In addition to being a source of immediate support and affirmation, scholarships offer students the opportunity to build a firm foundation for their future which will positively impact their lives beyond graduation. We are grateful for support from alumni and friends that has enabled inspiring scholars like Shaw to join our community over the past year.

Growing up in Tower Hamlets, Shaw’s ambition from a young age was to learn how to use artificial intelligence in medicine, to help those mentally and physically in need and where access to treatments has historically been limited. 

The Red Rose Future Leaders Scholarship made undergraduate study possible for Shaw. The scholarship covered the cost of tuition and, crucially, granted him the freedom to embrace the myriad opportunities associated with student life.

“I think my original expectations of university definitely changed since I initially came with only the expectation of study. I ended up representing Royal Holloway for two years in volleyball, became President, and enjoyed all the experiences that came with that alongside the Computing Society experiences and general shared accommodation life.”

Shaw used his summer breaks to research and take part in programmes that aim to widen access to the field of artificial intelligence, expanding his understanding and offering an insight into how to pursue his intended career. After three years of study, Shaw graduated this summer with a 2.1 in Computer Science and has begun an MSc course in precision cancer medicine at the University of Oxford.  

With the alleviation of financial concerns, scholars have the breathing space to pursue new experiences alongside their studies, discover their vocation and develop the self-confidence to realise their ambitions. When they graduate and use knowledge acquired at Royal Holloway to make a positive difference to others, the ripple effect that the scholarship set in motion extends even further into the wider world.