Raza Nazar, a student from Karachi, has made history as the first Pakistani to be elected President of the graduate community (MCR) at Oxford’s prestigious Trinity College.
Originally from Karachi, Raza attended Karachi Grammar School and the United World College (UWC) in Singapore. His father, Yousuf Nazar, an economist, is a frequent analyst on Geo News. Raza graduated in law from the London School of Economics (LSE), where he was president of the LSE Law Society.
During his time at LSE, Raza co-founded the LSE Future of Pakistan conference, an annual event that gathers students, experts, and ministers. He was recognized as one of the Top 5 Future Lawyers (One’s To Watch) by Bright Network and trained as a lawyer at the prestigious magic circle firm, Slaughter and May.
At Oxford, Raza pursued a Bachelor of Civil Laws (BCL), described by the University of Oxford as “the most highly regarded taught masters-level qualification in the Common Law world.” He is among the few Pakistanis to have completed the BCL, joining the ranks of former prime minister Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and former president Wasim Sajjad.
In his BCL studies, Raza achieved second place in Jurisprudence and Political Theory. He has been awarded three competitive scholarships: the Verulam Buildings Chambers Scholarship, an Oxford Pakistan Programme (OPP) Scholarship, and the Jeffrey Abbott Scholarship.
Raza Nazar expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to an institution with a history spanning over four centuries. He highlighted the diverse and talented student body at Trinity College, which includes experts in fields such as quantum physics and solar cell research. He also praised the Oxford Pakistan Programme, led by Professor Adeel Malik, for its support of Pakistani scholars and innovative research.
Raza’s research focuses on constitutional theory and autonomy. As a dedicated UWC alumnus, he values concept-based learning as a means to empower individuals to discover themselves and shape their own futures. Reflecting on Trinity College’s rich history, he acknowledged its legacy of producing distinguished academics and leaders, including three British prime ministers and several Nobel laureates. Raza also expressed gratitude to his parents for their inspiration and support throughout his journey.
