News

More money available for North East applicants to Durham University

(19 September 2003)

Durham University has stepped up its financial support for applicants in its home region who may be unable to take up a place at university because of their financial situation.

The University has increased its Target Bursaries from £500 to £2000 to help potential students throughout the region in that position.

Applicants are guaranteed to receive a Target Bursary if they:

• Are under 21 years old on 1 September 2004
• Either have a home postcode that starts with NE, DL, DH, TS or SR, or they have attended a University of Durham Masterclass
• Have a parental income low enough to mean they don’t make a personal contribution towards their tuition fees.

Matthew Andrews, Head of Undergraduate Admissions at the University, said: “We are committed to attracting the brightest and best students regardless of background. We see it as vital that all talented students are able to consider university as an option and we want potential students from the region to aim high and consider Durham. With the increased value of these bursaries, we hope more local school-leavers from less affluent families will feel they can think about Durham University as a realistic choice for them”.

The increased bursaries have been made possible due to generous donations from University graduates to the Student Opportunities Fund that funds the bursaries.

The bursary scheme is part of Durham University’s programme of widening participation which includes visits to more than 90 state schools in the region, activity days in the University for pupils, and residential summer schools for sixth formers. The aim is to generate more applications which in turn lead to a higher proportion of admissions. Overall admissions from state schools are now running at almost 67% against 62% three years ago. The proportion of students who gained admission from low participation neighbourhoods (LPN) has seen a steady increase from 8% in 2000 to 10% in 2001 and 11% in 2002.

Further details and application forms are available from dur.ac.uk/student.support/ or from Marian Wressell on 0191 334 6143.

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Media enquiries:

Dionne Hamil, Public Relations, Tel: 0191 334 6078
Elizabeth Glossop, Undergraduate Admissions, Tel: 0191 334 6116