Life-Changing Opportunities: The Merton-Oxford Bursary
At the time of the interviewing, Hannah Smith was an undergraduate in her third year, greatly enjoying her History course, which took her from the Norman Conquest through Medieval times to 1914. She was studying Russian, which was useful for her final-year thesis on 16th-century Russia.
Hannah came from what she calls a "normal state school" in Dorset. Hannah was very grateful for a Sir Howard Stringer Merton-Oxford Bursary, which enabled her to make the most of everything that Oxford and Merton have to offer without having to worry about finances.
Having the opportunity to study a subject that I enjoy is a real privilege
In her first year, she was a Student Ambassador for the College. These ambassadors volunteer their time to give school students and teachers a glimpse into what undergraduate life is like at Merton. "I wanted to do this because I think it is important to spread the idea that Merton – and Oxford in general – is not like the image it’s often given. It’s not full of posh people from posh schools, but is a place for ordinary people who like their subject."
She was delighted to be at Merton. "The History students here come from a range of backgrounds, but we all share a love of our subject and get along really well. Having the opportunity to study a subject that I enjoy is a real privilege."
She was very complimentary about her tutors at Merton. "The History tutors put an amazing amount of time and effort into their tutorials. They want us to do well because they think their subject is great and they want us to enjoy it too."
