Maisie: "I cannot put into words just how huge of an impact the Liverpool Bursary has had on my life"

The Student Fund, made possible through the generosity of alumni and friends, creates lasting change by breaking down financial barriers to education. Maisie is one of many students whose future has been transformed by this support.

Thanks to the kindness of alumni, Maisie has been able to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. Her path into medicine hasn’t been straightforward – from overcoming self-doubt to discovering a deep passion for patient care – but she is now studying Medicine.

"My experience at university has been overall positive but there have been ups and downs. At the start of the year, I struggled to make friends and felt quite lonely. At school, I was told I wasn’t cut out for medicine. One teacher said my entrance exam score wasn’t good enough. It knocked my confidence, and for a while, I wasn’t sure if this was even something I could aim for.

Then I got the chance to do some work experience in a hospital microbiology lab. At first, I thought I might enjoy working in a lab long-term, but I realised I like talking to people too much and that I do want to meet the patients. That experience helped me get a job as a lab assistant. Working in that environment confirmed to me that this was the right path, and it gave me the motivation to keep going.

I cannot put into words just how huge of an impact the Liverpool Bursary has had on my life. Without the bursary and rent reduction, I would have been left with just £27 a week to live on. I wouldn’t have been able to afford the bus to football, which would mean losing a large part of my social interaction. Exploring the city would be completely gone. I would never be able to get a gym membership, which is hugely important for my mental health. I would have to work much more to afford my living costs, which would make my content-heavy degree even harder. Without a bursary, covering my living costs would place even more strain on me and my parents.

I’ve always known Liverpool is one of the friendliest cities in the world, and I feel so safe and happy here. I love exploring the many coffee shops and bakeries, and the study spots on campus—especially in spring and summer. I love how many different extracurricular opportunities my degree offers so I can really look ahead to my future.

My biggest highlight this year was celebrating my 19th birthday with my new best friends in Liverpool. Another highlight was the annual medicine ball — it was another 'pinch me' moment. I have also made new friends through starting to play football and I now know that I won’t be alone for the rest of my university experience. I struggled initially to gel with my housemates but now I feel great for having independence. I love creating healthy meals, going to the gym and running, and having the freedom to explore one of the greatest cities in the world.

Without the bursary and rent reduction, I would be forced to live on £27 a week. Without the support, I find it hard to see how I could ever be equal to my classmates who grew up with more support. The support I’ve received has made a huge difference — not just practically, but emotionally too. It’s helped me believe that I deserve to be here. If I was left with only student finance, I would simply be surviving and not living. I well and truly owe my life and happiness in Liverpool to this bursary."

The Student Fund

The Student Fund is here to ensure students like Maisie can take up their place at university and study medicine while making the most of their university experience. Learn more about how you can support more students like Maisie by visiting the Student Fund webpage.