Higher education changes students' lives and enables cutting edge research that provides society's best chance of tackling the big issues of our times. As a charity, we seek philanthropic support to help us educate and develop a new generation of problem solvers and leaders equipped to deal with global challenges such as resilience, sustainability and climate change - enabling students to succeed, regardless of their financial situation and inspiring young people.
Removing barriers to education
In recent years we have seen a significant rise in applications for scholarships and financial support for tuition fees, course materials, and travel and living expenses. Donations to scholarships have an impact across Cranfield enabling us to attract and nurture talented students to advance their learning and help tackle global challenges. As a result, the support we are able to provide goes beyond easing financial pressures and anxiety, it makes a significant impact on a student's self-confidence, commitment and motivation to make the most of their opportunity at Cranfield.
The impact of scholarships
As we say goodbye to last year's scholarship students and welcome new students, we share how scholarships can make a difference to individuals and the communities we serve.
In 2022, Cranfield received a £3 million gift for a three-year multi-faceted programme to help to develop the next generation of leaders committed to creating a sustainable planet, and support research and business initiatives focused on tackling climate change. Key elements of the programme include:
- The Brian Meredith Net Zero Scholarships targeted at students and courses with a high impact in the transition of Net Zero.
- Ready for Net Zero Growth scholarships for an executive online programme for SMEs to create a growth plan incorporating the carbon reduction plan for their business.
The Sino-European Leadership Scholarship
This MBA scholarship is awarded annually to a student above 33 years of age, either European or Chinese, who has demonstrative leadership potential for doing business between or in either Europe or China
The Venkatesan "Prab" Prabhu Endowed Memorial Scholarship
This named scholarship is available to Indian students for postgraduate master's study on either MSc Aerospace Vehicle Design or MSc Aerospace Dynamics.
Inspiring future generations
In addition to enabling talented students through scholarships, we also actively engage with the communities around us. Our National Flying Laboratory Centre and flying classroom provide a focal point for science, technology, maths and engineering (STEM) outreach activities.
Philanthropic gifts are enabling us to expand our STEM outreach programme and educate young people about the flightpath to Net Zero carbon emissions for aviation and to excite them about the possibilities of a career in aviation.
In June this year local school children visited campus for a special event ahead of International Women in Engineering Day (INWED). The young people toured an aircraft, learnt about what happens behind the scenes at an airport at our Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC) and heard from representatives at industry partners Boeing, Heathrow and Spirent Communications.
Cranfield University is an exempt charity under the terms of the Charities Act 2011 and its principal regulatory body is the Office for Students. We fundraise for a range of initiatives including student support and research projects. To learn more about our priorities please visit our fundraising pages.
