Univ. Old Members' Trust

The Univ. Old Members' Trust, an independent charity established in 1988 by alumni and friends of University College, Oxford (Univ), furthers the college's educational purposes by providing financial support to sustain academic excellence, foster alumni engagement, and promote inclusivity. Guided by values of stewardship, widening access, and transparent means-testing, it bridges past and present Univ members, managing donor funds independently to benefit talented students from all backgrounds, ensuring Oxford's opportunities are accessible regardless of financial barriers.

It prioritizes means-tested bursaries for undergraduates and graduates from households below £52,000, hardship grants for extraordinary needs, and scholarships like the Dr Andrei Klein Czech Scholarship or those for Hong Kong and Czech/Slovak students. Funding targets widening participation for underrepresented groups, including Black African/Caribbean, Bangladeshi/Pakistani, Gypsy/Roma/Traveller, care-experienced, refugee, and asylum-seeking students, via programmes like Univ Beacon Bursaries. Support covers living costs, internships, and rare outreach, almost exclusively for current or prospective Univ students; grants to organizations are exceptional and must directly advance Univ's educational goals.

Unsolicited applications from external charities are not accepted—funding flows through Univ College staff via student financial aid processes aligned with admissions (e.g., UCAS 31 October) or in-year reviews. Trustees meet quarterly to approve awards, with bursaries up to £10,935 annually and hardship grants from hundreds to thousands of pounds. Geographically restricted to Oxfordshire and Univ students (international/diverse cohort), it excludes unrestricted core costs, non-Univ-aligned projects, or general charity support. Distinctively, its alumni-driven governance and laser-focus on removing barriers for Univ students set it apart, emphasizing measurable impact on socio-economic inclusion.