The international diversity of the University of Reading continues to be reflected by the quality of students who chose to study here from countries across the globe, with currently over 6,000 students from outside the UK. One of the most prominent schemes supporting such international mobility is the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, which remains one of the largest and most prestigious scholarship schemes for international study in the world. Since 1961, it has helped fund 108 Scholars to study at the University of Reading and continues to attract high calibre applicants from major Commonwealth destinations including India, Sri Lanka and Africa.

One of our current Commonwealth Scholars from Nigeria, Ekemini Obok, is studying for a PhD in the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development. He recently reflected on his experiences since starting at Reading, in particular the first official meeting between current Commonwealth Scholars and the University’s Vice Chancellor, Sir David Bell, along with Professor Dianne Berry, University Director of Postgraduate Research Studies. This meeting, which took place earlier this academic year, showed the continued interest of the University in hosting and supporting students undertaking research in areas of global importance. Ekimini’s experiences are reported on the website of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK.