Congratulations to first-year student Luke Chalmers (German and Spanish, 2025) who has been selected for the Laidlaw Scholarship programme, an international programme that brings together undergraduates from leading universities.
Combining research, leadership development, and practical social impact projects, the scholarship recognises students with both academic strength and a commitment to addressing real-world challenges, qualities Luke has already demonstrated through his work in education and community initiatives. We asked him to tell us more.
Can you explain what the Laidlaw Scholarship is and what drew you to apply?
The Laidlaw Scholarship is an 18-month leadership and research programme targeted at undergraduates with cohorts from universities such as Cambridge, MIT, Oxford and many others. It gives students the chance to develop research skills, take on local and global impact projects, and reflect on putting ethical leadership into practice. What stood out to me is the focus not simply on being academically strong, but about learning how to use research collaboratively and responsively to address real social challenges.
What stood out to me is the focus not simply on being academically strong, but about learning how to use research collaboratively and responsively to address real social challenges.
As an Oxford student, I am constantly surrounded by academic curiosity and highly ambitious students, but I think the real test is being able to translate that intellectual energy into something with real world impact outside of the University. I was drawn to apply to the programme because it combined research, leadership training, and practical engagement with communities on the local and international scales. I wanted to be a part of an organisation that would push me to make use of all of my skillset in a purposeful manner.Â
What part of the programme are you most excited about?
The individual part of the programme I’m most excited by is the Laidlaw Scholars Annual Conference. I see it as a testament to the most valuable aspects of the scholarship: being part of a wider international community of students who are all thinking seriously about leadership and social impact.
The ability to present my research in front of an engaged and motivated audience, alongside the opportunity to hear others express what they have learned will certainly be an invaluable personal growth experience. I am looking forward to meeting scholars from across the world and learning from them as I, in turn, share what I have learnt.
Was there a particular moment or experience that shaped your interest in leadership or global issues?
I have been interested in the SDG Goals from a very early age, visiting the United Nations Geneva headquarters in primary school and being exposed to what ethical leadership looks like on the global stage. Since then, alongside my studies, I have devoted a lot of time to addressing the global issues that mattered the most on my local scale, namely that of quality education. Before starting as Oxford, I founded and was involved in various charitable organisations that dedicated themselves to helping underfunded state schools pay off their debts as well as providing them with core curriculum materials such as books and pens. The three years that I spent involved in these projects shapes my view of leadership as well as making me more passionate and driven to bring about change as I got to experience first-hand how children had been positively affected by the work we had done. Reading with Year 5 students the books we had provided them, and receiving thank you letters from GCSE students we had tutored, were among the most rewarding experiences of my life.
Reading with Year 5 students the books we had provided them, and receiving thank you letters from GCSE students we had tutored, were among the most rewarding experiences of my life.
You’ve already had experience in law, finance, and consulting: how has this shaped your thinking?
Having experiences across law, finance, and consulting has really shaped the way I think about problems. Each environment has given me a different lens. Through being involved with the Oxford Alpha Fund, and my internships in private wealth management and asset management, I have become much more comfortable thinking analytically about markets, risk, incentives, and long-term value. Finance has taught me how decisions are shaped by both numbers and human behaviour.
Moreover, working for the Oxford Strategy Group as a consultant, project leader, and most recently as the Associate Director of Operations has taught me how to break down complex problems into compartmentalised issues and then address them each individually. Additionally, my ability to communicate ideas clearly and efficiently, as well as managing a team with differing backgrounds, has equipped me with the skillset to approach any leadership setting with confidence and ability.
Finally, being exposed to law at Oxford and outside, such as through my insight day at Gibson Dunn, has added another dimension. It showed me the importance of precision, judgement, and understanding the very framework under which decisions are made. Law encourages you to think carefully about the consequences of your decisions and what arises from obligations.
Overall, these experiences have equipped me with a strong mental framework to tackle global issues. They have taught me that leadership is not simply being analytical and confident, but about judgement, responsibility, and the ability to unite different perspectives. That is exactly why the Laidlaw programme appeals to me: it offers a new environment for me to continue developing those skills in a values-driven, interdisciplinary setting that is focused on real-world impact.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to students coming to study Oxford next year?
Oxford is weird and wonderful place, but your time here flies, so it is really important to make the most of it. If you have been offered a place here, then in all likelihood you were a very academic student at school. I personally sat six A-Levels and spent much of my spare time competing in maths Olympiads or essay competitions, so I completely understand the desire to focus entirely on your studies.
And, of course, Oxford is academically extraordinary. You have unrivalled access to books, specialists, tutorials, lectures, and people who are genuinely world-class in their fields. But Oxford is more than the academics.
My number one piece of advice would be to throw yourself into every opportunity that presents itself to you.
My number one piece of advice would be to throw yourself into every opportunity that presents itself to you, and, when necessary, to make your own opportunities. You can dance tango, go skydiving, act in a play, write for a magazine, join a student consultancy, and learn almost any subject you have even had the most remote interest in.
I would also recommend not to wait until you feel completely ready. A lot of the best and most unique experiences here start with feeling out of your depth. Growth happens where you say yes to things that challenge you, introduce yourself to different people, and push yourself beyond the version of yourself that arrived here.
Growth happens where you say yes to things that challenge you, introduce yourself to different people, and push yourself beyond the version of yourself that arrived here.
So, my advice is to take the academics seriously, but not to let them define you. Be curious, ambitious, and proactive. Oxford can open a lot of doors, but you still have to be willing to walk through them.
