Váradi Scholarship Programme provides vital support to students around the world

In 2020, University of London alumnus József Váradi generously donated in excess of £1million to the University. This substantial support established the Váradi Scholarship Programme, which provides ten full-fee scholarships per year to students around the world studying degree programmes via distance and flexible learning.

Since its inception, the Váradi Scholarship Programme has provided support for 30 students, offering opportunities for individuals to access higher education where previously this had been unobtainable, simply because of the associated costs. 

The University is immensely grateful to József and all those who provide scholarship support to our students. In this edition of The Effect of Giving, we hear from Váradi Scholarship recipient and BSc Psychology student Georgia Suárez about the impact the scholarship has made on her life and studies.  

Thanks for talking to us, Georgia. Firstly, can you tell us about your experience of studying the BSc Psychology via distance and flexible learning?

At the moment, I am working on my second semester. The first semester went really well. I found everything so fascinating – I recently got my results back from my first semester and I’m really proud to say I achieved a First in both modules. Everything I’m studying is so interesting, and I am hungry to learn more. I’m so incredibly grateful to be studying the subject I adore!

There are, of course, certain aspects that are difficult – it’s hard to study and work at the same time, and sometimes I feel exhausted but, in the end, I always remember how proud and fortunate I am to have this opportunity, and I find more energy again. 

Can you describe the moment you found out you had been awarded the Váradi Scholarship?

Honestly, I was really not expecting to actually receive the scholarship. I had been trying to find a possible way to be able to undertake a psychology degree for around a year, and there was literally nothing open to me in my situation apart from the Váradi Scholarship. It felt too good to be true.

At that point, I had had knockback after knockback – every time it seemed like there was a possibility for me, it turned out to be a disappointment, and I was expecting this scholarship to be the same. 

I don’t know quite how to express how I felt that day. It felt like finally all the difficulties and struggles that I had gone through to reach this point truly meant something; that someone had read my story, what I had been through up to that point, and believed that I deserved an opportunity to make something more of my life. For me, that was, and still is, so incredibly significant and moving. It makes me cry, writing this, to even think about it!

What impact has the scholarship had?

This scholarship is literally the only reason I’ve been able to undertake this degree course. Without it, I would not be able to study at university. This scholarship has changed my life, and I don’t know how to put into the words the importance it has for me!

Thanks to the generosity of donors like József, the University of London can break down barriers to education and provide support to some of our most deserving students, allowing them to improve their lives and, in turn, the lives of others in their communities.

Every one of our alumni and friends can make an impact on the lives of our students by providing funding towards a scholarship. The University is able to combine smaller gifts to create a scholarship and support students like Georgia. Any amount is greatly appreciated and makes a real difference to our students.