Dawn Allen, who studied for her MA in Management Studies at Essex
Students from the county of Essex are being offered fee scholarships of 25% to start postgraduate study at the University of Essex during its 50th anniversary year.
The University is proud to reach such a significant milestone, and will award the 50th anniversary County of Essex Scholarships to acknowledge the generous contributions of the people and businesses of Essex to raising more than £1 million to establish the University half a century ago. Their support has helped the University to achieve 50 years of excellence in education and world-class research.
Now recognised as one of the top ten universities in the UK for research quality and student experience, the University wants to give students born, educated or living in the greater county of Essex the opportunity to benefit from this excellence, and the University’s genuinely global outlook.
Students from Essex starting a self-funded postgraduate research or Masters degree in October 2014 will be awarded a 25% fee discount, worth between £1,000 and £4,000, for the 2014-15 academic year.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Jules Pretty said: “The people of Essex gave generously to the Appeal Fund which helped establish the University in 1964, now we would like to give something back.
“Our postgraduate degrees in the humanities, social sciences and sciences will help students to develop as the entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers and leaders of the future. And we hope many of them will stay in Essex, using their skills and expertise to boost the social, cultural and economic life of the county.”
Dawn Allen grew up in Saffron Walden, Essex, and studied for an MA in Management Studies at Essex in 2003-04, after completing her undergraduate degree in Cambridge. She said: “I would highly recommend studying at the University of Essex, it is like home from home, the staff are so supportive and you will make so many new friends.”
Having started university as a mature student, to help her career progression, Dawn then chose to continue her studies. She said: “I fancied a change of environment and wanted to experience the whole university life of living on campus, but didn't want to go too far away.
“I found the perfect course of my choice at the Colchester Campus, it was the happiest time of my life as studying locally meant my family were only one hour away, whilst I had my full independence too.” She has gone on to develop a successful career in the county, including managing a learning centre and helping young people and adults with retraining and career choices.
More information about the 50th anniversary scholarships
Another source of both financial and employment skills support is available to 200 postgraduates starting Masters degree courses at Essex in 2014.
Two novel schemes are being tested: One will provide £5,000 scholarships to students who mentor undergraduates, while the other will include a paid Knowledge Exchange traineeship with an employer.
More information about the Postgraduate Support Scheme
ends
For further information, please contact the Communications Office on 01206 872400, email: comms@essex.ac.uk