Top Grades Lead to Academic Scholarship for Halesowen Student

An aspiring entrepreneur from Halesowen says earning a £1,000 scholarship has restored his confidence and proved to him what he is capable of achieving.

Daniel Emms, 19, is in the second year of his Business and Marketing degree at the University of Worcester and was awarded the prestigious Academic Scholarship for excellent performance in his studies.

“My A-levels didn’t go the way I’d hoped, so for a while I felt like my results didn’t reflect what I was capable of,” he said. “Coming to university and building up my grades has been a way of proving that to myself, and this award is real recognition that the work is paying off. It’s a big motivator.”

Daniel plans to invest the money in his future. He said: “I’d like to put it towards things that grow in value like building my skills and my content and marketing work and saving or investing sensibly so it keeps working for beyond university.”

Collecting his award has given him the opportunity to reflect on his time at the University of Worcester. “The best thing about my time at university has been the friends I’ve made. Having people around me who motivate me, share the highs and lows, and make the whole experience just more enjoyable.”

Daniel is studying at the University of the Year for Graduate Jobs in the Daily Mail University Guide 2027, with judges describing a performance that “leaves many of the Russell Group in the shade”.

The University of Worcester is this year shortlisted for the Outstanding Support for Students in the Times Higher Education Awards for the efforts of staff to raise money for student scholarships and hardship funds.

Professor David Green CBE, DL, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University, said: “Every year, thanks to the generosity of alumni, philanthropists and friends of the University, we are able to award academic scholarships to students who perform outstandingly well – typically gaining straight As across their studies. Achieving such excellent results consistently requires dedication, ability and sheer hard work.”

“All of us at the University are very proud of all our scholarship winners who come from across the range of our courses and from many backgrounds,” he added. “Every year this includes scholarship winners who are students who did not particularly excel at school but find that the intellectual and professional challenge of university combined with the expert education provided at Worcester brings out the very best in them.”