The Jepson Scholars Program

A generous donation from Mr. Robert S. Jepson Jr., B'64, GB'75, H'87, and Mrs. Alice Andrews Jepson led to the establishment in 2019 of the Jepson Scholars Foundation to support the creation and funding of the Jepson Scholars Program. The program provides a limited number of scholarships annually for graduating seniors to pursue one-year master’s degree programs at the University of Oxford. The scholarship covers tuition, food, housing, and fees.

The Jepson Scholars Program enables future leaders to gain firsthand experience at a revered global institution and with people who live and work in an international environment. With the benefit of a world-class undergraduate and graduate education, Jepson Scholars will be prepared to lead at home and abroad.

Since the program's inception, 27 Jepson Scholars, including eight 2025 University of Richmond graduates , have received scholarships to Oxford to pursue master's degrees in fields as diverse as public policy, Japanese studies, and pharmacology.

Eligibility

The Jepson Scholars Program eligibility criteria are as follows:

Graduating University of Richmond seniors are eligible, with preference given to those majoring in leadership studies and listing Jepson as their home school.
Seniors must apply and be accepted to a master’s program at the University of Oxford. The University of Oxford Graduate Admissions website provides information on applying to Oxford. Students applying to graduate school may be eligible for funds to pay for the application fee(s). Jepson students who need assistance with Oxford application fees can reach out to Career Services.
Only graduating University of Richmond seniors are eligible. University of Richmond alumni are not eligible.
The scholarship supports a one-year master’s degree program at the University of Oxford. It is not transferrable to another university.

Award process

The Jepson Scholars Program can fund only a limited number of students who have obtained admission to one-year master’s programs at a college at the University of Oxford. If more students are accepted into one-year master’s programs at Oxford than can be funded, the Jepson School's Academic Affairs Committee will review the students’ application materials and recommend to the dean the students for the Jepson Scholars Program.

APPLY to be a Jepson Scholar.

Our vision for educating future global leaders catapulted to the next level with the creation of the Jepson Scholars Program.

Sandra J. Peart

Dean and E. Claiborne Robins Distinguished Professor of Leadership Studies
President, Jepson Scholars Foundation

Jepson Scholars Feature Stories

Emerson Linden, '26, in her white graduation dress and teal stole outside Jepson Hall

University of Richmond graduate to study social policy at Oxford as a Jepson Scholar

Her interest in mitigating social inequities led Emerson Linden, ’26, to pursue a master’s in comparative social policy at Oxford.

Senior Daniel Polonia presenting his research at the Jepson Research Symposium on April 17, 2026

University of Richmond senior receives scholarship to Oxford master’s program

A belief in academia’s role in promoting the common good leads Jepson Scholar Daniel Polonia to pursue a master’s in higher education at the University of Oxford.