Bangladeshi student Nazifa Binte Harun has secured the fully funded ODID DAC Scholarship to pursue an MPhil in Development Studies at the University of Oxford’s Department of International Development. The scholarship is awarded annually to one student from among applicants from 141 countries on the OECD list.
Nazifa completed her BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the Asian University for Women (AUW), graduating Summa Cum Laude with a CGPA above 3.9. During her undergraduate studies, she received a full Erasmus+ ICM scholarship for an exchange semester at the University of Trento in Italy.
After graduation, she worked with BRAC and the Mai Soli Foundation as a development practitioner before beginning her studies at Oxford.
Reflecting on her application, Nazifa highlighted the importance of a focused Statement of Purpose, relevant academic experience and strong recommendation letters. She advised applicants to emphasise the impact of their experiences rather than simply listing achievements.
For Bangladeshi students aspiring to study at leading international universities, she encouraged them not to rule themselves out before applying. She also recommended exploring multiple funding opportunities rather than relying on a single scholarship.