Durham University’s Military Scholarships support candidates from a military background in overcoming adversity to complete a degree programme at Durham University.
Opportunities for ex-service men & women
British military personnel and their families can pay an enormous price in the service of their country. Successive deployments to the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya have highlighted these travails all too well. A subsequent return to civilian life can be even more challenging.
For many, where a military career was chosen over higher education, lives changed by conflict now need to adjust and re-focus, and a Durham degree will be a formative step in that process. In 2011 two St Cuthbert’s alumni generously established two military scholarships. We are looking to raise sufficient funds to establish an endowment or at least double the current scholarship provision. This will enable Durham University to provide opportunities for British ex-service personnel who have suffered in the service of their country to undertake undergraduate study.
The Scholarships are designed to support an individual, or an immediate family member or dependent, who has been injured, wounded, or sick as a direct result of military service, and is honourably discharged from service.
Scholarship recipients will become members of St Cuthbert’s Society, one of the University’s oldest student communities, where they will receive pastoral support. The Society’s military heritage is extensive. Many staff and students fought in both First and Second World Wars and in 1946 the Society was re-founded by veterans of the war. This debt of gratitude will never be forgotten and lies at the heart of the modern scholarly community.
Funding sought for undergraduate scholarships
Two undergraduate scholarships of £5000 per annum, available up to four years, will be awarded to applicants who have secured places at Durham University.
Local, national and international trusts, foundations and military support organisations are invited to contribute to this fund which has the potential to transform the lives of ex-servicemen and women, and their families, through a world class education, qualifications that enable a new career direction and opportunities.
Durham University seeks to establish an endowment for an Undergraduate Military Scholarship fund to recognise and support those who have served and their dependents, to enable them to enjoy the benefits of a world-class education in pursuing new opportunities. Alternatively, funds for individual, expendable Scholarships are also invited.
“When my leg was shattered in an explosion in Afghanistan, I thought my working life was over. Coming to Durham University has transformed a big part of my life and the Military Scholarship made that possible. I am the first person from my family to go to university so it’s a huge personal achievement in more ways than one.”
Private Tom Wilde, 2 Mercian Rgt (2002-10) St Cuthbert’s Scholar, 2011
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Taught MSc programmes
The Durham Global Security Institute has two taught MSc courses on offer: Defence, Diplomacy and Development and Conflict Prevention and Peace Building. They are designed to maximise inter-participant interaction and explore the interface between defence, development and diplomacy conflict prevention, in conflict prevention intervention and post-conflict reconstruction and stabilisation.
The MScs are targeted at professionals from governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations and graduates wishing to pursue further research. The programme is delivered via a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials.
Participants will form part of our 3,580 postgraduate society and are a vital part of the academic community. Postgraduate taught degrees enhance employability, and can be a basis for undertaking further study at research degree level.
Durham University has an international reputation for excellence and will provide an exceptional platform for future careers. 92% of taught postgraduates secure employment within six months of graduating. Our ambition is to be recognised internationally for creative thought and transformative research of the highest calibre across a broad subject base of sciences, social sciences and the humanities.
This initiative will run in parallel to the undergraduate military scholarship programme which also aims to fund two undergraduates every year.
The undergraduate programme has the backing of a growing number of major charities and organisations that support the higher education of ex-servicemen and women.
Funding sought for postgraduate MSc programmes
The value of the Scholarship will be at least £5,000 per year depending on availability and need. Further studies to PhD level may also be supported, if funds allow.
Local, national and international trusts, foundations and military support organisations are invited to contribute to this fund which has the potential to transform the lives of ex-service men and women, and their families through a world class education, providing qualifications that enable a new career direction and opportunities previously unobtainable.
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Durham University warmly welcomes donations of any size from alumni, Trusts, Foundations and Corporations.
To find out more, please contact
Alex Bell, Leadership Gifts Officer
+44 (0) 191 3346245 a.a.bell@durham.ac.uk
www.durham.ac.uk/military
Special acknowledgments
We would like to thank alumnus Patrick Walker for his long-standing support in developing the programme as well as sponsors Walking with the Wounded, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, 3Ts,Stuart Halbert Foundation, The Borrows Charitable Trust and alumnus Chris Tapp for their continued support.