Lahore – Hafsa Qureshi of COMSATS University Islamabad and Rafia Imran of Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) have won the prestigious Rhodes Scholarships for Pakistan for 2027. According to a LUMS spokesperson, Hafsa Qureshi plans to pursue graduate studies in Genomic Medicine, while Rafia Imran intends to study Social Data Science at the University of Oxford. They will join more than 100 Rhodes Scholars from around the world in October 2027, becoming part of a global community committed to making a positive difference in the world. The scholars were selected from an exceptionally competitive and diverse pool of outstanding Pakistani students studying at universities in Pakistan and abroad. Applications more than doubled this year, while the selection rate remained below one percent, making the competition one of the most selective scholarship programmes in the country. Ten finalists from Adelphi University, Bard College, COMSATS, LUMS and Quaid-i-Azam University reached the interview stage after a rigorous review process. They were interviewed by a selection committee comprising distinguished academics and leaders from diverse fields. Prof Ali Cheema, National Secretary for the Rhodes Scholarships in Pakistan, said the exceptional quality and diversity of this year’s applicants reflected the depth of talent among young Pakistanis. He said the sharp increase in applications was particularly encouraging, adding that the challenge was to ensure talented students from every background and institution had the opportunity to compete for the scholarship. Recent recipients of the Rhodes Scholarship from Pakistan to study at Oxford have included graduates of Harvard University, LUMS, New York University Abu Dhabi, the University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, Wellesley College and Yale University.