Following the launch of the Stormzy Scholarship for Black UK students back in 2018, Cambridge University has announced that the deadline for this academic year’s applications has been extended. Students now have until Sunday 6th September to apply.
This year, Stormzy is offering two scholarships to Black UK students who are admitted to the University of Cambridge this autumn. “There are so many young Black kids all over the country who have the level of academic excellence to study at a university such as Cambridge – however, we are still under represented at leading universities,” stated Stormzy. “We, as a minority, have so many examples of Black students who have excelled at every level of education throughout the years. I hope this scholarship serves as a small reminder that if young Black students wish to study at one of the best universities in the world, then the opportunity is yours for the taking – and if funding is one of the barriers, then we can work towards breaking that barrier down.”
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED
The rapper has committed to donating £10 million to UK Black British causes over a decade. He has already donated £500,000 to the Black Heart Foundation, an organisation that improves education access for underprivileged children and young people. It hopes to fund 50 students who need financial support to further their education. Underprivileged students of any age can apply for the funds and they are not limited to university fees.
Although the vast majority of students the foundation helps are from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, anybody from an under-resourced background can apply, according to the foundation.
INCREASING BLACK REPRESENTATION
Cambridge University is keen to attract more Black students. Last year, 91 new black students took up courses at Cambridge – “the largest number ever, but not nearly much as we would like”, pointed out the university. It admits it has “to work harder to ensure that Black students not only apply to study at the university, but that they feel at home here and achieve their full potential”.
According to the University of Cambridge’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stephen Toope, Stormzy is “an inspiration, not just for his music but for his engagement on social issues and encouragement of young people”. Stomzy “has achieved great success in his career, but recognises that this was at the expense of his studies and the option of a place at a top university”, added Toope. “He wants to inspire talented young Black people who have their sights set on university to follow their dreams. The scholarships are a beacon for Black students who might otherwise have felt they could not come to Cambridge.”
The scholarships, which are non-repayable, will cover the full cost of tuition fees and provide a maintenance grant which will significantly reduce the need for awardees to take out government or commercial loans. This support will be available to recipients for up to four years of undergraduate study. For the 2020-21 academic year, the total award to each student for the year will be worth £18,000. Receipt of this award will not affect eligibility for a Cambridge Bursary, confirmed the university.
For more information on Cambridge University’s Stormzy Scholarships and eligibility criteria CLICK HERE.
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