Case Study: Scholarship Recipient: Beth A

Beth has had a keen interest in STEM since secondary school. She credits some of this to an inspiring teacher, who also attended Heriot-Watt University, and encouraged her to pursue the subject at a higher level.

From a small village in Midlothian, Beth was able to participate on the LEAPs program. LEAPS is widening participation programme which aims to encourage and advise young people who are underrepresented in higher education.

As the first in her family to attend university. Beth felt she had a lot of questions she didn’t know the answer to, or that her parents knew the answer to. Looking back, she felt the LEAPs program was hugely influential. Through the program, they visited universities, had university staff come answer questions, do mock interview and prospective applications.

Beth has flourished since joining Heriot-Watt University. She served as social media officer for the Chemistry Society her first year and was elected President her second year. She has also participated in sports, lifting and gained valuable work experience in a pharmacy.

At the end of her first year, she was awarded the Dunfermline Scholarship. The Dunfermline scholarship was founded in 2020 to support an undergraduate student studying chemistry.

With it, Beth has been able to focus on her studies and feels it has really impacted her academic performance: ‘People may think “it’s just a bit of money, what impact can it have?”. But these bursaries have the ability to increase students’ value of life and study. The security of having your rent covered, so you can focus on your studies is incredible. I am truly grateful to those that have donated and supported this scholarship. It’s allowed me to put my all into my studies and enjoying university.’

Beth aims to take her chemistry degree into a brewing career – either pursuing a Master’s in Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt University or finding graduate employment in the distilling sector.