Sixteen students from the University of Glasgow students will be awarded bursaries this year with the generous support of The Royal Bank of Scotland.

During the Annual Bursary Awards Ceremony to be held at the University at lunchtime today, Mr George Paterson, Senior Regional Manager (Glasgow) at the Royal Bank of Scotland will present the cheques to the students individually, to help subsidise their studies while at the University.

The students have progressed into undergraduate degree programmes from the University's Department for Adult and Continuing Education Access courses and from schools participating in the GOALS (Greater Opportunity of Access and Learning with Schools) widening access project.

The selected students come from a diverse range of academic backgrounds including Engineering, Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Information and Mathematical Sciences, Arts and Education. Each student will receive a bursary of £1,000 for four years.

George Paterson said 'As a Group we are committed to investing in the communities we serve. Widening access to education is a key strand of our community investment programme and we are delighted to contribute to the Scottish Bursary Awards. We wish the students involved every success in their careers.'

The programme began in 2001 when The Royal Bank of Scotland committed funding of £240,000 to help a number of new students in each year of their four-year degree course. A total of 55 students are currently benefiting from this programme. This is in addition to the generous support already given by the Royal Bank to the GOALS Summer Schools.

Principal of the University of Glasgow, Sir Muir Russell commented:

'The University continues its commitment to Widening Access for students of all ages. Programmes, such as this one, have been very successful and these Royal Bank Bursaries have played an extremely important part in that. They have provided very positive help and encouragement for those taking up places here under our programmes. We are very grateful to the Royal Bank of Scotland for their generous commitment to widening participation'.

For more details contact Mike Findlay in the University Press Office on 0141 330-3535.

First published: 13 December 2004