government, business, academia and the media to develop multi-country responses to the major security and socio-economic challenges of our time and to enhance Europe’s capacity to act effectively in the global arena.
Study Subject:
Scholarships are provided in the field of Anthropology, Area Studies, Chemistry – Organic Chemistry, Computer Science, Development Studies, Earth Science, Ecological Survey Techniques, Economics, Engineering Science, Geography and the Environment, Politics and International Relations, Law, Management Studies, Materials, Internet, Pharmacology, Plant Sciences, Public Health (linked to food and nutrition), Public Policy, Social Policy and Intervention and Statistics at University of Oxford in UK.
Eligibility:
- Candidates should be applying to start a new graduate course at Oxford. They should also be intending to return to their countries or regions of origin once the course is completed.
- Please ensure that you meet the selection criteria for your course (see the Course Guide for more information). This scholarship is not open to students with deferred entry.
- Eligible candidates must hold an undergraduate degree and be an ordinary resident of a country in Africa, Asia or South America, as listed on the Louis Dreyfus – Weidenfeld: Eligible Countries List (131kb).
- The Louis Dreyfus – Weidenfeld Scholarship and Leadership Program targets future leaders pursuing diverse careers with a focus on improving food security and sustainability. Successful applicants must demonstrate an interest in serving the global community through their chosen field of work, including but not limited to, agriculture, health care, environmental and water management, economic, public and foreign policy.
- Scholars under the Louis Dreyfus – Weidenfeld Scholarship and Leadership Program will pursue study or research in one of the courses listed on the following document: Louis Dreyfus-Weidenfeld: Eligible Courses List (166kb).
- Applicants should be able to demonstrate a connection between their subject of study and their longer-term career objectives, explaining how they see their professional work contributing to the improvement of public life in their countries of origin or at a wider regional or international level. This scholarship seeks to support individuals who, following completion of their supported studies, will go on to actively engage in their chosen fields.
- This scholarship may not be held in conjunction with any other awards. Students currently at Oxford are not eligible to apply unless they are already Weidenfeld Scholars.
Scholarship Value:
- 100% of university and college fees, and a grant for living costs (rate to be confirmed).
- Awards are made for the full duration of a student’s fee liability for the agreed course. If your scholarship is offered for a course lasting more than one year, the continuation of your scholarship each year is subject to an annual renewal process based upon satisfactory academic progress.
How to Apply?
- Apply at the same time as you apply to Oxford by selecting Louis Dreyfus – Weidenfeld Scholarship and Leadership Program in the Funding Section of the University’s Graduate Application Form.
- In order to be considered for this scholarship, you must submit your application for graduate study by the relevant January deadline for your course (10 January 2014 for Medical Sciences, Philosophy, Politics & International Relations and Computer Science; 24 January 2014 for all other subjects).
- You must also complete a Weidenfeld Scholarship Questionnaire (see ‘downloads’ on the right hand side of this page) and upload it together with your Graduate Application Form by the application deadline in order for your application to be considered complete.
- If you do not apply in full by the deadline, you will not be considered for the scholarship, even if you have selected Louis Dreyfus – Weidenfeld Scholarship and Leadership Program on the Graduate Application Form.
Additional points to note when applying for this scholarship:
- If, following the assessment of the January deadline applications, your department places your application on a waiting list or decides to re-evaluate it against the applications received for the next deadline (14 March 2014), then you will no longer be eligible for this scholarship.
- If you are accepted onto a different course from the one you originally applied for, you should contact us as soon as you are notified of the change in order to ensure that your application for a scholarship is maintained on the new course. However, please note that such a change of course may mean that you are no longer eligible for this scholarship.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in an interview in late April 2014.
Notification:
Decisions are expected to be made around May 2014. This webpage will be updated as soon as successful candidates have been notified. If you have not heard from us by this time, then your application to this scheme has been unsuccessful. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to contact unsuccessful applicants individually or provide feedback on applications.
Application Deadline: 10 or 24 January 2014, depending on your course.
For further information: Louis Dreyfus-Weidenfeld Scholarship and Leadership Program
