News11th May 2021
Ark is pleased to welcome a new bursary with Aurum providing two students heading to university this summer with financial support for three years, worth a total of £100,500 (£16,750 a year).
Aurum is a specialist investment company and as part of its commitment to diversity and inclusion, they are working with Ark to support talented students interested in finance or environmental conservation careers.
Students will also gain internships every summer at Aurum Research Ltd (Aurum’s London-based investment research arm) and Synchronicity Earth (a UK based conservation charity that works closely with Aurum). Students will also have a professional mentor throughout their degree.
Ark’s Director of Sixth Form, James Lovell, said: “This partnership is a fantastic example of sectors coming together to make a real difference to young people’s lives and widening access into competitive careers. We aim to provide all our students with as many opportunities as possible to fulfil their potential, and we will continue to support them all as they approach their post-18 choices this summer.”
Aurum Research Limited’s CEO Kevin Gundle said, “This was a humbling and inspiring undertaking, though also difficult given the candidates were all very deserving. The final decision came down to two individuals that have the greatest financial need and who also demonstrated a clear interest in one of the two career streams that Aurum’s bursaries specified. I would like to thank my colleagues at Aurum as well as the Ark team who made the bursary selection such an enriching experience. All of us are committed to making the Aurum bursaries a success.”
Bursaries can make the dream of going to university a reality; thanks to our generous partners and donors we can offer a range of financial bursaries that are vital to enabling recipients to carry on studying after sixth form. For school leavers going onto higher education, we offer bursaries ranging from £3,000 to £50,000 to help with the financial costs of university life.
In addition to the Aurum bursaries, we are grateful to our other private donors and bursary supporters, including:
- The Reuben Foundation provides financial support for Oxbridge and Russell Group students
- Urbanest provides free accommodation for students throughout their time at university
- Marshall Wace Asset Management provides financial bursaries.
In the lead up to this year’s summer results, our Sixth Form team have been busy interviewing prospective bursary recipients. They interviewed 117 students for the 55 bursaries available after students went through a rigorous application and shortlisting process managed by their schools. Successful students will be notified shortly and will need to meet eligibility criteria after results day.
This year, out of a total of 55 awardees:
- 96% have been eligible for free school meals or other financial support in the last six years
- 76% will be the first generation in their family to attend university
- 76% have a Russell Group university as their first choice
- 72% are intending to move out of home
- 81% will complete 3-year degrees, with the remainder completing degrees for 4+ years.
One student who has benefited from a bursary is Ark Burlington Danes alum Christian Acheampong. He was awarded an Urbanest bursary in 2019, and he is now in his second year studying Digital Media Development at the University of Westminster. Urbanest is a leading student accommodation provider, and the bursary included free accommodation at one of their London sites and financial support for the duration of his degree.
Christian said: “Securing a bursary meant I didn’t need to think about finding accommodation close to my university so I can work on projects anytime and not worry about travelling from campus. The financial help has really made a difference, and I’m also enjoying meeting and networking with other students, some of whom are from other Ark schools, so I’ve also been able to expand my professional network and immerse myself in my industry without distraction”
If you or your organisation is interested in developing a bursary programme with Ark, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Cordelia Harwood, Head of Development, here: cordelia.harwood@arkonline.org.