4

Phil Soar is a Keele graduate ( History and Sociology and Social Anthropology , 1969 ). He set up these scholarships to provide students the opportunity to access the vital funding they need to support their higher education experience at Keele .

Eligible students have a low household income , come from a Widening Participation area , or are part of an underrepresented group .

In March 2022 , Phil Soar visited Keele to meet some of the students that benefit from his bursary . One of these students , Jason , told us about the impact it makes :

“ The Philip Soar Bursary has been a tremendous help during my time at Keele . It has supported me throughout my studies and allowed me to maximise my time here . I study Computer Science , so having the right equipment at home ( especially during the pandemic ) has let me achieve academically to a level that I am very proud of .

“ As a mature student , I had financial commitments from my time before university and this was a hurdle to overcome . I saved and budgeted but , before the bursary , an unexpected expense could have meant big trouble . So , when my car needed a lot of work after a failed MOT , it was an incredible relief to know that there was a buffer that I could use to allow me to keep focusing on my studies . The peace of mind knowing it was there helped me a great deal ; the degree is enough stress to deal with before any concerns about money .

“ My time at Keele is coming to an end and looking back I can appreciate how much this bursary has helped me ; it has supported me in achieving my aspirations . I am now leaving into a career that I have wanted for years , and I couldn ’ t be happier .”

Jason Hughes , Computer Science

“ I was fortunate enough to meet several of the undergraduates who are benefitting from the bursary scheme . And what an impressive group they are - I am quite sure that myself and my contemporaries would not have been so imposing in decades gone by . Happily I was able to talk further with two of the students and help out in other ways - to my amazement I was presented with my own SPURS OFFICIAL HISTORY to sign . So someone reads all these books I produce . Time very well spent and I am not being too corny in saying it was inspirational .”

Phil Soar