A University of Central Lancashire student has been awarded a prestigious scholarship which will allow him to follow his dream of becoming a maths researcher and academic.
Matthew Waterworth, who has just gained a First-class degree in maths, has beaten off stiff competition to claim the Martingale Scholarship.
The 22-year-old, from Golborne, has received a fully funded place to study for a master’s degree in pure maths at the University of Manchester.
If he successfully completes the one-year postgraduate programme, he can then progress on to a PhD Scholarship with the same foundation.
Matthew, who is the first of his family to attend university, said: “I was absolutely elated when I found out I’d been chosen to receive such a special scholarship.
"I was absolutely elated when I found out I’d been chosen to receive such a special scholarship"
— Martingale Scholarship recipient Matthew Waterworth
“The area I want to specialise in is algebraic geometry and its applications to the life sciences, particularly biochemistry, so the funding from the Martingale Scholarship is huge and it will really allow me to work towards that.”
The scholarship is all the more special for Matthew as he didn’t achieve enough A levels at Wigan’s Winstanley College to enrol on to the University’s three-year BSc (Hons) Mathematics programme.
His determination to succeed led him to undertake a one-year Foundation year in maths at the University of Central Lancashire’s Preston Campus before starting his three-year course.
Last summer, the former Golborne High School pupil spent seven weeks at the University of Oxford where he took part in a research internship. He worked alongside a post-doctoral researcher and presented his mathematical findings to a group of experts.
Matthew, who has worked as a Student Ambassador during his time at the University, will take the graduation stage in his academic cap and gown next month.