APPLICATIONS HAVE now opened for postgraduate agricultural students to apply for an award to cover 75% of their course fees.

NFU Mutual’s annual Centenary Award provides bursaries for selected students who are undertaking a Masters or PhD in agriculture within the UK.

Now in its 11th year, The Centenary Award was created by the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust and has supported 43 agricultural students with bursaries to help further their studies.

The award is open to individuals who have gained, or are expected to gain, a 2:1 or above in agriculture or a related degree, and have been accepted or provisionally accepted on a Masters or PhD course in agriculture in the UK, in autumn 2021.

The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust has identified three topics of interest for eligible students. At least one of these areas must form part of the applicant’s postgraduate course: sustainable agriculture and climate change; international agricultural development; the application of science and innovative technology to the agricultural industry.

The judging panel will be looking for applicants who are not only excellent academic performers, but also have a real passion for agriculture and demonstrate potential to become a future industry leader.

NFU Mutual chair, Jim McLaren, commented: “Our Centenary Award aims to support outstanding agricultural students as they grow to lead the next generation of farmers. These young people are the future of our industry and, by giving them an opportunity to continue their studies, we hope we can help them make a difference not only to themselves but also within our farming and rural communities.”

Elin Havard, from Powys, was one of three postgraduate agricultural students to receive the Centenary Award bursary in 2020, helping fund her MBA Innovation in Sustainable Food and Agriculture at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester.

“Having grown up on a beef and sheep farm, my interest in agriculture was instilled in me as a child," said Ms Havard. "I relish this opportunity to further my understanding and gain the skills required to contribute positively to the future of our industry.”

The closing date for the 2021 award is April 30. Information about the scheme, along with an application form, can be found via the NFU Mutual website: www.nfumutual.co.uk