Santander doubles support to students

A North East university is increasing financial support for its students through an expanded partnership with a global banking group.

The University of Sunderland has secured a renewed agreement with Santander that will provide £100,000 of funding each year until 2026-2027, doubling the level of support available.

The package includes a range of awards aimed at easing financial pressures and improving career prospects. 

These include ten £1000 Brighter Futures Awards, six £5000 Education Awards and 120 £250 Employability Awards to help students manage costs linked to studies and job opportunities.

Support also extends to entrepreneurship, with six £5000 awards available to students, staff and graduates launching new businesses.

Participants can also access Santander Open Academy, a free global learning platform offering courses and resources to develop in-demand skills, further supporting students’ academic and career ambitions.

The expanded partnership was marked by Sunderland University vice-chancellor Sir David Bell and Santander UK national partnerships director Jonathan Powell.

Sir David said: “Our partnership with Santander Universities has been running for nearly eight years and has brought immense benefit to students and staff alike. 

“These new awards will provide the next generation of Sunderland’s most talented people with the opportunity to achieve even greater success in the future.

“I am enormously grateful to Santander Universities for the continuing trust and faith they have in our university. 

“That speaks to how the values of the two organisations are aligned and our shared commitment to do the very best for all those who study and work at the University of Sunderland.”

Jonathan added: “At Santander we believe strongly in the power of collaboration, and that has been strongly evident in our partnership with Sunderland. 

“It’s great to recognise this and the exceptional impact we’ve achieved together by increasing our support for the university in the renewal of our partnership.

“This new agreement provides more opportunities for people to prosper through our support of education, employability and entrepreneurship. 

“In addition to scholarships, grants and awards we are also able to offer free accessible learning opportunities to the whole university community through our digital platform, Santander Open Academy.”

Sunderland students and graduates recently gathered to celebrate £60,000 worth of Santander Education and Entrepreneurship awards, presented to 12 worthy recipients.

Among those receiving awards was Kirsty Knott, who graduated from Sunderland University with a degree in Business and Financial Management in 2010. 

With the support of a £5000 Entrepreneurship Award, Kirsty is sharing her skills and experience in business via her podcast, Expansions Coaching.

Kirsty, 37, from Ryton, said: “It’s a bi-weekly podcast where my husband Anth and I talk about how to navigate difficult situations and the impact remaining positive can have.

“Expansions Coaching takes a different subject each time; for example, it could be how to be more confident and bring in elements of positive psychology and neuroscience to explain what’s really going on.

“We also bring in our own experiences of navigating things such as Anth’s cancer diagnosis – and how we remained positive after he lost us £72,000 on Michael Mcytyre’s The Wheel back in December.”

Kieran Harley, 25, is in the first year of his Electronic and Electrical Engineering degree and has won one of six £5000 Santander Education Awards.

As a carer for his mother, as well as studying and working part-time, he says the award will make a major contribution to his success as a new student.

Kieran said: “I wanted to be able to focus more fully on my degree, particularly the practical side of engineering.

“My long-term goal is to work in the renewable energy sector, and winning the award will make a significant difference to my studies.

“The financial pressure that comes with balancing university, part-time work, and caring responsibilities at home can be very difficult. 

“The Santander Education Award will allow me to reduce my working hours, giving me more time and flexibility to focus both on my degree, and to better support my mum.”

The University of Sunderland offers a number of scholarships and bursaries to support both current students, applicants and graduates. 

To find out more, click here.

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