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Teaching plan for scholarship winner Elle

11 November 2011

 

Aspiring drama teacher Elle Sayer says gaining a scholarship to study at Teesside University has given her a real boost to pursue her career path.

The BA (Hons) Performance for Live and Recorded Media student was awarded an 80th anniversary scholarship in recognition of her high achievement in further education. This specialist scholarship was awarded to mark the University’s 80th anniversary.

Elle, 20, of Saltburn, said: 'I completed a BTEC in acting at Yorkshire Coast College in Scarborough and after securing a place at Teesside I received a letter to say I was eligible to apply for the 80th anniversary scholarship as I’d achieved the highest possible mark in my BTEC.

'I’d written an essay with my application to say why I’d chosen Teesside and about my future aims and ambitions. I felt so proud when I heard my application had been successful and I was to receive a scholarship, which I’m using to pay for my tuition and put towards materials and costumes for my degree course.'

Currently in the second year of the three-year degree, Elle aims to become a secondary school drama teacher. She said: 'I’m planning to do a PGCE as gaining the scholarship really spurred me on, as my degree is already paid for thanks to the scholarship and it means I can think ahead to my future studies.'

Elle is also planning to travel to Pennsylvania in America next summer to teach drama for three months.

She said: 'As well as boosting my confidence, achieving the scholarship is something I can put on my CV to help me to stand out on application forms when looking for job. I really think it helped me to secure the work in America, as gaining a scholarship is really well regarded out there.'

Elle feels the degree is also helping her to achieve her aim of teaching drama. She said: 'It’s really hands-on and practical, which I really enjoy. It’s really one of the reasons I chose to study here.

'I was really happy to be able to return to Teesside to complete my studies, as I’d been away from home for my BTEC. I was really pleased to discover the degree I wanted to study was being offered right on my doorstep.'

In the current economic climate securing a scholarship can make a real difference in providing additional funds to make study even better value. Teesside University is offering 350 extra scholarships for new full-time undergraduate students in 2012 - in addition to 200 national scholarships.

The 350 scholarships will be available for new entrants in 2012 to undergraduate programmes where fees above £5,500 are payable. These will be in the form of a £1,500 fee-waiver for each year of study throughout the course.

Scholarships will be available to students who have an excellent academic record or are in receipt of Disabled Students Allowance. 200 students will receive a national scholarship of a fee waiver of £3,000 in the first year plus a cash bursary of £1,000 in three instalments.


 
 
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