Newcastle University - The James Skillington Memorial Scholarship

The James Skillington Memorial Scholarship

You will receive approximately 1,170 EUR (2,000 GBP) in total, which will be paid out over the three years of your Bachelor’s degree at Newcastle University. Most of the money is paid out early on: around 585 EUR (1,000 GBP) in the first year, then around 290 EUR (500 GBP) in both the second and third years. The scholarship was established by the family of James Skillington, a chemistry student from Newcastle who died of leukaemia. It is funded by the Newcastle University Development Trust through donations made in his memory.

Who can apply

• University: You’re studying at Newcastle University in the UK.
• Study phase: You are in the first year of your Bachelor’s degree.
• Field of study: You are studying chemistry. If no suitable chemistry student can be found, the prize may be awarded to a student studying another natural science subject, ideally one related to chemistry.
• Financial need: You come from a less well-off background and need support.
• Background: The university gives priority to students falling under the ‘expanded access’ category, i.e. students from groups who are less likely to undertake higher education, with the definition being based on the university’s own criteria.

How to apply

Please email the scholarship application form and a brief CV of no more than two A4 pages to the university’s scholarship team. The application deadline is 15 October.

How realistic are your chances?

This grant is very strictly targeted: you must be in your first year of a chemistry degree at Newcastle and also demonstrate a genuine financial need; as a result, very few people apply for it. If you clearly meet both the academic and financial criteria – and, in particular, if you fit the profile for the Higher Education Access Grant – your chances are good. As this is a scholarship funded by a single donor, a well-reasoned application will be preferred to a highly polished one.