Top banker funds economics scholarships at the University of Surrey
Thursday 6 December 2012
A leading banker at the global firm Goldman Sachs is funding an annual scholarship programme for an economics students at the University of Surrey.
The Jim O'Neill Scholarship is named after the Chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management who studied at the university for his PhD.
Together with his colleagues, he has published much research about the term he invented called ‘BRICs’, which has become synonymous with the emergence of Brazil, Russia, India and China as the growth opportunities of the future.
The first award has been given to Sophie Gwilliam, a first year student, who will receive £3,000 a year for three years to help with her studies. The award will continue to be given to a Surrey university student annually to fund the duration of their studies.
Sophie, not only shares her love of Economics with the eponymous funder of the scholarship but also a love of football. She has played women’s under 19s football for England but supports Chelsea rather than Jim’s team Manchester United which may make them future business rivals.
A delighted Sophie said: “I feel the Jim O’Neill Scholarship would undoubtedly benefit me in various aspects of my study in order to achieve my aspirations in the field of Economics.
“I have always been fascinated by banking since the global financial crisis hit the headlines in 2007. Therefore, I would thrive on the opportunity to secure connections with Goldman Sachs. Coincidently, my greatest interest lies in investment management. I aspire to gain a summer internship in the banking sector to enhance my higher education experience.
“The financial aid of this scholarship will allow me to pursue unpaid internships, instead of requiring a paid summer job to meet next year’s costs of study.”
“I am receiving the Chancellor’s Scholarship, which will assist in meeting my accommodation costs. I believe the opportunity of this scholarship will provide me with financial stability.
“This is important as I am the first member of my family to attend university. It will also mean I do not require a part time job, subsequently, I can increase my study time.”
Three students were interviewed from an application pool of seven. Runners up were Neha Birdy and Holly-Anne Mansford.
Jim O’Neill has been at Goldman Sachs since 1995 and Chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) since 2010. Jim previously served as a non-executive director of Manchester United before it returned to private ownership in 2005.
He gained a degree in economics from Sheffield University in 1978 and a PhD from the University of Surrey in 1982. He also received an honorary doctorate from the Institute of Education, University of London, in 2009 for his educational philanthropy.
Editors' Notes
Chancellor’s Scholarship Scheme
Our merit-based Chancellor’s Scholarship gives a £3,000 cash award and membership of Surrey Sports Park to fee-paying students who achieve certain grades and have selected Surrey as their first choice.
Recipients must be paying the £9000 tuition fees, therefore NHS-funded students are not eligible for the Chancellor’s Scholarship. However there is a NHS Chancellor's scheme.
The Chancellor’s Scholarship is not available to International students who are sponsored and therefore having their tuition fees paid on their behalf.
Payment to successful recipients will be made in two equal instalments, to be paid in December 2013 and March 2014.
More: http://www.surrey.ac.uk/undergraduate/discover/fees/
