The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust is delighted to announce a new scholarship to be awarded annually to an Afghan woman of first- or second-generation descent, to enable the recipient with the offer of a place to study at the University of Oxford to undertake a master’s degree combined with a programme of leadership training.
The scholarship is made possible by the generous donation of US$2.5 million to the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust, made by Ms Shabana Basij-Rasikh, which will endow the scholarship in perpetuity.
Ms Basij-Rasikh is a leading Afghan educationalist and courageous champion of education for Afghan women, who co-founded the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA) for Afghan girls when she was just 18-years old. She is herself an alumna of the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme and studied for a Master in Public Policy at Oxford University, supported by the Trust in 2019/20.
Ms Basij-Rasikh said:
It is my incredible privilege to make this gift to honour the resilience and bravery of Afghan women. A few years ago at the UN, I asked: ‘What is one girl worth? She’s worth everything – and she can do anything.’ I am so happy to be in a position today where I can make a financial gift that places the tools of success in the hands of deserving Afghan women. This is all we’ve ever asked: not to be pitied or patronized, but only to have access to the tools we need to build our own futures, our own successes. At Oxford, an Afghan woman leader’s journey will begin. Another Afghan woman will come the following year, and it will continue, year after year, woman after woman. I am eager to see the future each one of them will build.
Dame Hilary Boulding, Chief Executive of the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust said:
This is an exceptional opportunity for Afghan women with clear leadership potential to pursue graduate study at Oxford University. Shabana Basij-Rasikh has shown extraordinary personal courage and humanity in fighting for the rights of Afghan women and girls to an education. We are delighted that her generous gift will enable emerging Afghan women leaders to have the opportunity to fulfil their potential through graduate study at Oxford.
The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust enables outstanding university graduates and professionals, mainly from developing and emerging economies, to pursue fully-funded graduate studies at the University of Oxford and to participate in a specially created Leadership Programme that is designed to develop their impact and effectiveness in addressing the complex challenges facing their countries.
The scholarship will provide 100% of the course fees for an eligible master’s degree together with an annual stipend to cover food and accommodation costs, and a pre-travel grant which can be used to offset expenses incurred prior to travel.
Further information, contact:
Dame Hilary Boulding, CEO Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust
Tel: +44 7930 417680; email: hilary.boulding@whtrust.org
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Shabana Basij-Rasikh: Shabana Basij-Rasikh is the co-founder and President of the School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA). SOLA was the first and only boarding school for Afghan girls, operating in Kabul until 2021 when the Taliban returned to power. In August 2021, Ms Basij-Rasikh led the evacuation of her entire school community from Afghanistan to Rwanda, where SOLA has re-established its operations and its students have resumed their studies. [Our Founder — SOLA]. To reach more Afghan girls, Shabana and her husband, Mati Amin, developed SOLAx, a free online education platform based on the Afghan school curriculum from 6th to 12th grade, delivered via WhatsApp. Launched in 2024, SOLAx had more than 43,000 learners by October 2026, most of them in Afghanistan and others spread across 76 countries.
Dame Hilary Boulding DBE: Dame Hilary Boulding joined the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust as its Chief Executive following an eight-year term as the President of Trinity College Oxford (2017-2025), the first woman to lead the College in its 450-year history. She has held senior roles in the Cultural and Higher Education sectors, for which she was honoured with a Damehood in 2017. She had a 20-year career at the BBC as Producer, Director and Commissioning Editor; she was the Director of Music at the Arts Council of England from 1999-2007; and served as the Principal of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (2007-2017).
What is the history of the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann programme? The WHT Scholarships and Leadership Programme was established as a 95th birthday tribute to the publisher and philanthropist Lord Weidenfeld, who did much to promote strategic dialogue. In his honour, multiple generous donations, including a philanthropic gift of £15 million from Swiss philanthropist André Hoffmann, matched by £12 million from the University of Oxford, has created an endowment which funds around 30 young leaders annually to undertake graduate study at Oxford. It is one of the largest philanthropic scholarship programmes supported by the University of Oxford.
Who is supported by the Oxford-Weidenfeld-Hoffmann scholarships? The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust supports an annual cohort of emerging leaders who can demonstrate that they have a genuine commitment to helping their country or community to develop. Typically, applicants can show evidence of their commitment to effecting beneficial social or economic change at a local, regional or international level. The Trust aims to support people who intend to take new skills acquired at Oxford to benefit their countries or regions after their year in Oxford.
What does the scholarship provide? The scholarship provides 100% of the course fees for an eligible master’s degree together with an annual stipend of at least £21,805 to cover food and accommodation costs, and a pre-travel grant of £2,000 which can be used to offset expenses incurred prior to travel such as visa, health insurance, travel costs etc. In addition, philanthropic donations to the Trust cover the cost of the Leadership Programme.
Who has been supported by the Trust previously? In the almost 18 years of its operation, the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust has supported 500 scholars from over 100 countries. 83% of the alumni are now leading change in their communities, countries, and regions of origin including multilaterally. 17% are leading in their fields elsewhere.
Who is eligible and how do they apply for this scholarship? The new Weidenfeld-Hoffmann ‘Afghan Women Leaders’ Scholarship is designated for an Afghan woman of first- or second-generation descent with the offer of a place to study at the University of Oxford on an eligible master’s degree programme. Scholars must be able to demonstrate a connection between their subject of study and longer-term career objectives, and how they see their professional work contributing to the improvement of the public life in their country of origin or at a wider regional or international level.
The UK Government ‘visa brake’: There is currently a UK Government ‘visa brake’ in place, which applies to Student visa applications made outside the UK from applicants who are nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan. The UK Government has stated that the visa brake is not permanent and will be reviewed regularly. This gift is in no way intended to be a political statement, nor should it be interpreted as one. The motivation for the gift is to offer opportunity and possibilities for Afghan women for many years into the future. We look forward to being able to award the scholarship at the earliest opportunity and to welcoming the first Afghan recipient of this award.
FACT SHEET
What is being announced?
The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust is announcing a gift of US$2.5 million by Ms Shabana Basij-Rasikh to endow a scholarship within the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme, enabling the recipient to undertake a master’s degree at the University of Oxford, together with an extensive programme of leadership training delivered by the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust.
What will the gift be used for?
The purpose of the gift is to endow a Scholarship to be awarded annually to an Afghan woman of first- or second-generation descent subject to the eligibility conditions governing entry to the University and selection for the Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann Scholarships.
What does the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust do?
The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust enables outstanding university graduates and professionals, mainly from developing and emerging economies, and who would not otherwise be able to support themselves to study at Oxford, to pursue fully-funded graduate studies at the University of Oxford and to participate in a specially created Leadership Programme that is designed to develop their impact and effectiveness in addressing the complex challenges facing their countries. In addition to master’s study, the programme involves an extensive programme of personal and professional skills development, including business and entrepreneurship, building a foundation for ethical leadership and fostering a global network.
What kind of people are supported by these scholarships?
The Trust is looking to support people who can demonstrate that they have a genuine commitment to helping their country or community to develop. Typically, applicants can show evidence of their commitment to effecting beneficial social, economic or political change at a local, regional or international level. The Trust aims to support people who intend to take new skills acquired at Oxford to benefit their countries or regions after their year in Oxford.
What does the scholarship provide?
The scholarship provides 100% of the course fees for an eligible master’s degree together with an annual stipend of at least £21,805 to cover food and accommodation costs, and a pre-travel grant of £2,000 which can be used to offset expenses incurred prior to travel such as visa, health insurance, travel costs etc. In addition, philanthropic donations to the Trust cover the cost of the Leadership Programme.
Who has been supported by the Trust previously?
In the almost 18 years of its operation, the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust has supported 500 scholars from over 100 countries. 83% of the alumni are now leading change in their communities, countries, and regions of origin including multilaterally. 17% are leading in their fields elsewhere.
Why did Ms Basij-Rasikh choose to endow a scholarship in this programme?
Ms Basij-Rasikh is herself an alumna of the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme. She studied for a Master in Public Policy at Oxford University, supported by the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust in 2019/20. She has chosen to endow a scholarship within this programme to support an Afghan woman of first- or second-generation descent to honour the resilience and bravery of Afghan women, and to give them the tools to succeed.
How can I apply for the scholarship?
To be considered for this particular scholarship within the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships programme:
- You must be applying to start a new full-time graduate course at Oxford;
- You must be able to demonstrate a connection between your subject of study and your longer-term career objectives, explaining how you see your professional work contributing to the improvement of public life in your country of origin or at a wider regional or international level;
- You must be offered a place to study on an eligible course at the University of Oxford (see the eligible course list here);
- You must be an Afghan woman of first- or second-generation descent.
You will be assessed using your graduate application form, your Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships Statement and (if relevant) your interview with the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann selection panel.
Applications for graduate study at Oxford for entry in September 2027 are open now. The closing dates for applications for graduate study are published on the relevant course page on the University of Oxford website.
Full details of how to apply are available on the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme | Oxford University and Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust.
Is there not a UK Government ‘visa brake’ currently in place which would prevent an Afghan student from receiving a student visa for the UK?
The visa brake currently applies to Student visa applications made outside the UK from applicants who are nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan. The UK Government has stated that the visa brake is not permanent and will be reviewed regularly. The visa brake is based only on the main nationality you give on your application form. If you already have a valid visa for the UK you are still able to apply for an in-country visa extension or another visa route in-country if you are eligible.
I currently live outside Afghanistan but am of first- or second-generation Afghan descent. Will I be eligible to apply for a scholarship?
If you are resident in one of the specified countries (see eligible countries here) or have specified that you are displaced and are an Afghan national you will be eligible to apply.
What is the history of the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann programme?
The WHT Leadership and Scholarships Programme was established as a 95th birthday tribute to the publisher and philanthropist Lord Weidenfeld, who did much to promote strategic dialogue. In his honour, multiple generous donations, including a philanthropic gift of £15 million from Swiss philanthropist André Hoffmann, matched by £12 million from the University of Oxford, has created an endowment which funds around 30 young leaders annually to undertake graduate study at Oxford. It is one of the largest philanthropic scholarship programmes supported by the University of Oxford.