Durham University Chancellor and acclaimed foreign affairs specialist, Dr Fiona Hill, is launching a new scholarship scheme to support students from North East England who come from lower income households.
Applicants from Dr Hill’s hometown of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, are particularly invited to apply.
The scholarships will support two cohorts of three eligible students, recruited in 2025 and 2026 from North East England.
Each scholar will be awarded £5,000 per year for up to four years of study at Durham University.
The scholarship is open to applicants from the North East of England with a household income below £42,875.
Dr Hill, a former US presidential advisor, described the scholarships as her way of “giving back” after her own academic journey was kick-started by a £100 grant from the Durham Miners’ Association in the early 1980s.
She said: “If it wasn’t for that money, I would never have been able to afford to go on a course to study Russian, which then led me to studying at university.
“Education is a great equaliser, but only if people have access to it. Scholarships like these can make it more accessible for everyone.”
Dr Hill, who is the daughter of a coal miner and a midwife, attended Bishop Barrington Comprehensive School in Bishop Auckland.
She went on to study at St Andrew’s University in Scotland and Harvard University in the USA on a scholarship programme.
Dr Hill was previously a foreign affairs advisor to US presidents George W Bush, Barack Obama and to Donald Trump during his first term in office.
She is currently a Defence Advisor to the UK Government.
Dr Hill said: “Going to university isn’t something that everybody wants to do, and of course that’s absolutely fine. For those that do, finances shouldn’t be stopping them.
“Everything that I’m doing in my career is the result of a lot of people helping me along the way, which is why I feel very deeply about helping others to achieve their potential.
"There is no quick fix to removing entrenched financial barriers. If those that are in a position to help do help, then we’re making progress.”
The Fiona Hill Scholarship will add to a growing range of scholarships and support offered by Durham University.
The University recently launched its new Access and Participation Plan which details how it intends to improve equality of opportunity in higher education and make Durham more diverse and inclusive than ever before.
Charlie Cooper, a fourth year Physics student from Hartlepool, has received funding from the Durham Inspired North East scholarship scheme throughout his time at Durham.
Coincidently, one of the things the scholarship has afforded Charlie is enrolment on a Russian language course, as he is interested in Russian culture and literature.
Charlie, who is the first person in his immediate family to attend university, has also put scholarship money towards a motorbike to enable him to travel to lectures and a summer internship with BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.
Charlie said: “Without the help of the scholarship, I don’t believe my university experience would have been as fulfilling as it could have been.
“As well as the Russian language course, it’s enabled me to sign up for various clubs and societies that interest me and has given me some peace of mind regarding my budget.
“It has afforded me the chance to experience Durham University without the limits of a tight budget and financial stress that could’ve prevented me from getting the most out of my time at Durham.”
Professor Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, welcomed the new scholarship.
She said: “Our Chancellor’s scholarship greatly supports Durham University in its ambition to make it possible for the brightest students from the North East to study with us.
“We are very grateful to Dr Fiona Hill for generously funding this new scholarship.
“Fiona’s personal story is an inspiring one, and we share her commitment to making university education possible regardless of a student’s background or circumstances.”
Eligible applicants can apply for the Fiona Hill Scholarship from the 2025/26 academic year. For more details and to apply, visit the Durham University website at Fiona Hill Scholarships - Durham University
Opportunities to support studentships at Durham can be explored here: Make a Gift - Durham University
Comments