Meet Danielle and Fabian

whose experience of receiving support, thanks to a generous gift, has transformed their experience. 

Danielle

"My dad died when I was four and since then it has just been me and my mum. My mum has lived ever since on a widow’s pension and so whilst at home I didn't have any of the luxuries that my friends had. There was not a chance that my mum could offer me any financial help for university and so it was all on my back. In my first year I had to travel to and from home, in Doncaster, on the train at least once a week as my granddad was seriously ill. I wouldn’t have been able to afford to spend as much time with him before he passed away without this scholarship.

The extra money also helped me to take part in activities that my friends were doing. It meant that I wasn't the one having to miss out on everything as I used to be prior to coming to York.

For a good few years before coming to York I knew that I wanted to be a teacher and the only way to do that was to have a degree so not coming to uni was not an option. With this in mind, I did lots of research on financial help and I was lucky enough to find and be successful in applying for the scholarship that I received. I graduated last year and I stayed on at York to study for a PGCE in secondary school mathematics. I will become a qualified teacher at the end of June.

I’m proud to know that I’m part of a community of alumni who band together to help students."

Fabian

"The scholarship has allowed me to make the most of my university experience.

I grew up in a single-parent household and I knew that my mother wouldn't be able to provide any financial help while I studied. The loan and grant given by the government doesn't even cover the cost of living, much less leaving money left over to ensure you can enjoy yourself at university.

The scholarship has allowed me to take part in various societies and university trips, and has enabled me to take up new hobbies as well. It also means if there's a particularly crucial book for the course or module that it is recommended that we own, buying it has been much easier.

I’ve won a place on a graduate scheme to start in September and I’m very excited for the future!"

 Find out more

Please see our Frequently Asked Questions for more information about the Achieving Excellence Bursaries and university funding.

*Please note that for the purposes of anonymity, the images used above are not Scott and Sabrina.  Photos are posed by other York students whom we'd like to thank.