Mansfield leads at Oxford and globally on widening participation in world-class education for undergraduates, and this new cohort of scholarships is an important first step towards extending this leadership to graduate study. With few externally funded scholarships available—especially for UK students—many of the most talented candidates are unable to take up their places. Without meaningful financial support, graduate study risks becoming inaccessible to all but the most privileged.
The Oxford-Foster Scholarships respond to this challenge. They will provide full funding for up to five graduate students at any one time, supporting study in the Humanities—English, History, Philosophy, and Theology—and in Politics, an area of particular strength and demand at Mansfield. The scholarships will be awarded on the basis of academic excellence, and the first Oxford-Foster Scholars will begin their studies in the 2026–27 academic year.
Chris Foster has pledged £4.7 million to endow the Oxford-Foster Scholarships in the Humanities and Politics at Mansfield College in perpetuity. This generous gift – made as part of the College’s For Mansfield. Forever. campaign –has unlocked 2:1 match funding through the University of Oxford’s Graduate Endowment Matched Scholarship (GEMS) scheme, bringing the total fund for the Oxford-Foster Scholarships to over £7 million.
Chris’ gift is in addition to his previously announced £25 million lead benefaction to kick-start the For Mansfield. Forever. campaign, and reflects his continued leadership and deep commitment to advancing Mansfield’s mission of access and academic excellence.
Principal of Mansfield College, Helen Mountfield KC, said:
“This is a moment of enormous significance for Mansfield. These scholarships not only create a permanent legacy that will support generations of talented graduate students, they also strengthen our mission to support academic excellence and inclusion at every level and will help us lead the sector in tackling the growing inequity in access to graduate study.”
“We are deeply grateful to Chris Foster for his exceptional generosity and vision, and to the University of Oxford for matching this gift through the Graduate Endowment Matched Scheme.”
