photo opportunity 1.45 pm, Thursday 13 December, Ustinov Room, Bonar Hall,University of Dundee.
The Royal Bank of Scotland is presenting fifteen students at the University of Dundee with bursaries totalling £60,000 this afternoon which will support them all the way through their four years of studies.
The Royal Bank is committed to taking on fifteen first year students each year for the next three years and financially supporting them through their degrees. This bursary funding totals £240,000 in addition to £100,000 funding already given by the Bank to the University's summer school. Each student will receive £1,000 every year for the duration of their studies.
One of the bursary recipients Samantha Jones Purdie is a mature nursing student who is delighted to receive the bursary. Samantha's financial situation was changed very recently by personal circumstances and the bursary has prevented her from having to drop out of University.
Samantha worked previously in insurance claims in the medical field and decided on a career change once she'd had her daughter. Samantha said: "In my previous job I always made the most of training opportunities. It's great to be studying full-time now and I'm very pleased that the bursary will let me continue with my studies which I enjoy so much."
This support for the University of Dundee forms part of a commitment by the Royal Bank to help widen access to five of Scotland's leading universities - Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews - to include young people who may not be able to afford to attend or, for various social reasons, may not even consider going to University.
Dr John Blicharski, Director of the Wider Access Study Centre at the University of Dundee welcomed the bursaries saying: "A quarter of a million in hardship funding is a very generous commitment for the Royal Bank to make and is a significant long term investment in widening participation and encouraging progression in higher education. Twelve of our students receiving today's bursaries came to University through access routes. The Royal Bank recognises that finance is a major issue for some students from non-traditional higher education backgrounds. The Bank has taken a major step today to reduce the financial deterrent to education.
John Muncey, regional manager of The Royal Bank of Scotland for North Fife and Tayside said: "Our support for the access bursaries is part of our long term commitment to education and to social inclusion. The Royal Bank recognises that financial and social factors can prevent many young people in Britain from fulfilling their educational potential and that the best and brightest come from all sections of the community."/ENDS
Notes for editors
The presentations will take place in the Ustinov Room, Bonar Hall,
University of Dundee.
Janice Palmer of the Royal Bank of Scotland and Professor David Swinfen, Vice-Principal of the University of Dundee will present the bursaries.
All graduates who receive a bursary will automatically be granted a job interview with The Royal Bank of Scotland. The will also be given the opportunity to apply for casual work during the University holidays.