Where a person comes from should not determine where they end up. But many people, particularly those from under-represented backgrounds, face significant financial barriers on their journey to higher education. And soaring living costs mean many students are having to make hard decisions. Such as whether they can continue their studies or whether they can accept their place at all.  

This needs to change and we’re committed to leading this change. 

Scholarships and bursaries have the power to transform lives

Made possible by philanthropic funding, scholarships and bursaries are a lifeline for many of our students. They help close the gap between the maintenance loan available and the real cost of living and studying in London. They give students the ability to excel at university and the chance to make their mark on the world.

The impact of this support was acknowledged recently at our Annual Celebration of Student Success, where students, staff and donors came together to recognise student achievements and celebrate the people who help make them happen.

Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Shitij Kapur (pictured above), opened the event with his thoughts on the importance of philanthropic support of students.

Professor Kapur said: ‘So many of the students I speak to share that it is the knowledge that someone believes in them that pushes them to reach their fullest potential. It is your support, whether financial, or through the sharing of your time, expertise and networks, that demonstrates this belief, enabling students from all backgrounds to find their passion and make their mark on the world.’

Real-world impact

Attendees then heard from Dr Kemi Adeyemi (pictured above), a King’s alum and Resident Doctor at King’s College Hospital. Kemi shared how a bursary during her time at King’s helped get her to where she is today.

She described her background as ‘unconventional in the best and worst ways’ where she was ‘uncomfortable taking up space in areas that [she] felt maybe weren’t for people of [her] background.’

It was when a teacher encouraged her to go on a school trip to Cambridge University that everything changed.

Kemi explained: ‘For the first time, I saw how academia could lift you out of your circumstances, how it could expand your world and your sense of what was possible.’

Once at King’s, Kemi joined the Extended Medical Degree Programme (EMDP). This was created to level the playing field for students wanting to study medicine, offering a more gradual transition into higher education by splitting the first year of a standard medical degree over two years.

As part of this programme, Kemi received financial support for things that many of us would take for granted.

Kemi continued: ‘The EMDP programme and generous donors provided our first stethoscopes and textbooks – something I had quietly worried I wouldn’t be able to afford.’

By sharing her personal experience, Kemi highlighted how important the support of philanthropy can be.

Kemi added: ‘Six years of studying an intensive course in London with various placements around the country is unfortunately still very expensive and very challenging. It is often only made possible by the kindness of others.’

Throwing the ladder down

Many donors have never experienced the challenges or hardships experienced by those they support. Instead, they give because they recognise the impact that education had on their lives, and they want to ensure that others are given the same opportunities they were. 

This sentiment was shared by Kemi: ‘Many of you supported students through challenges you may never have personally experienced – and that makes your generosity even more powerful. To want to give back to others even in situations you may not have personally experienced is truly inspiring. To throw the ladder down and use your hand to pull others up is an act of profound kindness.’

If you would like to support and inspire more incredible students like Kemi, you can find out more about how you can give here: Donate to King's | Giving | King’s College London