The Armenian General Benevolent Union Establishes Scholarship for Oxford University’s Classical Armenian Studies Master’s Program

The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) will grant an annual scholarship to one aspiring student for a master’s program in Classical Armenian Studies at Oxford University over the next five years.

Remaining true to its commitment to promote Armenian education, the AGBU London Trust charity announced the launch of a scholarship program aimed at students seeking master’s degrees in Classical Armenian Studies at Oxford University. Oxford is a leading institution for Armenian studies in the UK, having offered this subject since the mid-19th century.

This new scholarship program, which will support one student each year for five years, will play a crucial role in boosting efforts to better understand Armenian culture and heritage. The first scholarship will be awarded in October 2021, with the program running until 2026.

Applicants for the master's degree in Classical Armenian Studies will gain experience in reading and translating a variety of Armenian texts, allowing them to delve deeply into the literary culture and history of their chosen period. During their years at Oxford, students will be able to access a unique collection of Armenian manuscripts held at the Bodleian Library, including an extremely rare book printed in Iran—the Armenian Psalter of New Julfa.

The course will be taught by Professor Theo Maarten van Lint, head of the Armenian Studies Department at Oxford University. According to him, “Funding is critical to making the master’s course in Classical Armenian Studies accessible to deserving candidates. Therefore, I am profoundly grateful to Joseph and Jenny Ughurlian and the AGBU for this generous and strategically significant donation.”

The establishment of the AGBU London Trust scholarship marks the next phase in the fruitful collaboration between this organization and Oxford, through which financial support has been provided to Armenian students studying various subjects at the university over the past seven years.

This new scholarship program, open to students from all backgrounds, aligns with the AGBU's mission to preserve Armenian heritage in educational, cultural, and humanitarian fields.

Joseph Ughurlian, President of the AGBU London Trust and Vice President of the AGBU Central Board, stated, “For the AGBU, it is indeed an honor to collaborate with such a prestigious global institution as Oxford University. The university's Faculty of Oriental Studies has thrived for years, and supporting the master’s program in Classical Armenian Studies was a logical step for AGBU. We are deeply thankful to Professor Theo Maarten van Lint and his team for making this collaboration possible.”

For additional information about the master’s program in Classical Armenian Studies, please visit the following webpage: https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/mst-classical-armenian-studies