Denisa's Dream to Study a Master at Imperial College

Hello!

I wish education was free and accessible to everyone, however this is not the reality we live in. Henceforth, I am coming forward to ask for your help.

My name is Denisa and I'm a Romanian first-generation immigrant in the UK, and I've just been accepted into one of the best Genetics programs in the world at Imperial College London (QS #2 best university in the world), MSc Human Molecular Genetics.

Unfortunately, I don't have the means to cover all my fees even with help from the government. The loans I am entitled to don't cover the entire tuition fee and my savings are minimal.

To better understand my situation and decide whether you are contributing to a good cause, could you please take the time to read my story?

I moved to the UK in 2018 to join my parents in hopes of a better future and academic opportunities. My first task was to learn English and pass my GCSEs within 11 months, despite having no prior experience in the British schooling system. I believed that with a strong work ethic, I would excel.

Unfortunately, circumstances didn't align with my expectations. This new environment soon revealed itself to be unsafe and abusive - life at home was difficult. As a result, I had to set off on my own and join a bedsit in a children’s home, making my goals even harder to attain.

Last week, I graduated with a 2.1 in Biological Sciences from the University of East Anglia , received The George Duncan Memorial Prize for the greatest achievement in obtaining my degree (despite all the hardship), and scored 77% on my dissertation. Moreover, I will now be joining the 6% of care leavers who pursue further education and start an MSc at a prestigious institution.

I hope to bring awareness to the challenges faced by disadvantaged students in higher education and break stereotypes. There is not enough support for people like us out there. Therefore, I am asking you to contribute as much or as little as you can and help me reach my goal of studying at Imperial College London. This course, at this specific institution, is crucial for me to have the best chances at following with a PhD and becoming a researcher.

Any amount would help take some weight off my shoulders and allow me to focus on my studies, as I will be working a lot of hours alongside my studies in order to survive throughout the year. If you can't donate I would appreciate any other form of help - whether it's by sharing this page with others who could donate or informing me about any scholarships or grants available to EU students in the UK.

Kind regards,

Denisa Batrinu