Somerville College, in collaboration with the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development (OICSD) and the Piramal family, has announced the launch of the Dr. Gita Piramal Scholarship. This full scholarship is designed to support Indian students in pursuing their higher education at the University of Oxford. Interested candidates can find eligibility criteria and application details at some.ox.ac.uk/the-oicsd/scholarships/dr-gita-piramal-scholarship.
The scholarship is named in honor of Dr. Gita Piramal, a prominent business historian in India, recognizing her substantial contributions to academia and corporate leadership. Dr. Piramal has been closely associated with Somerville College, where she serves as a Senior Associate Fellow and a mentor to numerous students. Her influential works on corporate India are integral to MBA courses worldwide, significantly shaping the perspectives of future business leaders.
The Dr. Gita Piramal Scholarship aims to uplift the brightest minds in India by offering full tuition coverage, alongside a stipend for living expenses. Specifically designed for financially disadvantaged students, this scholarship will be available for an initial period of five years, enhancing India’s intellectual resources and supporting the country’s sustainable growth.
Reflecting on the significance of this scholarship, Dr. Piramal stated, “India is my family home, and Somerville has been my intellectual home for many years. This scholarship will enable bright young minds from India to benefit from Oxford’s rich academic environment, contributing to India’s future development.”
Jan Royall, Principal of Somerville College, praised Dr. Piramal’s contributions, stating, “It is a privilege to honor such a longstanding friend of the College in this way. Dr. Piramal’s name will be associated with empowering brilliant Indian students, allowing them to experience the world-class education Oxford offers and to give back to India in meaningful ways.”
Since its establishment in 2013, the OICSD has successfully supported over 60 Indian students at Oxford, many of whom have returned to India to address pressing challenges in healthcare, technology, and climate change. The introduction of the Dr. Gita Piramal Scholarship strengthens this mission, ensuring that students from underprivileged backgrounds can access world-class education and contribute to both global and national solutions.
