Six students who overcame huge challenges to get a university education have been awarded an incredible bursary to help them out financially – all thanks to University College Birmingham’s Whatuni award win earlier this year. 

Lisa Cham, Chanelle Douglas, Nona Lines and Khadijah Khatun were over the moon to receive £2,000 each from the £10,000 cashpot, as were husband-and-wife Carmen and Ionut Oprea, who shared a joint bursary between them. 

Whatuni awarded the University the bursaries to share with deserving students as its University of the Year in the 2022 Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs), as voted for by students themselves. 

Alice Wilby, the University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Access, Participation and Student Experience, said the bursaries would have a real impact on the lives of the students, selected by the University through a nomination process. 

“We are so happy to be able to offer that extra bit of financial support to these students, who have strived hard and overcome lots to get to university and make a difference to their future,” she said. 

“We are extremely proud of them and hope it makes a difference to their lives, especially with Christmas coming up and the cost of living crisis. Like all our students, they can also lean on our own financial support, including our Kick-Start Scheme to help with study costs and our Higher Education Access Fund.”