LAHORE: Two Pakistani students were selected for the Rhodes Scholarships 2027 to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford.
Hafsa Qureshi of Comsats University Islamabad and Rafia Imran of Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lums) have won the awards.
Hafsa hopes to pursue graduate studies in Genomic Medicine and Rafia in Social Data Science at the University of Oxford. They will join over 100 Rhodes Scholars from around the world in October 2027, becoming part of a global community committed to making a positive difference in the world.
The scholars were selected from a competitive and diverse pool of students studying at universities in Pakistan and abroad. Applications more than doubled this year, with a selection rate of less than 1pc, making this one of the most selective scholarship competitions in the country.
Ten finalists from Adelphi University, Bard College, Comsats, LUMS and Quaid-i-Azam University reached the interview stage following a rigorous review process. They were interviewed by a selection committee comprising distinguished academics and leaders from diverse fields.
Prof Ali Cheema, National Secretary for the Rhodes Scholarships in Pakistan, said: “The extraordinary quality and diversity of this year’s applicants reflects the depth of talent among young Pakistanis. The sharp increase in applications is particularly encouraging. Our challenge is to ensure that talented students from every background and institution have the opportunity to compete for this scholarship.”
Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2026
