During the pandemic, Mason had the chance to reflect on how he spent his time and what he truly wanted from his career. He dreamt of working for the Foreign Office, but it didn’t feel possible without further study.
“I knew I wanted to study for a Masters, but it wasn’t a viable option for me,” said Mason. Due to a gap in postgraduate funding, he was unable to cover the cost of his rent and the commute from Lancashire to Leeds.
That all changed when donor Chris funded Mason’s Widening Participation Scholarship to study global governance and diplomacy.
“The money I received every month was a huge help and motivator for me.”
As an undergraduate at Leeds, Mason had missed out on many university opportunities because of his commute. This time around, things were different: “I was able to relocate to Leeds and run a car, which has allowed me to go to interviews, attend classes and keep in touch with family. The scholarship also covered the cost of food and bills.
“Thanks to Chris’ generosity, I was able to attend night classes with the Business Computer Institute – and I even learnt Mandarin. This really helped with my studies and the next steps I plan to take in my career.
“In the future, if I am in the position to give back to Leeds financially, I’d love to – because I understand first-hand what a difference it makes.”
Want to support more students like Mason?
Please visit our today to help to ensure that everyone in our community has an equal opportunity to thrive and succeed at Leeds.