The Sandi Russell Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship

Sandi Russell (1946-2017) was a renowned jazz singer, writer, and educator. St Chad’s College is proud to offer this scholarship in her memory.

St Chad’s College will award ONE Sandi Russell Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship, worth £3000 for each year of a three or four year undergraduate degree programme, to a student entering the College at Foundation Level or Level 1 in the 2024-25 academic year. 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY 21 APRIL 2024

INTERVIEWS: THURSDAY 25 AND FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2024

ELIGIBILITY

  • This scholarship is offered to applicants who identify as having a Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic (BAME) background AND/OR who identify as a person of colour.
  • This scholarship is offered to applicants of any gender.
  • Recipients will be able to demonstrate ‘financial need’ – defined as a household income below £40,000. Additional consideration will be given to applicants from neighbourhoods with low participation in higher education and from applicants who are a first generation scholar.
  • Successful applicants will be required to provide evidence of financial need through presentation of their student finance company’s household income assessment before receipt of the scholarship payment.

Level of Study: Undergraduate

College: Applicants must specify St Chad’s College as their first choice College when asked for their College preferences by Durham University

Mode of Study: Full-time

Duration Successful recipients will receive £3000 per year for a maximum of three years of undergraduate study. Funding can be used as either maintenance support or payment towards tuition fees. This is a grant rather than a loan, and does not need to be repaid.

Value: Up to 3/4 years of consecutive undergraduate study.

Year of Entry: New applicants for the academic year starting October 2024

Domicile: UK/EU/International

HOW TO APPLY

Prospective applicants must:

Stage 1: submit an academic application to Durham University via UCAS.

Stage 2: applicants must specify St Chad’s College as their first choice College when asked for their College preferences by Durham University.

Stage 3: submit to St Chad’s College via email (chads.admissions@durham.ac.uk):

  • an application including a personal statement of not more than 1,000 words describing how your personal circumstances make you eligible for this award (see Eligibility), how the bursary would help you to study at Durham University and why you want to study at Durham University and St Chad’s College.
  • a character reference from one of your teachers/tutors in support of your scholarship application to be sent by email to chads.admissions@durham.ac.uk. Please ensure your referee submits the reference on letter headed paper which contains their name, position, contact details and your full name.

Successful applicants will also be required to share with the College a copy of their student finance entitlement before the receipt of the scholarship.

Scholarship applications accepted from: 1 October 2023

Deadline for submission of applications: 21 April 2024

SELECTION PROCESS

All eligible applications for the Sandi Russell Undergraduate Scholarship will be considered on the basis of their personal statement, reference and academic status by two members of College staff at St Chad’s College. The financial and personal information you provide will be treated with strict confidentiality by members of the selection panel.

Other scholarship awards may be taken into account when considering scholarship allocation. Awards are made at the discretion of the panel. The panel reserves the right not to make an award in any given year if it is deemed that no applicant has met the criteria.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a short informal online interview in April 2024. Interviews will be with two members of College staff.

CONTACT

For further information:

Phone: +44 (0)191 334 3357

Email: chads.admissions@durham.ac.uk