Centre for Law Crime & JusticeJohn Fitzsimons Memorial Students 25-26
The John Fitzsimons Bursary Fund provides financial support to talented mature students studying Law with us here at Strathclyde.
Awards are made to assist with the costs associated with study on a taught programme in the Law School at either undergraduate or postgraduate level (for example, LLM, MSc, LLB).
Hear from Pat Fitzsimons as she speaks about the John Fitzsimons Memorial Fund in this video:
Meet our students
Ailsa Clark, LLB Student
When I learned that I had been awarded the John Fitzsimons Memorial Fund, I was overwhelmed with joy.
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Growing up in a household marked by a parent's substance use and severe mental health challenges, my early encounters with the law were intertwined with some of the most traumatic experiences of my childhood.
This was further complicated in my twenties when I found myself in an abusive relationship and then, in my early 30s, fell victim to harassment and stalking.
Despite these hardships, I have always believed in the law's potential as a force for positive change, and studying law has been a lifelong dream of mine.
Returning to university at 33 was a daunting prospect, especially as the first in my family to pursue a university education, I knew it would demand balancing a full-time job, caregiving responsibilities, and a rigorous academic schedule. Nevertheless, I was thrilled to achieve excellent grades in all my first-year classes.
However, the financial burden of continuing my studies loomed large. With both my partner and I on low incomes and a young son to care for, affording a second year seemed impossible. Receiving this scholarship has been life-changing, enabling me to pursue my passion while providing for my family and building a better future for us all. I am profoundly grateful to the Fitzsimons Memorial Scholarship Fund for this incredible opportunity—it truly means the world to me.
Tabraiz Burki (LLB Hons (Clinical) Student)
Receiving the John Fitzsimons Scholarship has meant far more to me than financial support. It has represented recognition at a moment in my life when recognition carries profound significance.
I arrived in the United Kingdom as a teenager intending to study for a year and return home. Shortly after my arrival, circumstances in my home country deteriorated in ways that made returning unsafe and led me to seek protection in the United Kingdom. Instead, I entered a prolonged period of immigration uncertainty that lasted almost fourteen years.
During that time, I was legally prohibited from working and unable to access higher education. Much of my early adulthood was lived in limbo - unable to plan long-term, uncertain whether I would be permitted to remain, and at times dependent on charitable support simply to maintain basic stability. There were periods of financial insecurity and housing instability. More difficult still was the psychological weight of living without security, where even modest ambitions felt precarious.
When I was eventually granted status, returning to education as a mature student was not merely an academic progression. It was the reclamation of agency. Beginning my law degree marked a transition from endurance to direction. It allowed me to convert years of uncertainty into intellectual purpose.
The John Fitzsimons Scholarship has made that transition sustainable. Financially, it has eased the pressure of essential living costs and enabled me to focus fully on my studies. Instead of balancing anxiety about survival with academic commitment, I have been able to dedicate myself to reading, research, and achieving strong academic performance.
Equally important has been the affirmation the Scholarship represents. After years in which circumstances constrained my opportunities, to be recognised for academic merit and perseverance has restored confidence and reinforced my belief that resilience, when supported, can evolve into achievement.
I am deeply grateful to those who contribute to the Fund. Their generosity does not simply assist with tuition or books; it restores continuity to lives that have been interrupted by forces beyond their control. I hope, in time, to extend that same support to others."
Zoe Silver (PG Diploma in Professional Legal Practice Student)
I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the John Fitzsimons scholarship that I have received. It has made a significant difference in my life and has provided much-needed support during a challenging time.
As a single mother struggling with finances, the assistance provided by the John Fitzsimons Fund has been invaluable. It has alleviated some of the financial burdens I faced and has allowed me to better provide for myself and my family.
Knowing that there are resources available for people like me who are navigating difficult circumstances gives me hope and inspires me to persevere.
I've always been passionate about the law and justice - since I was very young, it has interested me. I'm eager to dive into this field, work hard, and hopefully achieve success. My dream is to one day give back to the John Fitzsimmons Scholarship Fund so that more people like me can benefit.