A major aim of the Uggla Family Scholars Programme is to build a cohort of Uggla Family Scholars from across the world, creating a strong support network that will benefit each Scholar during their time at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and after they graduate. Therefore, you’ll be able to become an alum of both ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and the Uggla Family Scholars Programme.
So, if you’re wondering what it’s like to be part of the scholarship Programme, hear from current ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ students about their journey at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and as an Uggla Family Scholar.
Year 1 Uggla Family Scholars
Originally from Kurdistan, Aban was born and raised in London. He has many interests that include playing football and going out with friends. He is extremely passionate about the field of finance as he currently studies accounting and finance.
Aban wishes to work and become successful within this sector hoping to be an inspiration for those of disadvantaged backgrounds to not feel restrained by their circumstances. He hopes to change lives and meet many new people along the way.
Anna is a member of the Law Society at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and a Junior Bar Officer for Bar and Chambers. She has a particular interest in criminal Law, however thus far she has really enjoyed learning contract law.
While at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Anna hopes to continue to academically challenge herself and work hard to be able to pursue the requirements needed for her future career. Anna loves ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ as it offers an environment that is diverse and welcoming, a wonderful place to study and learn.
Arushi has been recognised for her academic excellence in both sociology and psychology by earning the titles of "Topper in the Form for Psychology" and "Subject Excellence in Sociology".
Currently serving as the Academic Representative for Sociology at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, she acts as a bridge between the students and faculty by communicating the interests and concerns of students to faculty members.
Arushi is interested in understanding how social structures influence individual experiences, examining social norms and cultural values across different societies and investigating the impact of social media on society. She aspires to pursue a career in either law or media in future.
Cewkie is a passionate social justice advocate, blending an interest in zemiology with commitment to debate and community service in order to drive positive change.
She founded the debate society of her sixth form, earning awards at prestigious Model United Nations conferences, including WIMUN and Oxford Schools. Now at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, Cewkie serves as a student ambassador and is an active member of the Law Society, Amnesty International, and Bar and Chambers.
Alongside her studies, Cewkie is pursuing self-taught skills in data science, aiming to bridge law and technology to promote social mobility and make a meaningful, lasting impact on society.
Hani has a vast range of interests, largely within the domains of data science. As she progresses building her proficiency through her technical studies at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, she hopes to also deepen her understanding of the systematic challenges facing our societies with the goal of one day making a purposeful and perhaps tangible contribution to their navigation. With the speed of evolution in AI and the overwhelming influx of new data sources, she believes that addressing these problems will only be more feasible down the line.
Hani also hopes she will one day be able to use her journey to inspire and support young girls like herself to pursue what brings them happiness and or to see themselves represented in the spaces they aspire to.
Hailing from Pakistan, Ibrahim has been particularly driven to consider how politics can affect communities in multi-dimensional ways. His desire to holistically analyse concurrent issues and seek the philosophies behind the politics that govern us today has led him to his course of choice.
Working for the affectees of Pakistan’s volatile political climate, he has collaborated with Princeton University to promote civic and computer education in Lahore whilst spearheading the largest student-run NGO in the country.
At ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, Ibrahim seeks to lay the foundations for a socially-equitable career to eventually give back to the communities closest to him. He strives to combine his academic interest in Politics and Philosophy with his professional interests in political investment, private equity and consulting; aiming to hone in on the points where the two converge.
Iman is from Lahore, Pakistan, and has a strong academic background, gaining the highest mark in the world for O Level Sociology and winning the National Debate Championship back home.
At ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, she is expanding her perspectives and exploring new fields. As a consultant with 180 Degrees Consulting and a Student Ambassador, Iman is deeply involved in both academic and community initiatives. During her time at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, Iman hopes to remain an authentic, curious, joyful, and dedicated person, staying true to her principles and growing wiser with each experience.
A passionate film enthusiast, she spends her free time connecting with herself through storytelling.
Joseph is a massive fan of two things, Chelsea (best team in London) and Chinese food. Joseph wishes to take on a career within the financial services. But aside from that, Joseph also has ambitions to make a meaningful impact later in the future, to be a person who can facilitate voices of change, to represent those whose voices aren’t listened to. Which is why, contrarily to his career paths in finance, he would has made it a goal to set up a non-for-profit organisation dedicated to the wrongly convicted.
Marc is from North Wales and enjoys hiking which he balances out with his love for food, using London’s vast diversity of restaurants to explore this further. He has aspirations to study intellectual property and competition law and eventually explore a professional career in pharmaceutical patents fuelled by his love for chemistry and environmental sustainability. This led him to organise and take part in litter-picking events at his school and local area.
Marc is also a student ambassador and wishes to use this role to further support students from low socio-economic and disadvantaged backgrounds in gaining access to ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳.
Matt is a highly motivated and ambitious individual with a clear vision for a career in Investment Banking. Having ranked among the top 50 fastest swimmers in the UK, Matt’s competitive spirit and resilience have defined his pursuits in and out of the pool. During his gap year, he gained invaluable work experience at several bulge-bracket investment banks, including J.P. Morgan and Citi.
Outside his professional interests, Matt is an avid F1 fan and an adrenaline seeker. From exploring the landscapes of Colombia to scuba diving and parachuting, he embraces new adventures and challenges with enthusiasm, driven by a curiosity to understand diverse cultures and perspectives.
Steven is interested in macroeconomics. He has researched the role of financial institutions such as commercial banks. He is currently expanding his knowledge in areas such as philosophy, programming, history and mathematics to become a well-rounded economist with a holistic view. By gaining an understanding of the economy, he aims to utilise his knowledge to reduce poverty around the world.
Steven hopes to explore his options during his time at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳. He has expressed interest in joining different societies, applying to various internship schemes and taking part in volunteering for various charities.
Year 2 Uggla Family Scholars
Antonia is a student with a wide range of interests, particularly in digital entrepreneurship and fashion. During her gap year she explored financial trading technologies and began an online clothing business. During university she hopes to build a strong foundation of knowledge that will pave the way into a successful entrepreneurial career.
Ateeq has a unique background, having worked in various roles, including leading front-of-house operations in an award-winning coffee shop. Recognising the importance of education for social mobility, he enrolled in an access course at night school, earning an offer to study Economic History at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳.
His studies focus on the origins of inequality, a topic he is passionate about. Growing up and working in Middlesbrough, Ateeq is acutely aware of the effects of economic stagnation. As a student ambassador, he led events for ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Springboard, a programme with ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s Widening Participation team which supports students from underprivileged backgrounds in the pre-university process, increasing their participation at top universities.
Hardworking and determined, Ateeq views finance as an industry where his skills can align, allowing learning and growth. His main aim is to use finance to decrease societal inequality, whether by working in private equity to support educational initiatives or community development projects that bridge regional disparities.
Student life at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ - Virtual Undergradute Open Day
Hear from current ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ students sharing about why they applied to ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and their student experiences during their studies - including Uggla Family Scholar Ateeq!
Cici was born in Beijing, China, and later lived in Singapore, Australia, Canada, and the UK. These experiences of living in different places have made her aware of the variations in peoples' values across regions, which inspired her passion for breaking gender stereotypes and advocating for equal rights.
She is currently majoring in Mathematics, Statistics, and Business, with plans to specialise in quantitative analysis. Outside of her academic pursuits, Cici loves surfing and chocolate.
Cici is also an ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Student Content Creator - take a look through some of her posts and vlogs about her time at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and as part of the Programme:
Instagram Reels:
- December 2023:
- More coming soon!
YouTube:
- March 2024: Vlog -
- July 2024: Vlog -
- More coming soon!
Emily stands out due to her transition from a successful fashion and editorial hairdressing career to now pursuing her fervour for law and justice. She has volunteered at Citizens Advice Bureau, excelled in an Access to Law course, and is now pursuing her legal education at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳.
Her diverse background and commitment to her academic and career goals make her distinctive. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and recently climbed Ben Nevis.
Francisco is particularly interested in International politics with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. He is the founder of the “Politik with Cisco” podcast which digs deeper on the impact of political events on Sub-Saharan African countries' socio-economic landscape.
At ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ he has joined societies such as the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ United Nations Society and the Political Risk and Investment Society, where he was recently appointed to the subcommittee as a Global Affairs Officer. Additionally, he has also been selected to serve as an ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳100 student academic representative on the Student Staff Liaison Committee for the government department.
Francisco aspires to become a parliamentary legislator in his home country of Mozambique, where he hopes to advocate for better provision of education to low income communities and for improvement in the allocation of income generated from the natural resource extractive industry in Mozambique.
Ibrahim’s interests are in sales and trading, private equity and asset management. He is actively seeking to augment his knowledge of these divisions by building commercial awareness and pursuing various insight programs.
He is currently dedicating his time to becoming more proficient in Excel and Python to further understand how they can be used in data analysis and visualisation.
Isabella has aspirations of working in a commercial law firm. She aims to gain further experience in the sector as well as experience in surrounding sectors. She also aims to engage in volunteering to increase access to education and training for women and children.
Outside of her academics, she enjoys travelling and keeping healthy.
Jia Ren is a dedicated advocate for inclusivity, diversity, and sustainable development. Her past experiences include volunteering to provide free tuition to underprivileged students, raising environmental awareness among Malaysian youth, and helping Malaysian students with their UK university applications.
She has maintained a scholar status since college and is enthusiastic about exploring opportunities in the banking and finance sector, with a particular focus on green finance, to contribute to a more sustainable world.
Jia Ren is also an Read through about her ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ experience, being on the Programme and advice for future ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ students:
Jonathan is originally from East London. He harbours a fervent aspiration for a career within the finance sector, with a particular focus on investment banking. Jonathan has graduated from ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s Pathways to Banking & Finance programme and was a member of the SEO London Empower programme, whilst continuing his journey as a dedicated SEO London Candidate.
In addition to his academic and professional pursuits, he maintains a keen interest in football and actively engages in volunteer activities.
Having completed work experience at Silver Circle and international commercial law firms during her gap year, as well as working for multiple sustainability start-ups, Niamh advanced her interest in exploring careers that combine both commercial awareness and legal skills at their foundation. Niamh has an intrinsic passion for promoting equality and safety for women, and her vast amount of proactive volunteering experience reflects this: During sixth form she created 'Kent Girl Support' - a website curating a community network for women in her county to feel safe when walking alone.
Furthermore, Niamh went on to apply such values to feminist volunteer work within the legal profession in particular. This led to volunteering for FemLegal / This Ends Now Ltd, a non-profit tackling misogynistic language usage in court cases and police reports.
Besides the highly respected and rigorous legal curriculum, what drew Niamh to studying at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ was the international network and vast opportunities it provides. She plans on utilising these to build on her existing passions, as well as constantly developing new perspectives.
Year 3 Uggla Family Scholars
Having been a double scholar in a boarding school for sixth form, Ana is acutely aware of the need for financial stability to be afforded to young people wanting to access education. As such, she has worked extensively with several charities and is passionate about care-experienced, orphaned and estranged students accessing education. She has hopes of starting her charitable trust to help young people impacted by these circumstances.
Ana has already completed several internships in commercial law firms, an area she hopes to continue exploring further, alongside gaining experience within private equity. She hopes to use her career as a tool for further philanthropic endeavours for her charitable work to gain further traction. Outside of academics, Ana is also a huge foodie, enjoys working out, and watching true crime documentaries - the latest being the Jeffrey Dahmer Netflix documentary.
During his gap year, Harris independently learned how to program in Python. In his spare time at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, Harris is creating projects using Python while learning other languages and data science topics, such as Java Script and machine learning.
In his final year at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, Harris plans to use his technical and economic skillset to create a digital start-up. He is also considering careers in private equity and data science. He has won multiple awards for his academic achievements, including two scholarships, and will become a mentor for Zero Gravity, a platform that digitally connects undergraduate mentors with state-educated, low-income students to guide them with applications for UK universities.
Jason has interests in the commercial law sector as well as various other fields, particularly the civil service. Having completed a 3-week internship at commercial law firm Weil Gotshal and Manges, as well as being supported through mentorship at WEIL and CMS, he aims to continue his progress into this sector whilst at university.
Alongside his professional interests, Jason is deeply passionate in charitable and volunteering interests surrounding supporting children with learning disabilities, spurred from his childhood as a young-carer for his twin-brother with Down syndrome.
After earning her Indian School Certificate from Lucknow, Khushi decided to pursue a BSc in Politics and Philosophy. She is passionate about increasing access to education for women and girls and eliminating financial barriers to education. She worked at a non-profit during secondary school and looks forward to opportunities that allow her to engage with educational policymaking.
Khushi's blog -
From workshops to pizza, find out what's in store for Uggla Family Scholars as Khushi about her experiences from her first term in the Programme!
Prior to joining ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, Lorenzo was undertaking legal administration at TLT LLP in Bristol. However, he has spent most of his life in a coastal town called Aberystwyth. He is enthusiastic about gaining more legal experience, especially with the Bar. Lorenzo enjoys being part of the Debate Society as he believes it is important to challenge ideas and learn from diverse perspectives. Two of Lorenzo’s main socio-political concerns are gender inequality and social mobility.
Leandro is passionate about sustainability, and more directly the balance between growth and preservation which confronts advanced economies in the contemporary world. He has further interest in the science of climate change, seeking to gain further insight into how the rapid development of humanity is causing copious damage to the natural world and environment. He also enjoys rugby and running.
Sian’s interests are in finance, asset management, wealth management and investment banking. She is interested in doing various work experience programmes in different sectors in order to gain exposure to different career paths.
Sian has been on the Pathways to Banking and Finance programme at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ for two years as well as being a Duke of Edinburgh South East Youth Leader. She has attended insight weeks at Rothschilds & Co and Morgan Stanley, which is where her passion grew for finance.
Learn more about ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳'s Pathways to Banking and Finance, as well as other pre-entry outreach programmes for UK students with Widening Participation at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳.
Sian's blog -
Being an Uggla Family Scholar has helped me massively with my plans for after I graduate... The Programme, and its network, provides me with a place to feel at home in a university, like ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, that can sometimes be intense.
about Sian's experience of her first year of the Programme.
HENOSIS, meaning ‘unity’ in Greek, was Skander’s most recent venture. Across two years, he gathered over 35 students and led a multitude of team projects, including a live discussion on intergenerational co-leadership with a former UN under-secretary general, to a ‘walk challenge’ initiative where individuals walked over 400km globally to raise funds for a charity school in India.
Skander is currently founding a student society operating at ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳, UCL and KCL called OUTTHEBOX (OTB) with the mission of inspiring and empowering the youth to pursue their true aspirations, featuring events ranging from interactive intellectual discussions with public speakers to social events to promote student initiatives. He has chosen a Machine Learning optional course in his BSc Economics degree to continue quenching his intellectual curiosity.
Swann is passionate about various social injustice issues including social class disparity, as well as racial inequality and how these are translated when confronted to the legal system.
She is an aspiring solicitor, with an interest in Human Rights Law and Criminal Law, and hopes to actively engage in the advocacy for the Rule of Law. Her extra-curricular interests include watching documentaries and dancing.