Several of our students have been proud recipients of scholarships by London School of Economics to pursue their further studies.

Ms Shi Li Shan is often highlighted as a role model and an inspiration to all international students. While on the Diploma in Economics programme with the College, she worked hard to improve her fluency in English and did not allow this to deter her from aiming high.

Li Shan received a distinction for her Diploma in Economics with the highest grades worldwide. She was awarded a full LSE undergraduate scholarship to 2nd year entry into the BSc Mathematics and Economics degree at LSE. Li Shan subsequently completed her masters and doctorate on full scholarship at University of Cambridge.

When asked to share her experience, she responded, “Under the guidance of Stansfield and its lecturers, I have achieved top results among all international students world-wide and have been awarded a full scholarship from LSE. The full-time lecturers at Stansfield have been dedicated and helpful. Most importantly, the school has motivated and encouraged me to work hard to achieve my goals.”

It was therefore no surprise to anyone when Li Shan received the Cyril Offord Prize for her outstanding performance in Mathematics in 2002 and went on to graduate with a First Class Honours degree from LSE. She received several offers of scholarships from LSE, Oxford and Cambridge for her Masters degree. Li Shan has since completed her Masters and Doctorate with top distinctions from University of Cambridge and joined Barclay Capital, London, in 2007.

Zhang Ying (Lillian) says that the huge cost saving was a determinant factor for studying in Singapore instead of London. Lillian first studied textile design at the Eastern China University in Shanghai before moving to Singapore. “I just wanted to see what was going on outside China.”

Her first year was done through the Diploma route where she obtained a Diploma in Economics with Distinction. She received recognition from the University of London with an academic achievement award.

Without the encouragement and opportunities provided by Stansfield and the academic support from the lecturers, I would not have been able to make it this far!

Lilian’s overall excellent results allowed her to clinch a full scholarship to pursue an MSc in Finance & Economics at the LSE. She successfully completed her M.Sc in August of 2006 and decided to stay on in London to work as a Credit Analyst in Deutsche Bank in their London office to gain work experience before returning to Shanghai to further her career.                                                                                                           

In retrospect, Zhang Ying feels that she was blessed to overcome the financial dilemmas she faced during her studies when she was awarded a merit scholarship from the College for her 2nd and 3rd year of her degree programme.

Claribelle Guangco’s first success with the University of London programme came with obtaining a distinction for her first year of studies through the Diploma in Economics programme.

Through her course of study, she experienced financial uncertainties that could have made her give up her studies. “I thought that my first year in the local university in Philippines was tough enough! But the Diploma programme made me appreciate the higher and more demanding standards of University of London”, she said.

I was very thankful when I received the merit scholarship from Stansfield which covered my second year tuition fees at a time when I was financially unable to support my studies.

Claribelle received the Claudio Ciborra Scholarship from LSE and has since completed her Masters in Analysis, Design & Management of Information Systems.

Vidhi R Lalchand, 21, enrolled with Stansfield in 2005 on the Diploma in Economics programme. She said,“I always take adventurous decisions in life. I feel one has to move out of his or her comfort zone and make the tougher choice –for me that is the only path to success and learning. If I had not given myself a chance three years back to take this decision, I would perhaps have not received the same recognition today.”

She advises, “You need to study with a sense of freedom and open-mindedness rather than carry the pressure to remember or re-iterate.”

Vidhi was the top student worldwide for the Diploma in Economics examinations in 2006 and graduated with a First Class Honours degree in BSc Mathematics & Economics.

“Pursuing a BSc Mathematics and Economics was not a popular choice at all but even the severest form of feedback from my lecturers about its difficulty level was not enough to deter me.” Vidhi was offered a place at the LSE to pursue her masters but took a year off to mentor students at Stansfield and to experience working life before getting back to her studies. She was subsequently awarded a scholarship to pursue her Masters in Applicable Mathematics at LSE.