Scholarships awarded for 2005

The University of St Andrews hosted a reception yesterday (Wednesday 19 October) to honour over 100 new undergraduates who have won scholarships to study at the University.

One hundred and twenty-nine scholarships worth a total of £220,000 were awarded to 121 students, who were welcomed to the University community by the University’s Principal and Vice- Chancellor, Dr Brian Lang.

The scholarships range in amounts from £500 to £7,000 per student, with a number of them lasting for the full four years of a degree course. Students receiving the awards come from the UK, US and Canada, with one student joining St Andrews from Latvia.

Over 50 of this year’s awards are part of the Wardlaw Scholarship programme, established last year with the aim of making St Andrews a realistic option for the brightest of students, irrespective of their background or circumstances. These scholarships are generously supported by gifts from alumni and friends of the University, bequests, charitable trusts, companies, including the Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, and from the University itself.

One particular highlight this year was the Lionel Butler Scholarship fund which attracted support of over £65,000 from 250 individuals to endow a scholarship for students studying Mediaeval History. Donations were also received from alumni in the US in support of the American Foundation Recruitment Scholarships.

The new students were given a short introduction on behalf of the donors by graduate Mr Richard Gapper (MA (Hons) Economics & Psychology, 1965), who outlined the importance of alumni and external support for scholarships. The Gapper Charitable Trust supports The Adam Ferguson Scholarship which has provided funds for four students from the new EU Accession States. The first recipient of this award is Oskaras Ziferman from Lithuania, who is currently in second year studying towards an MA (Hons) degree in Economics and International Relations.

Other awards included over 50 subject-related scholarships for students studying Mathematics, Computer Science, Philosophy, Modern Languages, Chemistry and Physics & Astronomy. Finally, six Evening Degree Scholarships and three Mature Student Scholarships were awarded along with two Adam Smith Thomson Scholarships, which assist students from Forfar Academy studying in the Faculty of Science.

The scholarship recipients are studying in all Faculties across the University, studying a range of courses including the newly- introduced Film Studies degree.

ENDS

Issued by Beattie Media On behalf of the University of St Andrews Contact Gayle Cook, Press Officer on 01334 467227 / 462529, mobile 07900 050 103, or email gec3@st- andrews.ac.uk Ref: Scholarships 171005.doc View the latest University press releases at http://www.st- andrews.ac.uk