Oxford University scholarship for Asian students stops after 40 years

The scholarship, run by Hong Kong-based company Jardine Matheson is ending its programme for Oxford and Cambridge universities after 44 years to focus on redirecting funds to institutions in Asia.

According to the Jardine Foundation’s website, students starting their studies later this year will be the final cohort of undergraduate “Oxbridge” scholars to be covered by the programme.

“The Jardine Foundation remains committed to providing access to higher education by talented students across the Asian communities in which Jardines operates,” it said.

The foundation has said it will continue to support the current Jardine scholars at the universities and the students starting this year, as well as its existing Oxford and Cambridge postgraduate scholarship programme.

The foundation was established in 1982 by Jardine Matheson to commemorate its 150th anniversary and was intended to expand higher education to students across Asia.

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The scholarship runs from Exeter College (Image: Google Street View)

The foundation initially centred on full scholarships for specific colleges at Oxford and Cambridge, before expanding its partnerships to Asian institutions such as the University of Hong Kong and Universitas Gadjah Mada in Indonesia.

The company is one of the original Hong Kong trading houses that dates back to Imperial China.

The undergraduate scholarship was in partnership with Oxford university, and applicants could only study at Exeter College, Oriel College, The Queen’s College, and Trinity College.

Applicants can apply from Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Taiwan.

Former chairman of the scholarship includes famous art historian Duncan Robinson, British diplomat Sir Ivor Roberts, and English mathematician Geoffrey Grimmett.