Aayush is in his second year studying Business Management and received an Annual Fund Performance Scholarship in recognition of his hard work and great achievements.
My name is Aayush, and I was born and raised in Mumbai where I completed the equivalent of A-levels before coming to the UK to study Business Management at Queen Mary University of London.
I chose to study in the UK because I had heard that London is a great location for business studies and Queen Mary particularly stood out because of its Russell Group status and strong reputation. I also wanted to live somewhere with a manageable time difference so I could still speak to my family frequently.
I am now in my second year and the course has been going well so far. The first year was quite challenging as I was having to adjust to the culture and living costs which are much higher than I had previously been used to, so it was a bug adjustment to begin with. I really appreciate the diversity of not only East London, but of the university itself and its great being able to work and study alongside people from all different cultures and backgrounds. I am still getting used to the colder climate, but I am enjoying the independence of university life and learning new things about Business Management.
Receiving the Performance Scholarship was great. I was shocked but very grateful and proud to be in receipt of the award. I also now work part time which is also helping to fund my living costs while gaining business experience and making social connections. I want to be as financially independent as possible, so the Annual Fund Performance Scholarship has provided me with a safety net and helped pay towards my rent without falling into debt or needing to ask family for financial support.
I think students worry a lot about finances, especially if they don’t have a job to bring in extra income to pay for their living expenses. Some students are missing lectures to complete paid work so they can make their rent payments, which really highlights how challenging it can be. This is why it is so great that the Annual Fund exists to help these students, so they don’t miss out on crucial study time.
in the future I would like to start my own business and I am currently enrolled in the SBM mentoring programme. My mentor is great and has been coaching me to help lift my ideas off the ground and so starting a business is a big goal of mine that I hope to pursue in the future. In the short term, I will continue to work hard and enjoy my time being a student in London.
I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped to fund these scholarships. It is so kind of you to donate your money to help and recognise students’ hard work and I really appreciate your support and promise to make every penny count.