A gift left in a will has the power to help future generations at Nottingham. Whether you want to give a boost to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, fund cutting edge research or ensure the university has a campus with facilities to attract the brightest minds, a gift in a will can make a life-changing difference.

Bhumik Nandha

Recently we caught up with Bhumik Nandhra, who is studying a Masters thanks to a legacy left by Rita Harpin (Education, 1974). Rita was married to Bill Harpin, a former university staff member who tragically lost his battle with cancer in 2014. Motivated by her personal experiences and commitment to cancer research, Rita set up The Harpin Scholarships for Cancer Studies in 2015 to support students pursuing Masters-level cancer-related courses. Although scholarship payments were paused in 2016 when Rita required residential care, her vision has continued to inspire the university. Following Rita’s passing in November 2023, she left the university a legacy to maintain and revive the original scholarship she so passionately established.

This legacy funding is now available to support eligible students who are facing financial challenges to undertake our MSc Oncology or MSc Cancer Immunology and Biotechnology courses. The latter is the course that Bhumik is currently studying, thanks to the scholarship.

Originally from a small town in India, Bhumik developed an interest in cancer research as an undergraduate but realised his local college didn’t have the facilities he required to further his studies. This led him to apply to the 糖心原创, after reading about the MSc Cancer Immunology and Biotechnology course.

“My area of focus is the biotechnology side and I couldn’t believe it when I found out that Nottingham had the exact course I wanted to study,” explained Bhumik. “I was amazed when I first walked into the Biodiscovery Institute (BDI). To give you some context at my old college we had one lab and it wasn’t very big, so it was very tough to get time for research. But at the BDI there are three buildings with six floors! I could find everything I wanted for my research.”

Rita helped to change my life.
Bhumik Nandhra

Despite the fact that Bhumik had found the perfect course, he wasn’t sure he would have the funds to study at Nottingham.

“I think that before I found out I would receive the scholarship, I had given up hope,” he said. “I received the offer letter but I couldn’t afford the visa. It was very disheartening. However, I was told about the Rita Harpin scholarship and thought that I should at least try. When I found out I would receive the award, I couldn’t believe it. Within a few days, I accepted the offer, got my visa and was ready to come to the UK. It was incredible.

“If I hadn’t received the support, I think I would be back at home working in a pathology lab and unable to continue my research. I would have been stuck for life, wondering what else I could have been doing.”

After receiving the scholarship, Bhumik is already thinking how he can payback the kindness shown by Rita.

“This has been so impactful and it’s just changed everything for me. Rita helped to change my life and I hope that in the future, I’ll be in a similar position to do the same.”