The R&A to fund St Andrews International Scholarships

Generations of students at the University of St Andrews are to benefit from a new, international scholarship fund generously gifted by The R&A, the body responsible for administering the rules of golf.

The R&A has made a donation of £500,000 to the University, which is marking its 600th Anniversary with a drive to raise £100 million to support teaching, research, scholarships and bursaries.

The R&A International Scholarship will encourage students to broaden their minds in new, challenging and imaginative environments by funding international travel for undergraduates or recent graduates.

The £500,000 gift from The R&A is to be invested in an endowment fund which will provide travel, accommodation and subsistence for students who demonstrate not only academic excellence, but also a desire and ability to learn from and interact with different communities. An interest in or aptitude for golf or other sports may be a consideration, but will not be mandatory. The scholarship is particularly targeted at students who have demonstrated good people skills and a community-minded approach to life in St Andrews, and who would otherwise be unable to fund international travel and study.

It will form part of St Andrews “Better Chance” initiative which aims to increase scholarship and bursary funding at the university by over £13 million. The announcement comes as a welcome boost to the University’s on-going 600th Anniversary Campaign, which has an overarching theme of fundraising to support people and ideas.

Making the gift The R&A’s Chief Executive, Peter Dawson said:

“Promoting international understanding between countries and communities has long been nurtured through sport and scholarship and we are delighted to be in a position to help St Andrews students make their mark in the world in this way. We have been working on this with the university for many months and we are delighted to have found such an appropriate way to support its 600th anniversary celebrations.”

Professor Louise Richardson, St Andrews’ Principal and Vice-Chancellor said:

“We are very grateful to The R&A for this generous and creative gift to the University’s 600th Anniversary Fundraising Campaign.

“By annually providing one of our students with the opportunity to travel internationally and engage with other cultures The R&A is demonstrating a commitment to education in its broadest sense and recognising the centrality of a global perspective.”

Notes to News Editors

The scholarship fund is now open for applications. To find out more go to: https://sparc.st-andrews.ac.uk/DEV—Stewardship/RAintscholarship.

Formed in 2004 and based in St Andrews, The R&A seeks to engage in and support activities that are undertaken for the benefit of the game of golf. It takes its name from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, the members’ club that, before 2004, had responsibility for the game but from which The R&A is now separate and distinct.

The R&A organises The Open Championship, golf’s oldest Major, along with a number of other amateur and junior events, some of which are sanctioned by other golfing bodies. In addition, The R&A assumes responsibility for the administration of the Rules of Golf with the consent of 143 organisations from the amateur and professional game, and on behalf of over 30 million golfers in 128 countries throughout Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Americas.

Issued by the University of St Andrews
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Ref: (R&A 24/09/12)
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