“School was a very difficult time for me. I was bullied from a young age, and this took a huge toll on my mental health. It was a hard challenge for me to overcome. Things got easier when I started to study IT at Northern Regional College. I was diagnosed with dyslexia and got the support I so badly needed.
I am an unpaid carer for both my mother and grandmother, so juggled my studies with these caring responsibilities but I worked hard to achieve my goals and now I have made it to university. I am so proud to have excelled in my course to gain entry to University and am now loving my course so far.
Thank you so much for this Scholarship. Not only will it significantly help alleviate the financial burden that comes with being a student, it also makes me so proud to have been selected. It is a reminder of all that I have overcome and achieved to get me where I am today.”
We believe in creating access to education for everyone
Our Community Scholarships remove financial barriers to help at-risk students pursue higher education.
Only one in six pupils receiving free school meals go to university. Many capable and motivated young people face obstacles such as financial strain, home responsibilities, and a lack of confidence, support, and role models in their communities.
To combat this inequality, we support students on their university journey to ensure they graduate with the qualifications, experiences, and skills for a better future.
Ulster University raises funds to provide financial scholarships for first-year students. In September 2024, we will support 28 students with a scholarship of £3,000 per year (excluding placement years), up to a maximum of £9,000.
Will you help change the lives of more students like Anthony?
Ethan Smythe
Social equity and economic opportunity
We believe that in order to drive social equity and increase economic opportunity for all, it is essential that more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds graduate with qualifications, experiences and skills that help them into the workforce. And there is no doubt that, for many, lack of finance is the main barrier.
Our Community Scholarships help such individuals, those most able and willing but most likely to slip through the net, by helping to remove financial barriers. Access is the greatest tool we have to help achieve equality of opportunity in our society.
Aine Lesley
“There is no doubt that for our most disadvantaged pupils, lack of finance is a major deterrent for pupils when it comes to the choice to continue their education or go straight into a job. For many, progressing to university and getting a degree, can transform their and their families lives. These scholarships could be the deciding factor in making this difference.”