THE US-UK Fulbright Commission, in partnership with the Sutton Trust, is delighted to announce the Scottish participants of its ground-breaking Sutton Trust US Programme.

The programme’s aim is to encourage academically talented, low and middle income UK students to consider studying at American universities and a Beath High pupil has been selected.

Some 15 students from Scotland were selected as part of a total cohort of 150 from across the UK to take part in this life-changing opportunity this summer.

The Scottish pupils, currently in their fifth year at school, were chosen from a competitive pool of applicants. There were 3700 initial applications UK-wide and 1600 full applicants, making this programme about ten times oversubscribed.

This announcement comes just as the Scottish Government begins its Commission on Widening Access to help more students from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter and succeed in higher education. Many of the students on the US Programme will be the first in their family to go to university. For the vast majority, it will be their first time travelling to the US.

Students participate in a summer school in the US at either the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) or Yale University (with a day hosted at Harvard University).

They will spend a week living on campus and visit a number of other US universities in the area. Participants benefit from residential activities and those who decide to apply for undergraduate admission to US universities receive an intensive programme of support, delivered by the US-UK Fulbright Commission over a number of months.

This covers admission tests, college choices and help with applications.

Craig McHugh, from Beath High School, said, “Being selected for the Sutton Trust has been a dream come true.

“To know that you and all the brilliant people involved in the process have so many opportunities is overwhelming.

“I have had the time of my life so far and cannot wait for our trip to the US.” The programme is made possible through support from its founding corporate sponsor, Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Their investment is matched by Peter Baldwin and Lisbet Rausing who have supported the programme since its launch.