/ Becoming
Scholarships for Student Mobility
The Maison française d’Oxford (MFO), a research centre and a hub for French culture, is based at the University of Oxford, one of the world’s most prestigious universities. The MFO is a French research institute under the joint authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the CNRS, in partnership with Oxford University. In order to bring its “Becoming” objective to life, to foster the future of talented young people by giving them the means to access Oxford’s exceptional environment, it offers two scholarship programmes.
MASTER-THESE + OR PHD-MSC SCHEME
The MFO is a major player in student mobility to the UK. Indeed, it has signed 16 agreements with French higher education institutions for the mobility of doctoral students. However, while these schemes enable students to spend time in Oxford and become familiar with the University’s scientific ecosystem, they do not give rise to any official academic recognition. The MFO, through its integration with Oxford University, aims to implement a programme that would enable students to follow a master’s degree at Oxford University during their doctorate, in line with their chosen subject. Thus, distinguishing their academic career by giving it a resolutely international profile.
As a result of Brexit, European students in the UK must now pay higher tuition fees, and overseas fees. As a direct consequence, the number of French postgraduate students at Oxford University has fallen sharply in recent years, and the trend is likely to increase.
Against this backdrop, the MFO believes it is vital to maintain academic exchanges between France and Oxford University. The aim is to enable doctoral students from French higher education institutions affiliated with CNRS research units to spend 12 months in Oxford and, during the second year of their doctorate funding, to follow a Master’s course related to the subject of their thesis. These students will also be members of a college and receive a Master’sdegree from the University.
The long-term goal is to have up to 12 French PhD students each year (3 in each of the University’s four academic divisions: (a) Social Sciences, (b) Humanities), (c) Maths, Physical and Life Sciences and (d) Medical Sciences.
- Mention of the donor’s support on communication materials.
- Invitations to special graduation ceremonies of the donor or personalities he/she designated.
ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL TRAINING SCHOLARSHIPS
The MFO’s student mobility programmes focus on doctoral studies, a crucial stage in familiarising students with training in and through research, in an international context. In addition, it is essential to open up research training to new audiences and enhance its social diversity. The programme would also aim to promote the place of women in research in fields where they are under-represented. Finally, the programme would recognise the importance of passive knowledge of a foreign language acquired in multicultural families, and of regional linguistic diversity in France.
To recruit a group of 15 students each year, French and British residents, based on :
- financial criteria (scholarship holders);
- the quality of their academic record;
- geographical diversity (baccalaureate holders from local schools and rural areas).
Host the group for a one-week stay in Oxford and at the MFO, during the French university vacations and during Hilary Term (winter), with a program to discover Oxford University:
- Participation in research seminars and scientific events;
- Participation in courses;
- Invitation to lunch in a College;
- Discovery of documentary resources: Bodleian library network;
- Laboratory visits.
Compile reports and testimonials from students, keep up to date with their academic progress via the MFO Association.
- Annual honor roll displayed at the MFO, with mention of the donor’s support on communication media.
- Invitations to special graduation ceremonies of the donor or personalities he/she designated.