Mark Abrahamson
South Africa-at-Large, 2003
M.Phil in Economics
D.Phil in Financial Economics
Wadham College
Currently studying at Oxford
I am now in my third year at Oxford, which means I've been meaning to write this profile for several hundred days now. After completing a B.Bus.Sc in Actuarial Science and M.Bus.Sc in Finance at the University of Cape Town, I originally came here as an M.Phil in Economics student, which is an excellent but somewhat demanding two year taught/research course. Now I have moved from the Economics Department to the Saïd Business School where I'm pursuing a D.Phil in Financial Economics.
That, however, is all prelude to what I'd really like to say. Oxford is many things to different people. For me, it has provided the most intense academic rigour that I have experienced to date, which has been challenging and rewarding. It is also a place of rich culture – there are often several interesting but conflicting events occurring on any given evening during term time – and sporting history. I have been involved in my college graduate community (usually referred to as an “MCR” community, which stands for “Middle Common Room”), run against Cambridge in the annual cross-country Varsity matches and have otherwise attempted to immerse myself in as many activities as possible.
Whatever your preconceptions of the Rhodes Scholarship may be, it is – first and foremost – an opportunity to further studies at one of the world's leading academic institutions. I am currently engaged in research that considers conflicts of interest in investment banking with a focus on initial public offerings (IPOs); at Oxford I have the chance to be supervised by one of the world's foremost authorities on IPOs in a research environment that is competitive but also supportive. I would encourage anyone who is serious about graduate study to apply for this scholarship – the academic experience I have had here is without comparison.
Finally, a few words about the application process. Without doubt, the criteria for the Rhodes Scholarship are rather intimidating. Bearing this in mind, though, it may be comforting to know that I have never met a Rhodes Scholar who was not surprised by his/her election. If you are committed to furthering your studies and believe that, in however small a way, you may have exhibited the traits sought by the Scholarship, then I would strongly encourage you to apply and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.