Oxford University College Giving Day Success Student Awards

Giving Day 2025 Raises Over £204,000 for Student Support

Univ’s second annual Giving Day, held from 25–26 November 2025, proved to be a major success. Over a 36-hour period, the campaign raised £204,327.28 from 301 donors worldwide, reflecting strong engagement from alumni, students, staff, and supporters across multiple countries.

Community-Driven Events and Challenges

Giving Day featured a lively mix of fundraising activities designed to involve the whole college community, including:

• A festive Oxmas bake-off with 19 student entries across categories such as chocolate and seasonal treats

• A 5km “North Pole Run” with more than 30 participants

• Rowing challenges, carol singing, and a competitive Tug of War

• A student planking challenge, where participants beat the Bursar’s 5-minute benchmark, with the winning time reaching 5 minutes 47 seconds

Several milestone challenges unlocked matched funding, including:

• Reaching 250 donors (successfully achieved)

• Donations from 10 or more countries

• Contributions from 25 first-time donors

How Giving Day Funds Will Be Used

The funds raised during Giving Day will be primarily allocated to direct student support, ensuring immediate and long-term impact.

Key Funding Priorities

• Student hardship funds, offering financial assistance to students facing unexpected economic challenges

• Well-being initiatives, including mental health support and welfare services

• Student-led projects and enrichment activities, enhancing academic life, extracurricular opportunities, and community engagement

Unrestricted donations allow the college to respond flexibly to emerging student needs across both undergraduate and postgraduate cohorts.

Major Student Prizes and Awards Announced

December also saw the announcement of several prestigious student awards, celebrating excellence in music, research, and academic performance.

Mendl-Schrama Prize in Music

This award recognised undergraduate students who made exceptional musical contributions to college life, highlighting Univ’s continued strength in creative and cultural pursuits.

Dr Michael Nicholson Prize

Awarded to students whose projects demonstrated outstanding research quality or innovation, supporting original academic inquiry across disciplines.

Academic Achievements at National and International Level

Univ students also earned recognition beyond the college:

• A DPhil engineering student was named runner-up in the G-Research Prize, acknowledging advanced computational research

• Another student received the George Webb Medley Prize in Economics, awarded for exceptional performance in economic theory and analytical work

These achievements reinforce Univ’s reputation for producing high-impact research and academically rigorous graduates.

How Beneficiaries Are Notified and Supported

Students receiving hardship funding or project grants are informed through direct, personalised communication:

• Email notifications from the Development Office or welfare team, typically within 1–3 working days of approval

• Same-day communication for urgent hardship cases

• Project leaders are usually notified 1–2 weeks in advance of scheduled funding releases

There are no fixed legal deadlines for notification under UK charity law; instead, the college follows internal welfare policies that prioritise speed, clarity, and transparency.

A Strong Finish to 2025

University College Oxford’s December 2025 activities demonstrate how community generosity, academic excellence, and student creativity intersect to strengthen the collegiate experience. From record fundraising totals to national research recognition, the period reflects Univ’s continued commitment to supporting students both academically and personally.

As the college moves into 2026, the outcomes of Giving Day and student award programmes are expected to play a key role in sustaining well-being, opportunity, and academic ambition across the Univ community.