Category: Students and Scholarships

My name is Matt, and I studied Environmental Management. I’m now pursuing a Masters in Sustainability at Salford, supported by the Farrat scholarship. My journey with the University of Salford began during my undergraduate years, and it was an experience that left a lasting impression on me. The campus, with its amazing greenery and welcoming atmosphere, felt like a second home. The friendly staff and fellow students created a supportive environment that made my time here truly special.

When it came time to choose a university for my master’s degree, the decision was clear. Returning to Salford meant reconnecting with familiar lecturers and forging new relationships with those I hadn’t yet met. The wealth of opportunities available, coupled with the flexibility in assignment briefs that allow students to explore topics of personal interest, made Salford the obvious choice for continuing my academic journey.

I caught up with the Philanthropy team to discuss the impact of my donor-funded scholarship which is helping me to gain my postgraduate degree.

Why did you apply for a donor-funded Scholarship?

Financial constraints have always been a part of my life. Since the age of 16, I’ve been working to support myself and my family. Despite saving diligently over the past year to afford my return to university, the budget remained tight. The donor-funded scholarship offered not just financial relief but also the chance to connect with a company in a field my own. This opportunity to build further links was an added attraction that made applying for the scholarship a no-brainer.

How has the Scholarship impacted your time at Salford?

The scholarship has had a profound impact on my time at the University of Salford, extending far beyond financial support. It has opened doors to networking opportunities that I hadn’t anticipated. Motivated by these new connections, I created a LinkedIn profile, which has become a valuable tool for sharing relevant news and updates about my course. This platform has helped me stay connected with industry professionals and peers.

Financially, the scholarship has provided much-needed relief, allowing me to focus more on my studies without the constant worry about expenses. This shift in focus has been instrumental in my academic success.

The scholarship has also been a catalyst for my personal development, instilling a newfound confidence that has helped me to pursue my goals despite any lingering self-doubt. The support and opportunities from the University, combined with the scholarship, have created an environment where I can thrive academically and personally.

My time at the University of Salford has been one of growth, opportunity, and the support. The donor-funded scholarship has played a crucial role in shaping my experience, allowing me to focus on my studies and build valuable connections that will benefit me long after graduation.

We caught up with Ellie, a first-year BSc Architectural Engineering student and recipient of the Gerry Mason Scholarship. This Scholarship, established in 2015 to honour Gerry Mason, the founder of the Morson Group in 1969, supports aspiring engineers in pursuing STEM courses. This initiative, has established a lasting collaboration between the Morson Group and the University and empowered students like Ellie to succeed

We spoke with Ellie to learn how the scholarship is supporting her academic journey:

What brought you to study at the University of Salford and what do you enjoy most about your time here?

I chose the University of Salford because of its vibrant campus and its convenient location. The SEE building particularly drew me in with its modern and well-equipped facilities, providing an inspiring environment for learning. The best part of my time here has been meeting amazing people from diverse backgrounds, which has broadened my perspective and made my experience truly memorable.

Why did you apply for a donor-funded scholarship?

I applied for a donor-funded scholarship after attending an event through the Go Beyond Women in SEE, where a member of the Philanthropy Team, Ellie, gave a talk about the scholarships and what they offer. I didn’t know these opportunities existed, but after hearing about the incredible support they provide, I knew it was something I wanted to apply for.

Besides the financial support, how has the scholarship impacted your time at the University of Salford?

The scholarship has given me confidence in my projects by showing me that others believe in what I can achieve. This support has motivated me to push myself further and take on new challenges with a stronger sense of self-belief.

How has your scholarship influenced your time at the University of Salford?

My scholarship has influenced my time at the University of Salford by giving me the opportunity to attend events that have boosted my confidence and expanded my knowledge. These events have allowed me to connect with inspiring people, gain new insights, and feel more supported in my academic journey.

Is there anything else you would like our audience to know before we conclude your interview?

I am a founder of the Salford Architectural Society. Being part of this initiative has allowed me to create a space where students can collaborate, share ideas, and engage with the wider architectural community. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience that has further enriched my time at the University of Salford.

Donor-Funded Scholarships and Bursaries make a huge difference to our student’s educational experience, it allows them to gain valuable experience and purchase materials to help with their studies, that may not have been possible before.

If you want to read more stories like Ellie’s, check out our supporter’s blog, and if you want to help fund our scholarships, and support students like Ellie, we would love to hear from you. You can email us at supporters@salford.ac.uk or donate directly here.

Founded in 2001, Gamma Telecoms Plc, also known as Gamma Communications, is a UK-based telecommunications company. They provide a wide range of communication services and have become a leading provider in the UK specifically for businesses.

In 2024, Gamma generously elected to set up a new scholarship programme, to support two new undergraduate scholarships. Each scholarship provides students with £10,000 over three years of study, showcasing Gamma’s dedication to supporting education and enriching the lives of our students. Philanthropy scholarships are more than just a cash award for our students; it’s a moment of recognition and a testament to our belief in their abilities and potential.

Earlier this year, Chris Smith, the ESG Programme Manager at Gamma, had the opportunity to meet the scholarship recipients, Jess and Ahmed. After a whistle stop tour of the campus, both students took the lead in showcasing the state-of-the-art SEE Building, which is the School of Science Engineering and Environment’s new home for innovation and discovery. They provided an insightful tour, highlighting the various laboratories, collaborative workspaces and industry leading features the building has to offer.

Chris said: ‘It was fantastic to meet our scholars, Jess and Ahmed this week and seeing what enthusiasm and commitment they have to their subjects. Talking with them about their studies and walking on ‘their patch’ on campus brings the whole partnership to life in such an authentic way. I can’t wait to hear how they are getting on over the next 3-4 years and feel very privileged on behalf of Gamma to be their interface with our business.’

Ahmed, a first year Computer Science with Cyber Security student, said, ‘I’m grateful for Gamma’s support through this scholarship and the potential opportunities that it will bring to help shape my future. Meeting Chris from Gamma reinforced how valuable this scholarship is, and I’m excited to see where it leads.’

Jess is a first year Physics student and is excited for the opportunities the scholarships will provide, saying, ‘I am grateful for such a wonderful opportunity, and the amount of overwhelming support I’ve received from this scholarship. I now have access to resources that enrich my education which wasn’t possible without my scholarship, as well as the chance to make the most of my time as a university student. I’m forever thankful to Gamma and the scholarship programme for everything they have done for me.’

We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Gamma for their support of the university and our students. Your generosity is profoundly impacting our scholars, and we look forward to witnessing their continued growth throughout their academic journeys.

Bellway is a leading UK homebuilder established in 1946, and they have built a reputation for constructing a diverse range of homes, from affordable housing to luxury properties. At the Energy House 2.0 labs, Bellway has ‘The Future Home’ (see image below) that tests green technologies in real-life scenarios to lower carbon emissions and guide future home construction. They are testing various heating methods, including the UK’s first roof-mounted air source heat pump, infrared panels, mechanical ventilation, double vs. triple glazing, and a heat-recovering shower. Find out more about their home here.

Following its philanthropic contributions to the ‘Friends of Energy House 2’ campaign, Bellway has generously introduced two new undergraduate scholarships, providing students with £15,000 each over three years of study. This demonstrates its commitment to supporting education and enriching the lives of our students.

Paul Lawler, Bellway’s Group Head of Communications, recently had the pleasure of meeting the scholarship recipients, Louie and Joseph, at a vibrant event celebrating the Friends of Energy House 2.0 campaign. The event was a wonderful opportunity for the scholars to connect with Bellway.

Paul said, ”It was a pleasure to meet Louie and Joseph at our Energy House 2.0 project and learn how our scholarship sponsorship has helped them access higher education at The University of Salford.  Through the Friends of Energy House, we are able to build on the work we are doing with the University beyond the research project.  So as well as leading the future of homebuilding though the project, we are also able to help the generation develop the skills required to deliver these homes.”

Louie, an Electrical and Electronic Engineering student, shared his heartfelt gratitude for Bellway’s support: ”This scholarship will help me afford accommodation, easing the stress of finance, allowing me to focus wholly on my studies. As well as this, I’ll be able to afford a laptop that can run the simulation software I’ll be using in my course.” His enthusiasm and dedication to his studies were evident as he spoke about the positive impact the scholarship would have on his academic journey.

Joseph, studying Physics, expressed his appreciation: ”The scholarship has provided me with valuable support financially to cover transport whilst commuting to university as well as additional resources such as a laptop to enhance my studies. Potentially, I will be able to attend the Physics Society trip to a place of scientific interest. However, the most exciting prospect is the opportunity of work experience over the summer.”

A huge thank you to Bellway for its unwavering support towards the University and our students. Their generosity is making a significant difference to their scholars, whom we look forward to watching continue to grow throughout their academic journeys.

More information

Donor-Funded Scholarships and Bursaries make a huge difference to our student’s educational experience, it allows them to gain valuable experience and purchase materials to help with their studies, that may not have been possible before.

If you want to read more stories like Louie’s and Joseph’s, click the drop under ‘Students and Scholarships’. If you want to help fund our scholarships, we would love to hear from you. Please email us at supporters@salford.ac.uk or simply donate here.

Matt, an Architecture student, secured the Roysia Bursary during his third year at the University of Salford. The Roysia Foundation is a U.K. Charity dedicated to facilitating positive change in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Their focus is on promoting the value of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine, particularly with young people from diverse backgrounds. They have supported University of Salford students by providing bursaries since 2022.

As Matt comes to the end of his academic journey, he says, ‘as I reflect on the journey that the bursary has facilitated, the financial assistance received has been instrumental in various aspects of my academic pursuit. It enabled me to acquire essential model making equipment and materials, as well as digital model making and rendering software for my personal laptop.’ It is great to hear that Matt has been able to purchase valuable resources with the funds from Roysia.

The bursary has allowed Matt to be able to focus more on his academic studies, ‘focusing wholeheartedly on my studies without the need for part-time employment. This uninterrupted focus has been pivotal in my academic success, enabling me to delve deeper into my coursework and pursue additional learning opportunities.’

Matt is proud to share that he has produced some great work this academic year that has yielded fruitful results,

‘I am proud to share images of the site model that I’m currently constructing for my Design Studio module. The base has been constructed out of foam using a CNC router machine. In constructing this, I have gained valuable experience of various software that I had not previously used and although the model is not finished yet, I’m proud of how it turned out. The timber is me just trying some simple forms on the site in order to build a concept from.’

As Matt prepares to embark on the next chapter of his journey, he says, ‘I am confident that the skills and experiences gained during my time at the University of Salford will serve as a solid foundation for future endeavors. At the end of the academic year, we will be having an end of year show where my work will be pinned up and presented.’

We wish Matt he best of luck with his future goals and look forward to celebrating his achievements at graduation this summer.  

More information

Donor-Funded Scholarships and Bursaries make a huge difference to our student’s educational experience, it allows them to gain valuable experience and purchase materials to help with their studies, that may not have been possible before.

If you want to read more stories like Matts, click the drop under ‘Students and Scholarships’. If you want to help fund our scholarships, we would love to hear from you, you can email us at supporters@salford.ac.uk or simply donate here.

Caitlin is a second-year Sound Engineering and Production student who was awarded the Gittins Family Charitable Trust scholarship in Engineering due to her excellent academic record and strong application, in addition to her proactive nature. The Gittins Family Trust is a charity focused on supporting students in engineering, manufacturing, and health work and has supported the University since 2022 by providing diversity-focused scholarships to provide opportunities for more women in engineering, and men in nursing alongside students coming from low-income backgrounds.

Caitlin expresses that she ‘felt so lucky to be rewarded with the scholarship’ and was encouraged to apply due to support from mentors from our Go Beyond Event which is focused on supporting the growth and development of Women in Engineering. ‘When I was awarded the scholarship, I was so proud of myself! I had to write a piece on why I think I deserve the scholarship and for other people to see potential in me as well is such an amazing feeling.’

The scholarship funding has supported Caitlin to ‘gain valuable experience to be brought back to the classroom.’ Outside of studying Caitlin has been proactively seeking work experience in the world of sound engineering and production, she reached out to a live music venue local to her and got work experience doing sound mixing for performing bands for a few weeks.

The support from the scholarship has enabled Caitlin to gain access to amazing opportunities such as being a technical manager at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Caitlin has said, ‘this scholarship has helped me to fund my train tickets to be able to work at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023 and 2024’.

In addition to working at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Caitlin has worked at ‘Sounds from the other City’ (SFTOC) and Langworthy Live, ‘I feel I have not only gained experience, but I have gained a lot more confidence and have done a lot more events I feel I wouldn’t have done previously.’

Donor-Funded Scholarships and Bursaries make a huge difference to our students educational experience, it allows them to gain valuable experience and purchase materials to help with their studies, that may not have been possible before.

If you want to read more stories like Caitlins, click the drop under ‘Students and Scholarships’. If you want to help fund our scholarships, we would love to hear from you, you can email us at supporters@salford.ac.uk or simply donate here.

We caught up with Barakat Olagunju recently, a first year Architectural Engineering student who was awarded the Gerry Mason Engineering Scholarship because of her academic excellence, attainment, and strong application. The scholarship was established in 2015 in memory of Gerry Mason, who founded the Morson Group in 1969. The scholarship continues in his legacy by enabling budding engineers to study degree-level courses rooted in STEM. These scholarships alongside other projects have created a long-lasting partnership between the Morson Group and the University.

In the interview Barakat talks about the immense pride and sense of achievement she felt achieving the scholarship, as it has helped her access vital resources needed for her course.  Barakat was struggling to find an affordable computer and the news came at a perfect time, Barakat said, ‘I was surprised that I [received the scholarship] because, when I applied, I wasn’t thinking that I was going to get it. It came at the perfect time as I needed a computer for the course. Computers used for architecture are quite expensive as they need to run additional software.’

After buying her laptop, Barakat is now contemplating other ways to best to manage her money whilst studying but says the scholarship ‘helps me to feel a bit more eased about money. When people told me that university can be a bit of a struggle, I did not really believe them or understand what they meant until I got started,’ .

Barakat’s scholarship funding has already had tangible effects on her studies, by being able to focus on her academic work, reducing the amount of shifts she’s working, Barakat said, ‘I can work regular shifts instead of working extra shifts and I don’t have to worry about where I am going to get the money for the laptop anymore.’

While Barakat hasn’t decided on her future career just yet, she is interested in architectural engineering and wants to continue exploring that element within her course. The scholarship has empowered Barakat to believe that she can become an architectural engineer while raising the profile of women in STEM. It has also inspired her to give back in the future.

Barakat recommends that other students apply for donor-funded scholarship. Barakat provides some great advice to potential scholarship applicants in the future, ‘Even if you think that you might not get it, that is the worst possible scenario. The best possible scenario is you getting the scholarship. You don’t lose anything by applying but you give yourself the chance to gain a lot.’

Barakat is extremely grateful for the opportunity that the Morson Group have provided her, and it makes her happy to know that our supporters are providing scholarship programmes to help students to achieve their dreams, ‘It’s nice to know that there are people out there that are willing to support you. The fact that there is a whole programme shows that there are people out there that are willing to help other people. It’s nice to know that there are people like that.’

More information

Students can find out more by checking out our donor-funded scholarships or learn about further money advice and support.

Donor-funded scholarships and bursaries offer a financial lifeline to those who need it most. Securing a scholarship is not only a non-repayable reward for our students, but a moment of recognition and a vote of confidence that we believe in their potential. Find out more about opportunities to support our students on our website.

Chloe is a first-year student studying Biochemistry with one year of studies in the USA. Chloe is the newest student to receive the Steve Pearce Biochemistry Scholarship. Steve Pearce is a long-standing supporter of the university, is a Salford alumnus and Co-Founder and CEO of Omega Ingredients Ltd. Founded in 2001, Omega Ingredients Ltd, is an award-winning creator of specialist natural flavours, ingredients, and fragrances for manufacturers of food, beverages, and cosmetics products worldwide.

Chloe is thankful for the scholarship opportunity and it can allow her to, ‘spend more time either researching or participating in specific career related work/ lab experience and this is a crucial step into establishing my career again giving me another advantage.’ Chloe is still open different career paths within the scientific industry but says, ‘specifically, my main career aspiration is to become a clinical scientist in embryology/an embryologist. My interest in this first arose when a close family member went through fertility treatment, and I was able to witness the process firsthand.’

Chloe is strong academically and prides herself in achieving the best she can with her studies. Chloe has said, ‘academically, receiving the scholarship allows me to focus more on my academics ensuring that without the need to go to work my studies can be to their highest quality.’

We are extremely honoured that our community of donors support a range of life-changing scholarships across the University of Salford. For further insight into the incredible philanthropy in action at Salford, take a look at our donor case studies here. If you want to chat to us about supporting scholarships at the University of Salford, please contact us at supporters@salford.ac.uk.

We look forward to sharing more of our amazing scholar stories with you and how receiving a scholarship is making a huge difference to our student’s studies.

To find out more about the ways you can support vital scholarships at the University of Salford, visit Giving To Salford.

Matt Littlewood is a first year Architectural Engineering student at the University of Salford and is one of the first scholars to receive a Scholarship from Barratts. They are a leading national sustainable housebuilder, and are the headline partner of The University of Salford’s Friends of Energy House Labs charitable programme with a donation of £105,000 which has funded five scholarships and has contributed to towards the Impact Fund.

Matt is extremely grateful to Barratts for this scholarship as it will allow them to purchase materials that will support them to continue to excel on their course. Matt has said, ‘ my current laptop does not support the design software I need, I am therefore planning to use part of my scholarship to buy a new laptop. This will have a positive impact on my academic progress as it will speed up the turnaround time on the work I need to produce. This would not be possible without this scholarship.’

Matts future ambitions is to work in an architecture practice, ideally specialising in sustainable design as he feels this is an important area for the future. Matt is particularly interested in the Barratt’s Z-House which we are also very lucky to have here on our central campus. Matt said, ‘this is an amazing example of how future homes can be environmentally sustainable and is a source of inspiration.’

We look forward to hearing more about how Matt progresses further into his academic journey and growing as an industry professional.

To find out more about the ways you can support vital scholarships at the University of Salford, visit Giving To Salford.

The University of Salford is delighted to announce a new scholarship programme with the Asian Media Awards for an Asian applicant to prepare for a career in the creative industries.

The scholarship is a collaboration between the University and the national gala that will provide £10k for an applicant to study a three-year undergraduate programme in either television, film or media.

It comes as the University celebrates ten years as the premier partner of the Awards and has been running a campaign over recent months to celebrate the success of our graduates of Asian descent in the creative sectors, the Awards’ rise as a major media event and to help raise the profile of a career in these industries to those of Asian descent.