Meet our bright Queen Mary students
This spring, we had the pleasure of meeting for lunch with some of the students that were chosen to receive bursaries from the programme at Queen Mary University of London that FINHUMF has funded, and now we’re happy to share a bit about them with you.
It was great to meet them personally and spend some time discussing their stories, their studies, their hopes and ambitions for the future, and how financial support gives them the freedom to live well, help contribute to the home, and focus more on their academic efforts rather than having the constant stress of bills and bank balances hang over them.
Many of these students expressed a passionate desire to make a difference in the world, and we hope to see them grow and thrive from the starting point of this education.
We’ll start with a few, but we hope to get to know every student and their story as we move forward with this programme.
Mia is in her second year of studying International Relations with Business Management.
Despite being an estranged student from a large family, and responsible for her own financial independence since the age of 16, she is the first of her family to attend private school and now university, and on track for a First Class degree.
Mia balances managing day-to-day living expenses with focusing her studies to further her interest in politics, public affairs, the long-term outcomes of policy decisions, and their effects on access to opportunities.
Here’s what Mia had to say about being part of the programme at Queen Mary -
“I chose Queen Mary for its strong academic reputation and inclusive environment. As someone from a mixed-race background who’s navigated very different cultural and economic contexts, I wanted a university where I could grow personally as well as academically.”
“I felt incredibly proud and grateful when I found out I’d been selected for the bursary. It gave me breathing room for the first time in a while.”
“One major thing it helped with was driving - I was finally able to afford lessons and book my test, which has become incredibly costly these days. I passed in March, and it’s already transformed how much freedom and flexibility I have to access opportunities.
Before the funding, I was constantly calculating how to make ends meet. There’s always been a fine line between affording basics and having to cut back on things that could help me grow—like training, experiences, or even small things like transport.”
“Financial stress is one of the biggest obstacles students face, especially those without family support. It’s not just about tuition—it’s everyday life: rent, food, travel, and missed opportunities.”
“My goal is to become a Policy Analyst in the Department for Education. I want to work on designing inclusive policy that tackles inequality in education. I’m building toward this through internships, my degree, and running an outreach programme that supports students from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
“Thank you FINHUMF. Your generosity doesn’t just ease financial pressure—it sends a message that someone believes in us. For students like me, that’s powerful encouragement. I’m determined to make good on this opportunity and pay it forward in my future career.”
Muhamed is also a second year student, studying History and International Relations.
While motivated by his family’s financial hardships in his childhood to dedicate himself to success that could improve their lives, Muhamed did not initially plan to attend university, as it seemed out of reach, but as time went on he realised that if he was able, it would be the path to take.
Now he can carry on with his passion for athletics (namely running, which he told us enthusiastically about how the bursary left him less stressed about finances and more at liberty to pursue alongside his studies) and also for understanding the events, past and present, that can change the world for the better.
Hear from Muhamed about the path he has chosen and how he feels being part of the programme -
“I study history and international relations which includes a broad range of topics whether in important past events or current affairs. Given the events around the globe that are reverberating around us, I have always wanted to learn about the origins of these conflicts, but also how they can be brought to a viable conclusion. Studying the past has given me the necessary skills I need when approaching the present. One factor in the course which has resonated with me is that I get to hear different opinions and perspectives which I would otherwise not have known. This is beneficial for someone that is seeking to become a diplomat, since problems need to be diffused or agreed on from all angles rather than just through one viewpoint.”
“I chose Queen Mary because it had an exceptional reputation for its resources and support. This meant that I could always find someone to speak to if I felt stuck or needed extra guidance.
What I appreciate from Queen Mary university is that they always have events running across every week which cater to all types of interests or hobbies. Additionally, its diverse student group meant I could study in an environment where new perspectives were interesting to listen to. I would definitely recommend this university for students seeking a more supportive learning environment.”
“Many students who come from poorer backgrounds will find it difficult to keep up with the rising living costs. Unfortunately, this stress then eats into their ability to focus properly on their studies, thus reducing their overall performance in class and with their assignments.
Before I received the funding I was very worried about my future finances during the remainder of my university. I was unsure if I would have enough money to buy my monthly oyster card which I use to get to university. This was a problem because it was during a time when seminars and lectures had increased importance towards the end of the semester.”
“I hope to pursue a masters degree in order to maximise my knowledge in International Relations. Once I complete my masters I hope in the future to work in international organisations, such as the United Nations, as a diplomat. I believe that diplomacy is the ideal position to be in when working towards a more peaceful world.”
“I would like to say a special thank you to Leslie Hill-Meier for her generosity and kindness she showed towards us, both for the bursary and for her warm welcome when we met her. I could not have managed to push through with ease without her generous bursary.
Once again, I want to thank Leslie and her team for their help during a time when it felt like nobody was there.”
Tiago is a second year History student.
Coming from a working-class background, Tiago and his parents, who immigrated from Portugal and Malaysia, respectively, had to request loans to cover tuition costs and also maintenance loans to cover the cost of living. We hope this program can assist him in freeing him of some of that financial strain so that he can focus instead on pursuing his studies and interest in world history, business policy and law.
Learn more about Tiago here -
“I am a history student, and I enjoy the course. As someone who's interested in medieval and political history, I felt the courses were representative of my interests.”
“When I received the email that I was accepted for the funding, I was excited as it would help contribute to the household finances. So far, the funding has helped contribute to our savings and household bills.”
“I think that the increased cost of living, alongside the tuition fees, does weigh heavily on students, considering that these expenses take quite a chunk out of someone's budget. Furthermore, with job prospects becoming out of reach for a growing number of people, I think this contributes to the issue.”
“I would like to be able to continue with a career in law by taking postgraduate courses and qualifying. Hopefully, I will be able to get a training contract sometime in the future to finance these studies.”
“I would like to say thank you to FINHUMF for helping disadvantaged students and helping them to continue their academic dreams.”
Nasihaa is a second year student of English Literature and Linguistics.
Her parents moved to the UK from Bangladesh in search of better opportunities, since her father made the journey when he was quite young, he was able to attend secondary school here, and Nasihaa was born and raised in London, making her British Bangladeshi.
At Queen Mary University, Nasihaa is interested in learning about literature and linguistics from an anthropological and cultural point of view.
Here’s what Nasihaa had to say -
“I study English Literature and Linguistics. It’s fascinating to see how linguistics is essential in understanding language structures and how they impact society.”
“Receiving the bursary has made a significant impact on my life. While it helped with practical expenses like groceries, travel, and driving lessons, it also allowed me to focus fully on my studies without added stress.”
“I truly believe financial worries can be a huge burden for many students, especially when trying to juggle academic responsibilities with personal life. I plan to pursue a career in teaching, particularly within a primary school environment.”
“I am incredibly thankful to everyone who has donated— the support has made a huge impact on my life.”
Ahmed is a third year student in English with Creative Writing.
He is from the first generation in his family to attend university, and the eldest from a family that came to the UK in the late 1990s. He has an interest in further pursuit of education toward Psychology, of which he mentioned a specific curiosity about Criminal Psychology, a commendable field that serves the purpose both of analysis and prediction of the behaviour of criminal minds for the sake of keeping the peace, but also examines criminals as the people they are, and asks what motivates their actions.
Ahmed talks about how it felt to receive the bursary -
“It felt a bit surreal at first. It was an immediate relief to alleviate burdens such as necessary costs!”
“Things were uneasy and obscure before I received the funding. You're not sure what course costs (books etc.) are going to come your way or if you'll be able to afford the essentials such as travel costs. Sometimes it leaves you counting each night your finances.”
“With the cost of living increase and our slowly growing burdens, finance has never been more important on the student mind - possibly more than even academic stresses. In the future I plan to do a masters conversion course in psychology.”
“Thank you for supporting me with this bursary. Truly. It's genuinely one of the most selfless things someone could possibly offer to students like us, without this who knows what further stress I would've had to burden on myself.”
