pounds 1,000 annual bursary for physicists

Fears of university debt could be banished for many physics students with the launch of a bursary scheme.

The Institute of Physics (IoP) is to offer bursaries of around pounds 1,000 per annum to undergraduates opting to study the subject.

Professor David Wallace, president of the IoP, said, ‘If you are an A-level student considering going to university, it’s important that you look at the financial commitment demanded by different subjects.

‘Physics will become a very attractive subject – pounds 1,000 goes a long way and will help with maintenance costs whilst at university. It’s a grant, not a loan, and students who need it will get it every year of their degree.

‘The number of UK physics graduates has remained constant over the last 20 years, although the number of graduates in all subjects has risen by over 50%. Physics is vital to the future of the UK economy and the institute hopes that by offering serious cash, it can help reverse this trend as well as ensure that the brightest students are able to study what they are good at, not just what they can afford.’

The initiative has been welcomed by Professor Neville Greaves, head of the Institute of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Students taking a four-year course there could receive up to pounds 10,600.

He said, ‘We really welcome the IoP’s announcement. It endorses the approach we have adopted at Aberystwyth University in recent years to encourage students to study physics who may otherwise experience financial difficulties. We already offer bursaries for students with good A-level grades in physics and mathematics. Add to this the university’s 40 or so scholarships and a physics undergraduate student at Aberystwyth can currently enjoy financial support worth close pounds 1,650 per annum.

‘A further pounds 1,000 from the IoP brings this up to a potential of pounds 7,950 for a three-year degree or pounds 10,600 for a four-year degree.

‘Given that physics graduates on average attract higher salaries than graduates from other disciplines, this makes the subject an especially attractive prospect from today.’

The Institute of Mathematical and Physical Sciences is initiating the Welsh Visualisation Centre, with the WDA, IT firms and Objective One. This pounds 10m project based at Aberystwyth will exploit virtual reality technology.