Stormzy announces 30 more scholarships as part of Cambridge university programme

Rapper described the move as ‘an incredible milestone’

A further 30 scholarships at the University of Cambridge have been announced as part of a scheme arranged by grime star Stormzy.

The scholarships give Black students £20,000 a year towards tuition fees and maintenance costs for the duration of their degree courses at the prestigious university.

The scheme began in 2018 as part of a bid to rectify the relatively low numbers of Black students attending Oxbridge universities.

Stormzy described the extension of the programme as “an incredible milestone”.

The 30 further “Stormzy Scholars”, to be funded over the next three years, were announced as part of a new philanthropic partnership between Stormzy’s charity, the #Merky Foundation, and HSBC UK.

Fifty-eight Black British students were admitted to undergraduate degree courses at Cambridge in 2017. By last year, the number had risen to 137.

“Thank you to HSBC UK for their significant donation and, of course, Cambridge University for always backing our mission,” said Stormzy in a statement.

“I hope this scholarship continues to serve as a small reminder to young Black students that the opportunity to study at one of the best universities in the world is theirs for the taking.”

To be eligible to apply for the scholarship this year, candidates must have a confirmed place to start at Cambridge this October, and must be a UK student of Black or mixed race heritage.