Lincoln is delighted to welcome five new Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholars this academic year. Hailing from Pakistan, Singapore, Uganda, Colombia and South Africa, the scholars bring a wealth of professional experience and a shared ambition to make a positive difference in their countries or regions of origin.
Their backgrounds span a diverse range of fields, including environmental protection, law, international relations, and women's health and healthcare innovation. At Oxford, they will have the opportunity to develop their expertise through postgraduate study while building the skills and networks to drive meaningful change.
Senior Tutor Dr Lydia Matthews said: "We are enormously fortunate to welcome such exceptional scholars to Lincoln. What impresses me most is the extraordinary breadth of expertise and perspectives they bring from across the world, alongside their ambition and determination to make a difference. They enrich our College community in so many ways, and I have no doubt that they will go on to make a real and lasting impact in their countries and beyond."
The Weidenfeld-Hoffman Trust is one of the largest philanthropic scholarships supported by the University of Oxford. It enables outstanding students, primarily from developing and emerging economies, to undertake a year of fully-funded graduate study at Oxford combined with a comprehensive programme of leadership development, long-term mentoring, and networking.
Alongside their academic studies, scholars take part in a tailored Leadership Programme, comprising 200 hours of training in personal development, business and entrepreneurship. It equips scholars with the skills and networks to become ethical leaders and build a lasting global community of support.
The scholarships at Lincoln are offered in partnership with the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust and made possible through the generous support of the late Dr Elman Poole (Medicine, 1953) and the Sloane Robinson Foundation, established by Lincoln alumnus Hugh Sloane (MPhil Economics, 1977) and George Robinson (Keble College, BA Engineering Science, 1975). The College is deeply grateful for the generous support provided to these talented scholars.
Meet Lincoln's new Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholars
Sabrina de Beer
From: South Africa
Degree: MSc Global Health Science and Epidemiology
Scholarships: Oxford-Hoffmann Scholar; Lincoln College, the Elman Poole Scholarship
"I applied for the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship because it offered more than financial support: an investment in skills and leadership that extends well beyond Oxford. It’s easy to take our strengths for granted rather than invest in them. WHT's Leadership Programme has pushed me to invest in mine whilst building new skills I might otherwise have overlooked. Equally valuable is being part of a diverse community that is helping me become a more thoughtful, collaborative leader. After Oxford, I want to combine my clinical experience with rigorous, data-driven problem-solving to help organisations tackle complex health challenges and deliver measurable improvements in women’s health."
Lawrence Alado
From: Uganda
Degree: MSc Law & Finance
Scholarships: Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann Scholar
"I grew up in Lira, a city in Northern Uganda rising from the rubble of civil crises. I was fortunate to meet missionaries who gave me the dream that one day I could change communities like mine. That is roughly how I ended up in emerging markets Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure law. However, working with legal teams and mentors in that sector made me realise that I needed to add Financial expertise to my legal knowledge, and that is how I decided to apply to Oxford for the MSc in Law and Finance. The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust Scholarship has given me more than a chance to pursue that dream; it has given me leadership training and a strong family of Alumni and Scholars passionate about change across over 150 countries and numerous sectors."
Fizza Khawar
From: Pakistan
Degree: MPP
Scholarships: Oxford-Hoffmann/Saïd Scholar; Lincoln College, the Elman Poole Scholarship
"The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship has been transformative in ways that extend far beyond the classroom. It has given me not only the opportunity to study at Oxford, but also a community that feels like family, a space to grow, and the inspiration to become a more principled and effective practitioner. Through the Moral Philosophy Seminars, engaging with questions of justice, equality and power alongside peers from across the world has challenged me to think more deeply about leadership and responsibility. Once I return to my work on criminal justice reform and human rights in South Asia, I hope to carry with me new perspectives, lasting friendships and a renewed commitment to building institutions that are more just, accountable and humane."
Beverley Choo Jia Ying
From: Singapore
Degree: MSc in Nature, Society and Environmental Governance
Scholarships: Oxford-Hoffmann/Chevening Scholar; Lincoln College, Sloane Robinson Foundation Scholarship
"Being a WHT-Chevening Scholar has allowed me to pursue graduate studies at Oxford and really dedicate myself fully to my academic and social life here. The WHT Leadership Program also means that I didn’t have to choose between my studies and building my nonprofit - I can do both at the same time. Furthermore, I’ve been able to meet incredibly smart, kind, and ambitious peers from all over the world through this scholarship, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from and grow alongside them.
After graduating from Oxford, I plan to continue building GreenCheck - a nonprofit that I co-founded five years ago - that builds solidarity for places most impacted by climate change through resource redirection and youth empowerment. I’m also passionate about transforming philanthropy to enable more equitable climate interventions in Southeast Asia, and hope to pursue this post-graduation as well."
Miguel Eduardo Ruiz Botero
From: Colombia
Degree: MSt Diplomatic Studies
Scholarships: Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann; Lincoln College, Sloane Robinson Foundation Scholarship
