The 1994 Group and the Russell Group of universities have launched a groundbreaking £1000 scholarship for students who wish to study science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects at university.

Lancaster University is expecting to award around 30 scholarships, worth £1,000 each, to eligible students to help support their studies.

The ‘Eliahou Dangoor Scholarships’, launched with a £3 million donation over three years, will be the largest private bursary or scholarship widening participation scheme known to the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) in the UK, and will be administered across Russell Group and 1994 Group universities. Matched funding from government is expected to bring the total funding available to £4 million.

Thanks to the generous donation from Dr Naim Dangoor, a successful property developer, this scholarship will assist up to 4000 students, most from under-privileged backgrounds, to study vital science and maths-based subjects at the UK’s leading research-intensive universities.

Dr Dangoor has said that this scholarship, named in honour of his father Eliahou Dangoor, is his way of thanking the country that gave him refuge after he left Iraq in the 1960s. It is hoped that this ambitious scheme will encourage more young people to consider studying STEM subjects at one of the country’s leading universities. </< />

Professor Paul Wellings, Vice Chancellor of Lancaster University and Chair of the 1994 Group of universities warmly welcomed the donation and the creation of the scholarships. He said: “Dr Naim Dangoor’s generous donation will support talented students to study at the leading universities in the United Kingdom. With record numbers ofapplications to university the signs are that the current system of variable bursaries, fees and loans, with no upfront costs and generous repayment terms, are not acting as a deterrent. Nevertheless, we are concerned that some students particularly from poorer backgrounds, may be put off from applying to university because of misinformation or lack of understanding about the generous support available. These scholarships are a tremendous addition to the range of bursaries our universities offer to help ensure that students fulfil their potential and are encouraged to apply to leading universities.”

The Eliahou Dangoor scholarships will be administered by each 1994 Group and Russell Group university. To qualify for the £1000 scholarship students must be due to enter their first year of study at either a Russell Group or 1994 Group university.

For more information on the scheme at Lancaster see http://www.lancs.ac.uk/ugfinance/dangoor.htm