Step Up case study - Travel Bursary – easing the financial burden of studying
Travel Bursaries are provided via the Step Up projects and are intended to elevate the financial burden of students who have to travel long distance to attend university.
Background
This participant travelled 240 miles per week to study and struggled in her first year without the bursary to put fuel in the car.
The participant said:
"I applied for the step-up travel bursary last year for some financial assistance. I live 40 miles from campus and must travel to Derry/Londonderry three days per week for classes. Travelling 240 miles per week has been costly and I struggled in my first year of study to put fuel in my car. Thanks to a payment from the step-up travel bursary in my second year, it made life easier, and I wasn’t stressing as much about being able to afford to fill the car to travel to classes!
Being a mum to three children and a carer for my father who is undergoing cancer treatment, I have had to withdraw from part time work to allow me to continue my caring role and study at the same time. The Stepup travel bursary has eased the financial burden of studying an undergraduate degree as a parent and carer.
Despite these challenges I have obtained over 70% average in both first and second year of my degree course and I am on track for a first class honours degree. This would not be possible without this financial assistance, allowing me to attend my classes three days per week. I'm so very grateful.
On completion of this degree, I plan to complete my ASYE in a social work setting and have plans to return to university soon to complete a Post Graduate Degree".