Our Bursary Scholars Graduate

Every year the University hosts a reception for the Graduating Bursary Scholars. The event is a chance to congratulate the University’s bursary recipients for their hard work and perseverance, and also an opportunity to thank the many alumni who financially support these students through the University’s bursary programmes.

This year the event was hosted in the stunning Rainy Hall in New College, and Rachel Brown, Annual Fund Development Manager, went along to meet with some of the students who are set to join our alumni community.

Mango and Scott are friends who met on the Chemical Physics Degree Programme. Scott had always wanted to become a research scientist, but had worried that the costs of attending university might make this impossible. Likewise Mango had worried how he would afford to study.

My bursary made coming to University a financially viable option. I have been able to be fully involved in University life, which I would have struggled to without the funding.

But Mango has clearly studied hard too, and has been awarded that rarest of things - a first class honours degree. As a result of his hard work and passion for his course, he is one of only 7 students in the country to have been awarded funding for a Condensed Matter PhD, which he starts this autumn at Edinburgh.

A route to employment

Another student Sean, is looking particularly smart in a suit and tie. ‘’Oh I’ve just come from the office’’ he tells Rachel.

Before Sean has even graduated with his degree in Business and Accounting, he has started work as a trainee accountant at a local firm.

Coming to Edinburgh has given me the skills and the confidence to get this job, and I can’t wait to get stuck in.

How you can support bursary students

If you want to support bursary students like Mango, Scott and Sean, you can make a contribution to the Principal’s Bursary Fund and give many hundreds of students the opportunity of a University of Edinburgh education.