Bilawal Bhutto graduates from Oxford with MA degree

E-Paper | March 11, 2026

A photo posted by Instagram (@instagram) on Mar 22, 2015 at 11:21am PDT

PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has graduated from Oxford University with a Master Degree.

He was congratulated on twitter by his father Asif Ali Zardari, and his sisters Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari.

In his tweet, former president and Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari congratulated his son for following in the footsteps of his grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and mother Benazir Bhutto and graduating with an MA degree from Oxford University.

Sister Aseefa Bhutto Zardari also congratulated her brother Bilawal on his graduation from Oxford.

Sister Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari congratulated Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on his graduation from Oxford.

Bilawal was a 19-year-old Oxford undergraduate when his family named him chairman of Pakistan's oldest dynastic party after his mother, Benazir Bhutto, who was killed in a bomb and bullet attack in 2007, months after she returned to Pakistan from eight years in self-exile.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, now 26, is being groomed to take over the dynasty and bring his family's political party back to power.

Read: Bilawal to enter politics gradually, says Zardari

Bilawal had left the country weeks after a big party rally in Karachi last November, which was supposed to herald his formal launch into politics.

Also read: Zardari on mission to bring Bilawal back

Confusion has also persisted over his return to politics soon with widespread rumours of falling out between father and son.

Pakistan

PM Shehbaz orders third-party audit of austerity plan

Islamabad advocate general asked to facilitate Aitzaz Ahsan’s power of attorney for Imran

Imran’s sisters protest after being stopped outside Adiala jail

Youth

May 10, 2015 11:39am

I wish he uses his legacy & intelligence in a positive manner with sole aim "all for Pakistan"

Recommend 0

gillian

May 10, 2015 12:01pm

A brilliant,charismatic and high flying Pakistani wonder boy.

Recommend 0

Happy

May 10, 2015 12:07pm

Interesting read on Internet "Tradition of Oxbridge 'free' Masters degrees under fire"

Recommend 0

Rashid Sultan

May 10, 2015 12:08pm

Congratulations to young Zardari, Benazir's son. Oxford should have moulded his character and nature to be tolerant, liberal, open minded and pluralistic. No more ill informed fire brand speeches, especially on foreigh policy matters. He should be the intellectual opposition to the fractious and religiousfundamental leaning Imran Khan

Recommend 0

Mirza

May 10, 2015 12:17pm

As the holy book says it is God and only God who gives honor or otherwise. Congratulations to all those who have earned high degrees from famous universities.

Recommend 0

Kaiser

May 10, 2015 12:19pm

All his family studied from Oxford while common sindhis don't have basic education system.

Recommend 0

Interesting

May 10, 2015 12:27pm

Bachelor degree holders from Oxford can acquire a complimentary Masters degree by paying a nominal fee. Read article " Tradition of Oxbridge 'free' Masters degrees under fire"

Recommend 0

Anwar Sadat

May 10, 2015 12:35pm

What an achievement....MA from Oxford!!!

Recommend 0

May 10, 2015 12:38pm

Congratulations, Bhutto name is world famous due to ur grandfather and your mother...carry their legacy and make Pakistan better. All the best!!

Recommend 0

SRIDHAR RAGHUNATHA RAO

May 10, 2015 12:40pm

@Rashid Sultan , I fully endorse your view point.

Recommend 0

MAK

May 10, 2015 12:41pm

Hope you will allow Sindh Villagers to get educated from local institutes at least!! since Education and Health are only for Vaderas / Jagidars there...

Recommend 0

Mustafa

May 10, 2015 12:49pm

Does anybody care what subject his degree is in, I don't expect it to be physics or mathematics.

Recommend 0

Sandhu

May 10, 2015 12:57pm

Can a poor "hari" from Sindh where his party is ruling over the years study from Oxford as well?

Recommend 0

nadeem sharif

May 10, 2015 01:05pm

Any idea why the family has not attended the graduation and have only tweet their happiness???????????

Recommend 0

nadeem qazi

May 10, 2015 01:07pm

And Pakistani tax payers paid for him

Recommend 0

nadeem qazi

May 10, 2015 01:08pm

At least they use stolen money for some purpose

Recommend 0

String

May 10, 2015 01:11pm

Will he apply for any job after graduation? Can he get any job against that degree? would be better if he studied in Jamsharoo university Sindh

Recommend 0

John (Cantab)

May 10, 2015 01:41pm

You do your BA in Oxford and this then automatically gets converted into an MA without additional effort or attendance. No big deal.

Recommend 0

Muhammad

May 10, 2015 01:43pm

Another elitist, disconnected ruler in the making. What his own party is doing in Sindh is nothing short of crime against humanity. Who cares where he graduates from? What matters is what he does for the people. Just because he is the son of BB with an oxgord degree does not qualify him to become the ruler of Pakistan. This is exactly the mindset Pakistan needs to get rid of!

Recommend 0

Irfan Reayat

May 10, 2015 01:44pm

There are numerous in Pakistan who are Masters and PhDs' so what's different about his Master's from Oxford. Its obvious he is rich and can go to Oxford (Study and at the same time run the Party). Pakistan should be governed by amateur like him. The only credential on his resume to govern country like Pakistan is the Bhutto's label. I wonder if he would every be able to come out of Bhutto's shell/tunnel and leave his own mark.

Recommend 0

Blue Saffron

May 10, 2015 01:49pm

So what? Many people from Pakistan graduate from Oxford and more prestigious universities than that. I congratulate all of them.

Recommend 0

Zak

May 10, 2015 01:49pm

Well done. Now come to Pakistan and lead your party with positive change, not on divisive politics. Stop talking Sind only, talk for all Pakistan and Pakistanis. You look intelligent, now be intelligent.

Recommend 0

Patariot Pakistani

May 10, 2015 01:50pm

Well done Bilawal!!! heartiest Contratulations from someone you have never met in person... Time&test will only prove your worth, and this is yet a milestone; & God be willing, you country (Pakistan) desperately need educated enlightened youth who can lead a nation toward you are diserving. 'Takecare' of yourself & make your Mom proud :-)

Recommend 0

Nicolas

May 10, 2015 01:56pm

UK universities are more like industry, you pay and geta piece of paper. In Germany people laugh at UK degrees.

Recommend 0

Raja

May 10, 2015 02:11pm

@Mustafa it is not science degree. ARTS

Recommend 0

Dasti

May 10, 2015 02:19pm

@ Rashid Sultan 100% Agree.

Recommend 0

i2t

May 10, 2015 02:20pm

They never created any scholarship or endowment fund in any sindh's university for common sindhis to get further education. Sindh is the most backward province even worse than baluchistan.

Recommend 0

timetostopthis

May 10, 2015 02:28pm

A useless degree from a prestigious institution. How does an MA degree qualify you for any job these days? Not many people study for an MA degree as an MA is a dead end degree with no future job prospects. Complete waste of time and money. Fortunately Bilawal won't be looking for a job, thanks to his family background, so he doesn't have to worry about using his education for anything.

Recommend 0

timetostopthis

May 10, 2015 02:29pm

@Kaiser Very well said indeed.

Recommend 0

syed wasim haider

May 10, 2015 02:37pm

Political maturity has nothing to do with his Master's degree. This is only good to go for further education which he should pursue. Pakistani politics is not an ideal option for him because to lead a party with so many corruption stories will be very difficult to lead.

Recommend 0

Zafar Iqbal

May 10, 2015 02:51pm

A Masters degree from Oxford does not qualify anyone to be Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Recommend 0

britishpakistani

May 10, 2015 02:52pm

@Nicolas yeagh right !!! and where is Germany in the university world rankings ?????

Recommend 0

Muhammad iqbal

May 10, 2015 02:53pm

What is new? He should have graduated or mastered in science or commerce or atleast ACCA. He chose an easy subject and followed many of his party leaders who became ministers and secretaries on the basis of Masters degrees from Jamshoro and naudero. Please broadcast this news in thar,moenjodaro or naudero so that the people there are freightened to hear about MA(oxford) In the educated society, it is just like a joke.

Recommend 0

Shiraz

May 10, 2015 02:55pm

Heir of dynastic politics talking about democracy is sort of an oxymoron. If PPP or in fact all other political and democratic forces and parties in Pakistan believe in the democratic values, why don't they just let the party leadership be elected in a democratic way. Dynastic politics in the name of democracy are worst then autocratic or authoritarian forms of government. If despite living and being groomed in UK, this chap still follows the footsteps of his elders, in terms of political and social thinking, then only God may bless Pakistan.

Recommend 0

shahid

May 10, 2015 02:57pm

What an irony, four generations graduated from Oxford, but their home district is the worst performing district in education within Pakistan. No wonder they fully understand the power of knowledge and equally well that it must be denied to the masses to be able continue the dynastic style of politics

Recommend 0

salman

May 10, 2015 03:10pm

Is he the first Pakistani graduated from oxford?. I have two cousins graduated from Oxford after they completed Bachelors from N.E.D. Will they get same publicity? I dont understand what is the point behind it? degree has nothing to do with his politics, but his action will speak will more louder. We want see him an honest politicians & willing to do something for the people of Sindh..Its too early to talk about his impact on pakistan's politics.

Recommend 0

May 10, 2015 03:37pm

So what? Congratulations to all those many poor people who graduate from such institutions on scholarships (and not on Pakistani tax payer money).

Recommend 0

Shahzad

May 10, 2015 03:44pm

Though they graduate from high ranking universities but I have strong reservations as none of these university teach HUMANITY. Almost all dictators/oppressors/landlords have graduated from these universities but very very few were human. Now lets talk about developed countries Obama/Brown/Netanyahu etc all graduated from good universities but all played games for interests of very few lobbyists, none worked for betterment of humanity. Let see if someone take notice and start working for the humanity beyond vested interests.

Recommend 0

GUEST

May 10, 2015 03:53pm

In the universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts with Honours of these universities are promoted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts (MA) on application after six or seven years’ seniority as members of the university (including years as an undergraduate). As such, it is an academic rank, and not a postgraduate qualification, and no further examination or study is required for this promotion. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MasterofArts(Oxbridgeand_Dublin)

Recommend 0

Rogers Evans

May 10, 2015 04:00pm

In what subject he graduated his MA ?

Recommend 0

Abdul

May 10, 2015 04:19pm

Royal education for royal family. No fragrance of equality in the any institution of society in Pakistan

Recommend 0

i2t

May 10, 2015 04:24pm

@Nicolas you are absolutely right. If British universities were doing any good job then there won't be German cars in most corporate car parks. UK universities are a joke except a few that can be counted on fingers.

Recommend 0

Mustafa

May 10, 2015 04:39pm

Well Done, but no amount of degres will make you what you are not,ie a leader. But its not the end of world be a good human serve the humanity with good deeds, May God bless you

Recommend 0

Just Curious

May 10, 2015 04:42pm

I am just curious, what was the subject of his dissertation as well as the subjects he chose for his Masters? If anyone knows, please tell.

Recommend 0

KeyPoints

May 10, 2015 05:21pm

Is he going to go back to Pakistan now, to serve the poor and needy of the country? May be help poor children, by building many schools?

Recommend 0

Shezada

May 10, 2015 05:36pm

So, who cares, is this news, now what, is he going to get a job or come to Pakistan to rule ignorant Sindhis and get them Roti, Kapra and makan, he can do that with the money his family accumulated robbing the poor and illiterate masses of Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Naseem Altaf

May 10, 2015 05:38pm

He is public property, by his choice. I want to see his score book ,issued by the university.

Recommend 0

Harmony-1

May 10, 2015 05:54pm

@Sandhu - They want to keep masses uneducated, so they can keep getting votes from the illiterate lot.

Recommend 0

IrfanLala

May 10, 2015 05:59pm

So at least we have no doubts about him like we used to have for Zardari. Apart from that they are same.

Recommend 0

Harmony-1

May 10, 2015 06:00pm

@Blue Saffron - Oxford is not prestigious? Says who?

Recommend 0

Pakistani

May 10, 2015 06:00pm

It is indeed a good and free PR exercise for Oxbridge when "third-worlders" romanticise education at their institution. Please bear in mind that neither Mr. Modi nor Mr. Xi Jinping have been to these institutions. Yet they are leading their respective nations to super-power status. India has buried dynastic politics. Gandhi is history now. We, Pakistanis have still some catching up to do in this area too.

Recommend 0

aillly

May 10, 2015 06:03pm

@Anwar Sadat ,,, so, whats the achievement ?

Recommend 0

Haider Rehman

May 10, 2015 06:17pm

Why is he being "groomed" to take control of PPP? PPP is a dynastical party like N league.

Recommend 0

M.Saeed

May 10, 2015 06:46pm

His achievement with a heavy doze of parental pressure and resulting tension is all the more commendable. Best of luck to him in his future endeavors.

Recommend 0

Ali

May 10, 2015 06:57pm

As an Oxford student, I can say that he didn't do a Masters, his BA was converted to an MA "In the universities of Oxford.....Bachelors of Arts with Honours....are promoted to the degree of Master of Arts on application after six or seven years"

Recommend 0

Raja

May 10, 2015 07:20pm

Congrats Bhutto. Bilawal Bhuto And Rahul Ghandi together should start business, I mean quit politics. stop this dynasty politics give others chance.

Recommend 0

surendra sukhtankar

May 10, 2015 07:28pm

Contrary to Bhutto family, nobody in Nehru/Gandhi family , except of course , Patriarch Jawaharlal Nehru finished college. Indira went to Oxford , but instead of studying, she found her husband Pheroze Gandhi. Rajiv found Sonia and Sanjay was a womanizer . Rahul reportedly knocked at the doors of Harvard; but Harvard refused open the doors. Priyanka found her husband in India and had two kids and then refused to study!!!

Recommend 0

inam101

May 10, 2015 07:32pm

@Kaiser PPP wants all Sindhis to study at Oxford, that is why they resisted establishment of university in Hyderabad by MQM.

Recommend 0

inam101

May 10, 2015 07:34pm

@Sandhu why are you equating poors with masters? No one can reach the Zardaris and Bhuttos in status. Don't even think about it, especially if you are a Sindhi.

Recommend 0

AB Uzair

May 10, 2015 07:37pm

@Rashid Sultan Well Imran Khan is also an Oxford graduate. So? If you are not willing to learn, and only want a piece of paper, that's what you get. A piece of paper.

Recommend 0

Rehman

May 10, 2015 07:53pm

I think the important point here is you don't need a degree from Oxford to be successful. Look at Nawaz and Shahbaz, they are billionaires without any degrees from foreign universities and Nawaz has dominated Pakistan's politics for more than quarter century now!

Recommend 0

Grader

May 10, 2015 08:03pm

Does any one know what his passing grade/honor is?

Recommend 0

Syed Ikram Abidi

May 10, 2015 08:04pm

Will this Oxford degree ever be beneficial for the common people of Pakistan particularly people of Thar, Cholistan, Baluchistan and oppressed minorities? Or is just another cosmetic medal to add value to the global political positioning of Bhutto family. I sometimes wonder, can a child bred in the West and educated from Oxford actually ever understand the problems faced by the children of "Peela Schools"?

Recommend 0

Ali

May 10, 2015 08:19pm

What did he do his MA in ? Political Science, History, or some other subject ? The news report should mention that.

Recommend 0

abbas khan

May 10, 2015 09:07pm

Congratulations Mr.Bilawal Zadari, I wish you can establish a quality university like Oxford University in Larkana.

Recommend 0

COLIN

May 10, 2015 09:19pm

@Grader As others have pointed out here,getting a B.A. from Oxford or Cambridge in the U.K.AUTOMATICALLY entitles the scholar to be granted an M.A. WITHOUT additional work/study after a set number of years ! The M.A.would be in the same subject the student studied in his/her undergraduate degree.

Recommend 0

Mamona

May 10, 2015 09:31pm

@Sandhu Rural Sindh is worst in literacy rate and primary enrollment in Pakistan. This is what PPP's has delivered in their such long regime. What good can be expected from the remains of the party!!

Recommend 0

independentthinker

May 10, 2015 10:06pm

It is amazing how these celebrities end up receiving graduate degrees from world renowned universities! I wonder when he got time to study and prepare himself for passing these exams - or is the saying "Money Talks" in play over here? In any event, getting Masters doesn't qualify him to be an advocate of the poor of Pakistan. Spending most of the time in foreign countries, confining himself in bullet/bomb proof house/cars, surrounding himself with security guards will hardly allow him to experience what the ordinary Pakistanis are going through every day. Unlike his mother and grandfather, who, to a certain extent, had a connection with ordinary Pakistanis, this man has no bond with the locals and he will be doing himself and the country a favour, by staying out of politics.

Recommend 0

Abbas Ali

May 10, 2015 10:23pm

Mr. Modi is much better from all Bhutto's compined.

Recommend 0

Take

May 10, 2015 10:46pm

Nawaz is much better

Recommend 0

CYRUS

May 10, 2015 11:33pm

Dynasties like to establish their linage and crown the princes at age 19.

Recommend 0

CYRUS

May 10, 2015 11:41pm

Credit where credit is due. He is well educated, but more importantly well socialized in English culture. What gives me the idea he would rather be living in England than in Pakistan? If I were he, I would prefer a seat in the House of Commons rather than the Throne of Sindh. He may feel there is not really much he can do for Pakistan.

Recommend 0

Sukhera

May 10, 2015 11:57pm

Graduated from Oxford university? What a waste of time and money. His father has accumulated lot of wealth through shady business deals which will provide a royal living in an impoverished country. He has been living either outside the country or in fort like mansions in Pakistan surrounded by hundreds of guards. Pakistan definitely does not belong to any family or party. You can only fool people one time and now the people have seen the true colors of his father.

Recommend 0

Humanity

May 11, 2015 12:15am

He will be wisely planted in politics by portraying him as rebellion to his father. Game on!

Recommend 0

Merchant

May 11, 2015 12:18am

How on earth MA is regarded as graduate qualification??

Recommend 0

parveez

May 11, 2015 12:32am

He should stay in England

Recommend 0

Hyder

May 11, 2015 12:34am

Sir Political dynasties rule is one of the biggest hurdle in the progress of Pakistan and unfortunately the common man cannot even dream of running the affairs of the nation!!!

Recommend 0

Mohammed

May 11, 2015 12:41am

He needs to learn the national language first. The vast majority of Pakistanis don't speak or understand English.

Recommend 0

Sridhar

May 11, 2015 02:20am

As many have pointed out granting of Oxbridge Master's degree is an elitist practice. Few employers, and the general public know that "all that Oxbridge demands is £10 to cover administration costs and for three or four years to have passed." The Oxford website makes it very clear that the Oxford MA is not an upgrade of the BA, an additional qualification, or a postgraduate degree. It is instead a historic tradition marking seniority within the University. So, it is an insult to the intelligence of all those with genuine postgraduate degrees to place Bilawal in the same league.

Recommend 0

JUSTICE

May 11, 2015 04:29am

Please make a correction, his last name is Sardari not Bhutto, You can verify this with Oxford University.

Recommend 0

May 11, 2015 04:43am

Utter disgust ! They make other institutions for the public and enroll themselves in foreign institutions, what an irony. Why did Bilawal not study in SZABIST, an institution created under the name of his grandfather ? Is there any reason for him to study at Oxford and staying in UK on looted money? And people are expecting him to do something for Pakistan where he has no connection with Pakistan, who are these blind people ?

Recommend 0

Syed Chishti

May 11, 2015 05:01am

Congratulations!

Recommend 0

May 11, 2015 05:55am

And what is achieved here?

Recommend 0

mirza baig

May 11, 2015 06:09am

Does any body know what is his standing in the class,ie his gade.Graduation is ok but how much he has learned.Either he is at the top or bottom of his class

Recommend 0

dawn

May 11, 2015 07:14am

@Mirza - and there are infamous universities as well?

Recommend 0

Irfan

May 11, 2015 07:16am

Congratulations, well done. Work a bit on that resume, and try getting a job in a field you really like, somewhere in Europe. All the best young lad.

Recommend 0

Prayandprey!

May 11, 2015 07:40am

What was Bilawal's major for his Bachelor's degree, and what was his MA thesis? If he wants to lead Pakistanis, I hope he studied philosophy, civics, ethics, and diplomacy --among other things like mathematics, science, anthropology, sociology, polical science physics and classical rhetoric --not just nationalistic,jingoistic speechifying!

Recommend 0

Prayandprey!

May 11, 2015 07:47am

@Muhammad: In the longer term, Oxford degrees didn't do Z.A and BB much good! His first adventure in politics should be to make friends with Rahul Gandhi!

Recommend 0