Breadcrumbs

Investing in Student Support

Transforming lives

 

(Total donations as at January 2012)

  

Somerville was founded to educate talented women otherwise unable to gain access to a university education. The College has a history of including the excluded, and throughout the years alumni, friends and fellows have demonstrated special generosity towards helping students in every possible way.

The funding of higher education in England has undergone dramatic changes in the last year, with undergraduate tuition fees tripling in 2012. At postgraduate level, up to 75% of students in the humanities and social sciences must fund themselves. Against this backdrop, Somerville is committed to doing everything it can to attract the very brightest minds by increasing support for bursaries and scholarships.

Somerville already contributes significant funding to around 25% of our undergraduates for countering hardship and recognising excellence. As we look to the future, we seek to address increase the support available to both undergraduate and postgraduate students in coming years by raising a total of £4 million. We are grateful to Somerville's alumni and friends, who have so far donated more than £2.2 million towards student bursaries, scholarships, hardship grants and travel grants. Your continuing support will become increasingly vital in coming years to ensure fair access for the brightest students on a needs-blind basis.

My current research and the continuation of my academic work would be impossible without the kindness and generosity of donors. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to continue my research and to pursue a career in academia.

Hugh Cumber (2010, MSt English, Margaret Thatcher Scholar)

Make a gift online, or to discuss your gift and find out more information about how you can help, please contact Director of Development, Julie Hage.