Sheffield University launches £1m worth of £10,000 scholarships to widen involvement in post-graduate study

Sheffield University has been lobbying the Government to support the brightest students who find loan funding a barrier to accessing postgraduate education. It says that offering 100 scholarships of £10,000 each to students from under-represented groups or those who achieve a first class undergraduate degree demonstrates its commitment to this cause.

Two years ago, the university piloted a successful initiative as part of the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s (HEFCE) Postgraduate Support Scheme – making the largest postgraduate scholarship offer ever made in the UK.

The University led a consortium of five partner Russell Group institutions which demonstrated latent demand for postgraduate study, with more than 1,700 applications for the 350 scholarships on offer.

Last year, Chancellor George Osborne announced new postgraduate loans worth up to £10,000 from 2016-17, but the university is offering scholarships to those with widening participation characteristics who are concerned about debt.

The 100 scholarships will be funded by the university along with the support of its generous alumni and donors, who last year gave almost £130,000 to fund postgraduate scholarships.

Professor Wyn Morgan, pro vice chancellor for learning and teaching at Sheffield University said: “While the new postgraduate loan funding is an opportunity many will welcome, our commitment to create 100 scholarships worth a total of £1 million will ensure the brightest students from all backgrounds will have access to postgraduate study - offering them opportunities that are both life-changing and vital to the UK.

Postgraduate study is often the gateway to professions such as medicine, teaching and law. It would be a very poor society if we had people in such key positions of care and influence from only one background – we need to ensure that our country benefits from ability right across the board.”

He added: “The University of Sheffield was founded by people determined to ensure access to the highest quality education by those with the talent to take advantage of it, regardless of background, and I am very proud that the same spirit is still thriving here today.”

The scholarships are for students who meet at least one of the university’s widening participation criteria and for students who achieve a first in their undergraduate degree.

Students can choose to use the scholarship towards fees or living expenses.

Applications are now open and will close at midnight on Sunday 22 May 2016.