In October 2021, four gifted students had their lives transformed as recipients of Bedford Society Scholarships thanks to the generous support of Bedfordians (alumni and former staff of Bedford College). As these scholars near the completion of their studies, three of them spoke to us about the impact of the scholarship and their aspirations for the future.
(Left to right) 2021/22 Bedford Society Scholars Swathi, Charlie and Georgia
Swathi Janardhanan, MSc Forensic Psychology
“The increase in fees had led me to almost drop the idea of pursuing higher education. The scholarship not only enabled me to bridge the gap but was a strong motivator to prove myself deserving of such an honour. I have secured a job following the completion of this course as a Teaching and Learning practitioner at Beyond Autism. Receiving this scholarship has been an amazing opportunity and I am extremely grateful to have been chosen for this prestigious award.”
Charlie Davies, MSc Quaternary Science
“[The Bedford Society Scholarship] has allowed me to focus entirely on my MSc Quaternary science course, which has required a lot of hard work and effort, without the financial worry that would have been present without it. Due to this, I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the learning and teaching, and it has allowed me to take up other great opportunities, such as being an MSc Quaternary Science Course Representative and completing a Carbon Literacy Training Course. […] I am so grateful for all of your support.
“In the future, I hope to have a job in environmental and climatic research as this year I have loved the research aspect of my course. I hope that through this research, I can have a positive impact on society and the environment. By using the knowledge I’ve gained during my time at Royal Holloway I want to help tackle some of the most profound environmental and climatic issues impacting society to help change and create solutions for a sustainable future.”
Georgia Till, MSc Forensic Psychology
“Throughout my time studying, I have felt able to relax and enjoy the MSc. A core part of this is through the funding that you have so generously provided to me. I would have found the entire masters a lot more challenging if I had had to navigate financial distraction, alongside full-time work. I am truly grateful, thank you. Beyond this, acknowledging that I’ve been personally given backing from the Bedford Society to complete my degree, has supported my confidence in moving forwards for the future.
“On graduating, I will have the option to pursue a career in either clinical or forensic psychology. I have always felt clinical psychology would be the right choice for me and as such will be applying for the clinical doctorate this coming fall. However, completing the masters simply opens more doors. Again, this is something for which I am grateful. I have lots of options to choose from.”
Three Bedford Society Scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence having achieved (or be on target to achieve) a First Class Honours degree or equivalent. In addition, 2021/22 was the first year of the Bedford Society Access Scholarship, supporting students who would not be able to undertake further study without extra financial help.
Find out more about supporting Bedford Society Scholarships.
