U.K. rapper Stormzy took a step for Black British Students by funding full-ride scholarships to two black students to go to the University of Cambridge for higher studies.
“The Stormzy Scholarship” will pay for tuition fees and provide a maintenance grant for two black students for up to four years of an undergraduate course.
The rapper says “It’s so important for black students, especially, to be aware that it can 100% be an option to attend a university of this calibre.”
“We’re a minority, the playing ground isn’t level for us and it’s vital that all potential students are given the same opportunity,” Stormzy continued.
Stormzy took the step remembering his plans coming after Cambridge University where he was criticised for failing to admit any black pupils from 2012 to 2016 and just 58 in 2017.
The 25-year-old, who won best album at this year’s Ivor Novello awards, has previously been praised for tackling social injustice, including advocating on behalf of victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.
“I was always reminded by my teachers that I was destined, if I wanted, to go down that road and study at one of the top universities,” the rapper said. “I diverted and ended up doing music so it didn’t happen for me. I thought I was quite a rare case in that I knew that was possible”.
To be eligible for a 2018 entry ‘The Stormzy Scholarship’ applicants must be of black ethnicity and be holding an unconditional offer. Applications must be submitted no later than August 31. The students will be selected from a list of applicants by a panel of University staff.
> Shatabdi Sarker Poushi
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