Tim Gardam, Principal of St Anne’s College, welcomes the launch of a major new scholarship programme at the University

The University of Oxford yesterday announced the launch of a £300m programme to transform undergraduate bursary provision across the University.

The programme is underpinned by a £75m commitment from Christ Church alumnus Michael Moritz and his wife Harriet Heyman which, with a ‘matched funding challenge’ to the collegiate University, will generate an unprecedented total of £300m to support UK undergraduates from lower-income backgrounds.

Under the programme, Oxford students from the lowest-income families will receive financial support totalling £11,000 per year, eliminating all living costs. In addition, Moritz-Heyman scholars will receive financial support during vacations, and will participate in a tailor-made internship programme to foster career opportunities.

Tim Gardam, Principal of St Anne's, said:

This donation will transform undergraduate bursary provision at Oxford. This must surely be the single biggest advance towards needs blind admission that has been made. It will strike a powerful chord with all donors, big and small, who donate to college bursary funds. I am sure the challenge funding will generate an immediate response. It is important that the fund is linked to an internship scheme and to student ambassador work in schools.

This will get an enthusiastic response from the students, who are always our best advertisement when recruiting in schools in disadvantaged areas. The overall proposition is extremely generous but also expects the students to contribute themselves. That is absolutely right. Our challenge in the collegiate university will now be to meet the targets of the challenge funding. This could not come at a better time.

For further information please see the University website.