Bridport Literary Festival is offering local students the chance to win a £9,000 university bursary.
The two successful students will receive £3,000 a year over a three-year course in any subject.
The bursary, now in its third year, is open to Year 13 students in the Beaminster Colfox Joint Sixth Form or those living in the Bridport ward. It’s also available to gap year students intending to go to university this autumn.
Bridport Literary Festival chairman Deirdre Coates said: “We now have four students who were successful in 2023 and 2024. All four are really impressive young people who have achieved good results as well as made a significant contribution to their local community.
“We feel very proud to be associated with such a worthy cause and delighted to be able to help such deserving people.”
Mrs Coates urged anyone who knows of an eligible A-level student to encourage them to apply.
“Application is easy, and they have nothing to lose. All the relevant information is on the bursaries page of our website – bridlit.com.”
The first two successful candidates were Medwin Stephen who is reading Chemical Engineering at Cambridge University and Jessie St Barbe Baker who is studying at Yeovil University to become a primary school teacher. They are now in their second year.
Last year the successful candidates were Esmee Rees, who is reading Law at Cardiff University, and Morgan Staple who is reading Archaeology and Anthropology at University College London.
Said Mrs Coates: “Most students who leave university do so with a great debt that might take many years to repay. Some students are deterred from applying to university because of this. The bursary can be a great help.”
Morgan said: “The bursary has really helped me out in my first year – it helped me cover a significant portion of my rent which has meant that I can focus entirely on my studies at university, which I think has been incredibly helpful especially as it is my first year so I was getting to grips with everything for the first time.”
Esmee said: “The bursary has helped me massively with paying my deposit for my second year house and buying all the necessities for university living.
“It’s also helped me travel home and back for the holidays. Recently, my laptop broke so I have used some of the money to get it repaired. I know many people that have struggled to find a job in Cardiff and so I am grateful that this bursary allows me to fully focus on my studies.”
To apply for the bursary, visit https://www.bridlit.com/bursaries/.
Applicants need to write a letter of no more than 4,000 characters explaining why they are a suitable candidate, why they have chosen their preferred subject and how the bursary might help them achieve their aspirations.
Additionally, two referees should be provided, and applicants are asked to provide a brief filmed introduction to themselves.
The closing date is 21 August.
