Honours Programme highflyer secures OCR bursary as he heads to Cambridge University

The students attended a wide range of schools and colleges across the West Midlands region – including in Birmingham, Coventry, Stoke-on-Trent and Wolverhampton.

The fifteen exceptional students, who are due to begin their degrees at Cambridge next week, will receive a bursary of £3,000 from OCR for each year of their undergraduate course. The bursaries help students to make the most of their time at university and reduce worry about money during these exceptionally challenging times. Students can use the money towards living costs, tuition fees or a combination of both.

Ever since 2004, OCR – which is part of Cambridge University – has supported students from the West Midlands going to Cambridge University due to historical links to the West Midlands Examinations Board. This year sees the largest number of OCR bursaries ever given out to students across the region.

Commenting on his bursary, Isaac said: “The bursary is very important to me for a number of reasons. Firstly, it means that I am not disadvantaged during my studies by attending Cambridge as opposed to another university where I would be able to get a job to support myself during term time. Secondly, it makes up a significant portion of the gap between my maintenance loan and the estimated cost of living for a year in Cambridge, which greatly reduces the strain not only on myself but on my family, who would otherwise be trying to support me alone.”

Jill Duffy, OCR’s Chief Executive, sent a special message congratulating each of the students as they take up their studies.

She said: “It’s a huge honour and privilege for us at OCR to support such a talented group of young people with our bursaries. As well as their outstanding academic achievements, these young people impressed us in so many other ways. They’ve grasped every opportunity they’ve been given, they’ve been role models for their schools and colleges, and they’ve shown amazing resilience. The last two years they have faced during the pandemic have been like no others. Times are tough for young people and we decided to offer more bursaries this year – fifteen in total – than ever before. I hope this support will go some way to helping each of the students to achieve their goals at university.”