“Thanks to the generous SFOU grant, I had the privilege of presenting my doctoral research on ancient Egyptian non-royal statuary from Deir el-Medina at an international Egyptological conference in Florence, Italy. This conference provided an unparalleled platform to share my findings and engage with esteemed scholars in the field. The feedback received was invaluable, affirming the significance and potential impact of my project. It was truly rewarding to showcase previously unpublished material and receive constructive insights that will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of my research. This experience not only enhanced my academic and professional development but also fostered new collaborations and academic networks. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity afforded to me and am committed to utilising the knowledge gained to contribute meaningfully to the field of Egyptology.”

With the support of the Swiss Friends of Oxford University, I was able to fulfil one of the academic requirements for my offer of a PhD place at Oxford University. I am deeply grateful for their support even before I started my PhD!

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I am deeply grateful to the Swiss Friends of Oxford University for your generous support, which enabled me to travel to Oxford for a week in August 2025. This funding was instrumental in allowing me to advance my master’s thesis research and explore future academic opportunities at the University of Oxford.

Thank you for your kindness and for helping to make this unforgettable experience possible. Your contribution has been a significant help in allowing me to focus fully on my Master’s thesis at the intersection of atmospheric physics and modern software engineering, ensuring a level of immersion that would have been difficult to achieve otherwise.

I am sincerely grateful to Oxford Friends for their financial support, which enabled me to attend the first module of my Executive Diploma in AI for Business at Oxford. This opportunity means a great deal to me, both professionally and personally. Being part of the programme has already been an inspiring and transformative experience, allowing me to deepen my understanding of AI, engage with outstanding peers and faculty, and further strengthen my work at the intersection of creativity, leadership, and technology. I truly appreciate Oxford Friends’ belief in my journey and their contribution to making this possible.

I am deeply grateful to the Swiss Friends of Oxford University for their generous grant, which enabled me to attend the oral hearings on the merits in Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela) before the International Court of Justice in The Hague. As someone who competed in the Jessup Moot Court Competition years ago – simulating ICJ proceedings – attending the real thing was a moment I had long dreamed of. The case raises some of the most fascinating cross-cutting questions in Public International Law, and watching them argued at the highest level of international adjudication, while completing my MJur at Oxford, was an experience of rare intellectual and personal significance. I could not have made this trip without SFOU’s support, and I am truly thankful.

“I am profoundly thankful to the Swiss Friends of Oxford University for enriching my academic experience and for enabling my participation in the international conference “Reimaginando futuros” at the University of Alcalá. It would not have been possible without your support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”

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Thanks to the support from the Swiss Friends of Oxford University, I was able to attend my first in-person conference since the pandemic—ICRA 2023 in London. This experience not only enriched my research but also allowed me to establish key connections that I hope will lead to future collaborations. I’m deeply appreciative of this opportunity!

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Thanks to the Swiss Friends of Oxford University, I spent four months as a Visiting PhD at the Visual Geometry Group, University of Oxford, under the mentorship of Professor Andrew Zisserman and Dr. Amir Jamaludin, where I worked on SpineNet, a state-of-the-art deep learning system for automated spinal MRI analysis. During my stay I developed novel vertebral segmentation methods and a pairwise ranking framework for fine-grained ordering of spinal pathological severity. The SFOU Scholarship gave me access to world-leading researchers, exceptional clinical data resources, and a collaborative network that will continue to shape my doctoral research at ETH Zürich.

I received a generous grant from SFOU, which supported me during my research stay at the University of Oxford. I had the opportunity to join the Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology, where I analyzed the dynamics of ovarian cancer cells, and it was an amazing experience. The financial support provided made the challenges of moving to a new country, such as securing accommodation, covering travel costs, and adjusting to a new environment, much more manageable. I am very grateful for this support

My name is Manuela Crivelli, and I am a DPhil candidate in Medieval and Modern Languages at the University of Oxford, specialising in contemporary Latin American literature and environmental humanities.

As my doctorate enters in its final year, I often find myself reflecting on how much the support of the Swiss Friends of Oxford University has shaped my academic journey. Their generosity has enabled me to undertake an invaluable research trip to Latin America and to participate in some of the most important international conferences in my field. These experiences have been essential to the development of my research, allowing me to exchange ideas with scholars from around the world, build lasting academic relationships, and contribute to ongoing conversations in Latin American Studies and the environmental humanities.

What has meant the most to me, however, is not only the SFOU’s financial support, but also the continued trust they have placed in me since the very beginning of my doctorate. Knowing that my work is supported by such a generous ad engaged community has been a constant source of encouragement and inspiration.

I feel honoured to be part of this community and deeply grateful for all the opportunities it has made possible. I hope, through my future work as a researcher and teacher, to give back some of the generosity, confidence, and support I have received throughout these years.