Specialist private student lender Future Finance today announces the winner of its inaugural Future Finance Postgraduate Scholarship Programme as Hannah Gaffey, who will receive £20,000 in funding to support her postgraduate studies at the University of Cambridge. The scholarship will fund tuition fees and living expenses for Hannah’s MPhil in Education (Globalisation and International Development).
The scholarship programme attracted over 730 applications from students at 382 universities and institutions, signalling a widespread need for postgraduate student funding as tuition fees continue to rise in the U.K. A shortlist of 13 candidates were then selected by Future Finance and voting was opened to the public which saw over 15,000 people vote to support these high potential students in reaching their goals.
Hannah recently graduated from Queen Mary, University of London with a BA in English Language and Linguistics and developed a keen interest in education and international development, with a specific focus on providing a high-quality education for all. Outside of her studies, Hannah is volunteering for the Red Cross in Norway ahead of her move to Cambridge, and has previously undertaken charity work with Macmillan Cancer Support, CoppaFeel!, Bloody Good Period, Judah’s Cloud and the Meningitis Research Foundation which fuelled her ambition to bring about positive change. This will make Hannah the perfect ambassador for Future Finance, taking part in networking events and speaking opportunities on campus to support other students to fulfill their potential.
Hannah’s dedication to her education saw her undertake an extensive campaign that led to wide-spread support of her winning the scholarship, with her story being published in a wide range of press in her local area and even saw her reach the pages of Grazia. She has also launched her own fundraising campaign #TeesforFees, which celebrates the women in her life that inspire her. Through selling t-shirts and tote bags, her entrepreneurial spirit and drive has helped her raise an additional £600 towards her education.
Hannah Gaffey, winner of the Future Finance Scholarship Programme, said: “What an overwhelming privilege and honour it is to announce that I’m the recipient of the Future Finance Scholarship Programme. After eight months of campaigning, fundraising and worrying, a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I could never have achieved this without the support network of friends, family and my local community. I am incredibly excited to be able to take my place at Murray Edwards College Cambridge in October, and begin a future where I can give to others the kind of support Future Finance has given me. I am extremely proud to be Future Finance’s ambassador because we share the same ethos for education for all, regardless of background or economic situation.”
Olga Dolchenko, CEO at Future Finance, said: “Our scholarship programme was founded as a way to invest in the next generation by providing support to those who might otherwise have never had the opportunity to take their education further. Hannah’s story stood out to us because she shares our passion for making education accessible to all. Hannah’s commitment to furthering her education is not just supported by all of the team at Future Finance, but also to the thousands of people who voted for her. It is a privilege to be able to bridge the funding gap allowing Hannah to fully concentrate on her studies. On behalf of all of the team at Future Finance, I wish Hannah the very best of luck with her course and every continued success for the future.”’
