An extended three-year agreement with Santander Universities will result in £150,000 worth of further support for Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh.

Each year since 2007, Santander has donated funds accumulating to more than £1.5 million to its inaugural partner, QMU, to help with student success and progression.

The three-year renewal, which was formalised this week, will ensure funding until the end of 2027 – marking a two decade-strong relationship between the University and global bank.

The main aim of the partnership is to provide support for students who are most likely to face challenges when attending higher education. Santander’s support focuses on education, employability and entrepreneurship – helping to fund student start-ups, scholarships, internships and international educational experiences.

QMU Principal, Sir Paul Grice, and Santander Universities UK Director, Matt Hutnell, signed the agreement on Monday 11 March 2024 at the campus in Musselburgh.

Students and recent alumni who have benefitted from Santander funding also attended the event to share their experiences and the transformative impact the funding has made for them.

Lauren Murphy, a former Film and Media student who graduated from QMU in 2022, received enterprise funding from Santander to help set up her own business, Blue Skull Media.

Lauren, said: “I have been able to achieve my goals – which I previously felt were out of my reach – thanks to the support I received from QMU and the extra stability that was invested in me by Santander Universities.

“Following the funding, I was able to hone my skills in graphic design and content creation and apply these to the creative sectors of the media. I now run my very own business as a freelance graphic designer! I’ve achieved the unthinkable.”

The extended funding will be provided to QMU in £50,000 instalments each year with £15,000 of that for enterprise, £15,000 for internships, £10,000 for 10 student bursaries, and £10,000 for one student scholarship.

Sir Paul Grice, QMU Principal and Vice-Chancellor, said: “The support from Santander Universities has been transformative in a myriad of ways for the many QMU students who have benefitted from its funding over the last ten years.

“The continuation of this support will allow more students, no matter their background, to take advantage of unparalleled opportunities to advance their skills and knowledge, and build their confidence, so they can reach their potential and build brighter futures.”

Matt Hutnell, Director at Santander Universities UK, said: “At Santander, we are committed to supporting education, employability and entrepreneurship. We’re proud to continue our partnership with Queen Margaret University and provide even more opportunities for students, staff and the local community to develop skills to help them achieve their full potential.”