Successful alumnae join forces to launch scholarship to support the next generation of female STEM students
The Women’s Giving Circle Scholarship will empower female undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds. The first awardees are students in our Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering – subjects that are sadly still male-dominated.
8 March 2024
Launched for the 2023-24 academic year, the Women’s Giving Circle Scholarship offers £2,000 per year to students throughout their undergraduate studies to ensure they can access all of the opportunities available to them while at Newcastle University.
The scholarship is funded by successful alumnae and friends of the university who are part of the Women’s Giving Circle, a network of supporters who have championed and aided female students at Newcastle for many years – both financially and professionally through mentoring and networking.
Alongside financial assistance, scholarship recipients will benefit from mentoring from the alumnae donors and access to their vast professional networks to help students realise their potential and excel in their future careers.
Emma Fox (BSc Agricultural Economics and Food Marketing, 1989) is one of our graduates supporting the new scholarship. Emma is the CEO of Berry Bros. & Rudd, Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchant. She said:
“My time at Newcastle University was probably the best three years of my life. I had so much fun and loved the spirit of the North East, meeting people from so many different backgrounds. It was a melting pot, and we would often have late night debates which really formed who I am today.
“When I was a student, from 1986 to 1989, I was really fortunate that you didn’t have to pay for your tuition and I had supportive parents. I met some amazing people at university and I would hate for the financial side of things to be a burden or an obstacle for bright, talented people to come through.
“I hope the scholarship will help students to get on the ladder, as it were. They could be the next person who's going to crack some enormous STEM project or a new breakthrough in cancer or research. And that's just so exciting to think I've played my little part in that.”
Only 35% of STEM students are female
Female undergraduate students in Higher Education are still under-represented in specific subjects, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics – the ‘STEM’ subjects. Only 35% of university students in STEM subjects in the UK are female and less than 30% of scientific researchers worldwide are women.
Gender bias in education, academia and industry and a lack of parent-friendly policies have all been cited as reasons why girls are put off a career in STEM or why women leave their careers in the field at a faster rate worldwide. As a University, we want to do more to ensure there are no barriers for women to study with us and pursue their dreams.
Financial freedom
Gracie, a Mechanical Engineering student in her first year at Newcastle University, is one of the first Women’s Giving Circle scholars. She grew up in Lincolnshire in a military and single parent household and gained her place at the university via the PARTNERS supported progression route. Her dream career would be in the car industry upon graduating.
Speaking about being awarded the scholarship, she said:
“The Women’s Giving Circle Scholarship will greatly impact my university life as I will have the financial freedom to focus on my studies. It will mean that I don’t have to worry if my laptop breaks as I will be able to replace it immediately, which is incredibly helpful.
“The scholarship will also allow me to keep up with my peers as I won’t have to work many shifts or avoid social events due to money worries. I am incredibly grateful for being awarded this scholarship and hope to make those who have made it possible proud with what I do.”
Broadening horizons
Natasha is the other Women’s Giving Circle scholar to join Newcastle University this academic year. She is studying Marine Biology. She said:
“Coming from a town that has little to do, I wanted my university experience to broaden my horizons and develop my character as well as gain a degree. There is so much to do within Newcastle and the student life is like no other. I feel I have gained so much independence as well as grown in confidence.
“In my free time when I’m not studying, I am heavily involved in a variety of sports societies such as running and yoga. I've also recently been appointed as a student ambassador hoping to inspire any other aspiring future Marine Biology students into choosing Newcastle.
“Budgeting for university can be hard. With compulsory trips abroad and around the UK that I must go on as part of my course, and any other relevant materials required to expand my knowledge, sometimes financing can be daunting. This award means I will be able to pay for what I need without worry, so I cannot thank the graduates who have donated enough.”
Passing on the baton
Dentistry alumna Claire Nightingale is another of the donors to the Women's Giving Circle Scholarship. After graduating in 1989, Claire followed a specialist training pathway in Orthodontics. She is the Portman-Dentex partner at Queen’s Gate Orthodontics and combines private practice in South Kensington with an NHS Consultant post at Watford General Hospital.
In addition to clinical work, Claire is a key opinion leader for Dental Monitoring; the UK Specialist Orthodontist on the Align EMEA Advisory Board, 2024 and an expert witness for the Dental Law Partnership. She said:
"My rewarding career has come as a consequence of a lot of hard work, surviving numerous set backs and some good fortune, as a result of kindness from mentors. I hope my relatively small gesture will contribute to someone else having an opportunity that otherwise might not be possible for them.
"I hope the result will be far more wide reaching and impactful than just their time at University, and enable them to have a both rewarding career and happy life, to the extent that one day, they may be able to hand the baton on to someone else, in the same way that I try to do in my world."
Helping students to thrive
Our mission to give Newcastle students the best possible opportunities is at the heart of everything we do. Our aim is to give each student the skills and experiences they need to thrive while with us, and in their future.
We don't want any student to miss out on what makes belonging to Newcastle University so special. With your help, we can fund scholarships, society memberships, sports equipment, field trips and more.