Bursaries

Thanks to our generous partners and donors, we can offer a range of financial bursaries to Ark students. For Year 13 leavers going onto higher education, there are bursaries ranging in value from £9,900 to £55,000 to assist with the financial costs of university life.  

The Reuben Foundation   

Formed in 2002, the Reuben foundation is a charitable arm of the Reuben Brothers. It is committed to the betterment of society in the UK and around the globe, through focused charitable giving in the areas of education, health and the community. The bursary includes £23,625 for living costs. 

“This generous support has profoundly impacted my academic journey and personal growth at Cambridge, and I am incredibly thankful for the opportunities it has provided.”  

Marshall Wace 

Marshall Wace is a global alternative investment management company that is committed to achieving positive social and environmental impact. Each year Marshall Wace supports 40 students with bursaries worth £9900. 

“I’d like to give a massive thank you to all the donors because without you, nothing over the past three years would’ve been possible and none of the goals that I have set myself for the new year and the years to come would be possible.”  

Urbanest    

Urbanest is a student accommodation provider with locations in Aldgate, Vauxhall, Hoxton, Kings Cross, Westminster, Tower Bridge, St Pancras and Victoria. Their state-of-the-art buildings offer safety and security, flexible work spaces and a wide range of facilities. Each year Urbanest supports seven students, providing them with student accommodation in one of their sites worth £55,000.

‘I am a recipient of the Urbanest bursary, and it has truly been a wonderful and unique experience for me. Considering I wouldn’t have been able to leave home without this bursary I am truly filled with gratitude at the things I have managed to learn and challenges I have been able to overcome.’

Spencer Steadman Trust    

The Spencer Steadman Trust was established in the memory of Spencer Steadman and its charitable purpose reflects Spencer’s own strong belief in the importance of education and equality of opportunity for all. Each year the Spencer Steadman Trust supports three students with bursaries of £15,000 and additional careers support.  

‘The bursary provided by the Spencer Steadman Trust has genuinely changed the trajectory of my education and life. This year has been full of opportunities and learning that was made possible by the bursary. This year I was able to get stellar grades in my first semester and be on track to do well in my second semester.’

Ibrahim, a former Ark Walworth Academy student and Urbanest Scholar, graduated in Summer 2024 Goldsmiths, University of London with a 2:1 in Law. Ibrahim is now undertaking the Bar Course at the University of Law with the aspirations of becoming a barrister

Advice Ibrahim would give to a student considering their next steps “When considering the next steps, I advise students who are unsure to always think about what works for them. For those who are happy to continue on the road of academia should definitely consider university. It is an amazing way to meet an array of new people and gain new experiences that will stay with you forever. However, those who are hoping to gain more practical skills that directly link to a specific workforce may want to consider apprenticeships”

The biggest lesson Ibrahim learnt in school “The biggest lesson I learnt from school is that it is okay to make mistakes. As a recent graduate, I have learnt that mistakes are only opportunities to grow and that you will continue to make them. No one expects you to get everything right all the time, and the best thing to do is always give yourself chances to learn and try new things. If you make a mistake along the way, try again!”

“The Urbanest bursary had an immense impact on my personal and professional development. Living costs were a strong concern for me going into university, and the Urbanest bursary served to reduce the burden on my family and I, by providing accommodation. This allowed me to have the space to excel in my studies. Furthermore, it allowed me to grow as a person and develop the skills that come with living alone, such as cooking, time management and doing things for yourself, which I encourage everyone to try and do!”

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Reuben, a former Ark Isaac Newton Academy and Marshall Wace scholar graduated in Summer 2024 from Coventry University with a first in Mechanical Engineering. Reuben is now working for Network Rail a long-time aspiration for them.

Advice Reuben would give to a student considering their next steps “A piece of advice I would give is, find what you have a passion for as a career and find out what you need to do to make it happen whether that be university, apprenticeships, work experiences, extra courses etc. Everyday I wake up and get to work with great friends, for something I really enjoy and makes a difference to our society (such as railway decarbonisation projects) which is hugely fulfilling. I've met people who told me they would be actresses and they did it, I met people who told me they'd work in Formula 1 and they did it, I've met people who told me they will become athletes and they have done it. You will have to put in the hard work, you will have to make sacrifices but it will be worth it in the long run. And also, don't forget to take some time out in during your studies to have fun!”

The biggest lesson Reuben learnt in school “My biggest lesson from school was you have to go for everything, every opportunity and be optimistic. It is better to be rejected from an opportunity like an internship, summer school, bursary, university etc. than to think what if, and if you keep working hard you will get those opportunities in the end. I know this is true because it has happened to me!”

“The bursary allowed me to go to a university which had a great success rate in the industry I wanted to pursue, to develop new skills living independently away from home and have many great memories as it helped greatly with my living costs.”

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Aiysha, a former Ark Acton Academy student and Urbanest Scholar, graduated in Summer 2024 from Imperial College London with a 2:1 in Biochemistry. Aiysha is now pursuing an MRes degree in Structural Biology at Imperial College London and plans to do a PHD.

Advice Aiysha would give to a student considering their next steps “First, make a lot of connections both friendly and professional. Secondly, work on having a healthy relationship with work”

The biggest lesson Aiysha learnt in school “Make the most of the opportunities offered to you. Also, you have a lot of support in school but when you’re in higher education you have to make your own support network”

‘The bursary transformed my university experience. It alleviated a lot of financial strain on me and my family’