A University of Glasgow undergraduate has picked up a prestigious accolade in a national competition for students.

Stuart Dalgleish has been named KPMG accountancy and economics undergraduate of the year at the TARGETjobs Undergraduate of the Year awards.

The 21-year-old from Ayr beat off stiff competition from more than 300 students from across the UK to the top prize.

Stuart, who is in his final year studying accountancy at the University, said: “I was extremely shocked to be chosen as one of the final ten students selected from hundreds of applicants, but to actually receive the award was something I never thought would have been possible.”  Stuart Dalgleish, centre, receiving his award from Michael Portillo, left, and Sara Reading, Head of Graduate Recruitment at KPMG.

His prize includes a summer work placement at KPMG which will give him an insight across audit, tax and advisory and take him to one of the firm’s European offices. He added: “I am very excited at the prospect of working with KPMG.

“I hope this experience will not only enable me to learn more about the profession I wish to work in when I graduate in June, but also allow me to gain an experience which will aid me in my future professional career. "

Professor Kwaku Opong, Head of Accounting and Finance at the University of Glasgow, said: “Stuart’s analytical and decision making capability has amply been demonstrated in his performance during the course of his studies. This award is well deserved and I hope that it will spur him on to higher laurels in the future.”

Sara Reading, Head of Graduate Recruitment, added: “The Undergraduate of the Year award allows us to identify outstanding talent and competition for the award was fierce this year. We looked for candidates with personal skills, excellent career motivation and a strong academic record.

“We are delighted that Stuart won this prestigious award, and look forward to him joining KPMG in the summer.”

For more information contact Nicolas White in the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office on 0141 330 3535 or email n.white@admin.gla.ac.uk

Notes to editors

The TARGETjobs Undergraduate of the Year exists to raise the profile of employability skills on campus, to engage academic departments in identifying their best undergraduates and to find students who have a winning mixture of personal and academic skills. To find out more information about the TARGETjobs Undergraduate of the Year, contact Chris Phillips on chris.phillips@groupgti.com.

First published: 26 April 2010

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