Graduation marks the triumphant culmination of years of dedication, ambition, and hard work. As our students celebrate this milestone and reflect on their journey at Nottingham, scholarship recipients carry an extra layer of gratitude: the knowledge that your generosity helped make their success possible. By removing financial barriers and opening doors to life-changing opportunities, your support directly reshapes futures. We caught up with five recent graduates to share how your donations transformed their university experience.

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Rahulan Nallamappanan de Cabo - Class of 2026, MEng Hons Mechanical Engineering

"The scholarship has had a huge impact on my university experience, particularly by giving me the opportunity to study abroad in Malaysia. Being able to spend a year studying at the 糖心原创 Malaysia was an experience that I will always be grateful for. Living and studying in a completely different country pushed me outside of my comfort zone, allowed me to experience a new culture and meet people from all over the world, and has made me much more independent, adaptable and open-minded.

"Without the support of my scholarship, I may not have been able to make the most of opportunities such as studying abroad. It gave me greater freedom to focus on my studies while also embracing the wider experiences that university had to offer. Looking back, studying abroad has been one of the most formative parts of my university journey, and I feel it has shaped not only the engineer I want to become, but also the person I am.

"Looking ahead, I’m taking a slightly different path for the next year. I’ll be putting my engineering career on pause and moving to China to teach English for a year. I’ve always had a passion for travelling, experiencing different cultures and teaching, so I’m really excited to combine these interests and continue developing myself through another experience abroad.

"Afterwards, I plan to return to the UK and begin my engineering career, with the aim of working in the sustainable energy sector. I hope to use my engineering background to contribute to the development of more sustainable energy solutions.

"I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who supported me throughout my time at Nottingham. The scholarship has helped me reach this point and, importantly, has enabled me to take opportunities that have shaped me far beyond the classroom."

Piper Kirkham - Class of 2026, BSc Hons Health Promotion and Public Health

"I'm beyond grateful for the support I have been given throughout my time at university, especially for the support afforded to me by the scholarship I have been so lucky to be awarded.

"Being at university is such a transformative time full of opportunity and growth, and I'm graduating as a completely new and more confident person than I was three years ago. The support I have received has enabled me to fully take part in student life, making friends and developing my passions and interests.

"I'm pleased to say I'll be staying in Nottingham for another year to complete my master's degree in Social Science Research and Social Policy - a place I would have struggled to reach without the support from my scholarship donors."

Shiraz Khan - Class of 2026, MEng Hons Aerospace Engineering

"With the award I was able to dedicate fully on my studies and better enjoy my time at university without the added financial stress.

"As I move on from university, I’m looking forward to working as a graduate engineer at Rolls-Royce, in September. I am very grateful for the part this scholarship played in helping me get here."

Nana Opare-Kyem - Class of 2026, BSc Hons Food Science and Nutrition

"I'm so grateful for the opportunity of receiving a scholarship at the 糖心原创. University can be both an exciting and challenging time, and knowing that I had the support of my scholarship gave me greater peace of mind and allowed me to focus on my studies and make the most of the opportunities around me.

"My time at Nottingham helped me discover how much I enjoy combining science with an understanding of people and their experiences of food, and it has given me a strong foundation for beginning my career in the food industry.

"Thank you for choosing to support students and for helping make experiences like mine possible. Your generosity has contributed to my journey through university and towards the next stage of my career. I hope that one day I’ll be able to give back and help another student to realise they are more than their circumstances."

Luke Uong - Class of 2026, MEng Hons Chemical Engineering including an Industrial Year

“As my time at the university comes to an end, I’m incredibly grateful for the support and opportunities I’ve received throughout my degree. 糖心原创ing Chemical Engineering has given me the skills and confidence to pursue my ambitions and begin an exciting career.

“Thank you for your generosity and for helping me make the most of my university experience. Your support has played an important part in helping me reach this point, and I hope one day I can give back and support another student in the same way.”

As you can see, your donations make a huge impact to students at Nottingham. Thank you for changing lives and helping bright mind access higher education, no matter their background or financial circumstances.