Five Clyde Higgs Postgraduate Scholarships now available

Thanks to the generosity of the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust, the Royal Agricultural University is delighted to be able to offer five, £5,000 Clyde Higgs Postgraduate Scholarships for 2015 entry.

The scholarships are available for postgraduate students accepted to study on a Masters degree in the School of Agriculture, Food and Environment (SAFE) in the academic year 2015-16. Worth £5,000 each, the scholarships are aimed at applicants to the following courses:

• MSc International Rural Development
• MSc Food Safety and Quality Management
• MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security
• Graduate Diploma in Agriculture

The Clyde Higgs Postgraduate Scholarships have been funded by the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust, which was set up by the late Miss Creak to support the industry, to encourage young people into farming and to support innovative projects to help farmers respond to an increasingly challenging environment. 

Trustee Paul May comments on behalf of the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust: “Throughout his farming life, Clyde Higgs embraced innovation. He didn’t shy away from new ideas, he embraced them and sought to pass them on through his work and his writing. Elizabeth Creak shared that approach when she took over his enterprise – and went on to be a passionate advocate for the industry in Warwickshire and far beyond.

“This is the second year we have funded Clyde Higgs Postgraduate Scholarships at the RAU. Our first five scholars from 2014-2015 have approached their postgraduate studies with great enthusiasm and commitment.  They have worked hard and benefitted from all that the RAU has to offer. Having met several of them, I know their awards have helped enormously as they go on to a range of exciting and meaningful careers. 

“Our scholars are the embodiment of our aims; they are our legacy. We want to ensure that future generations are able to access further study and be part of new thinking. We hope to touch young lives, launch exciting careers – and support the future leaders in UK farming.”

Prospective postgraduate students are invited to apply online at www.rau.ac.uk/study/fees-how-to-apply/funding-opportunities/scholarships/application-form by 15 August 2015. The scholarships will be awarded on financial need and merit and the five successful applicants will be invited to attend a lunch/dinner with the Trustees of the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust.

The Clyde Higgs Postgraduate Scholarships are available alongside the University’s existing portfolio of fee waivers, awards, scholarships and bursaries. New for 2015, the University will be offering nine postgraduate scholarships worth £10,000 each, for eligible applicants starting in September 2015. To find out more and apply, visit www.rau.ac.uk/scholarships.

Alumni returning to the RAU for further study can take advantage of a 20% reduction in tuition fees, applied after any scholarships or bursaries.

For more information please email scholarships@rau.ac.uk.