The Derby Evening Telegraph is helping six readers to fulfil their dream of going to university by awarding each of them a scholarship.

The newspaper teamed up with the University of Derby to offer scholarships worth £9,000 to cover the cost of a three-year degree course, and six recipients have now been chosen.

They are all due to enrol on their chosen courses this week.

Readers over the age of 21 were invited to apply for the scholarships as part of an idea that came about during one of Evening Telegraph editor Steve Hall’s regular meetings with local movers and shakers in and around Derby.

The university has a large percentage of mature students and the Evening Telegraph featured stories from readers who had changed their lives by returning to studying.

More than 40 applications were received and Steve was among those on the judging panel, which put together a shortlist of 12 before inviting them for an interview at the university.

Steve said: “Each of the people interviewed had compelling reasons why they wanted to study. In several cases, something had occurred in their lives to prevent them from being able to study while they were younger but they were still holding on to the dream.

“In the end, as a panel we were in harmony over our choices and we are looking forward to seeing these people make a real difference to their lives.”

Four of the six students will be studying different subjects – textile design, media studies, zoology and illustration and the other two have opted for community regeneration and development. Do you have a story about the regional press?
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