Stormzy launches Cambridge scholarship for black students and people are overjoyed

Stormzy has launched a scholarship that will fund two black students to study in Cambridge University.

The grime artist has pledged that his scholarship pay the students’ tuition fees and maintenance for up to four years of an undergraduate course.

Speaking at his former school, the Harris City Academy in Croydon, Stormzy told BBC breakfast:

If you’re academically brilliant don’t think because you come from a certain community that studying at one of the highest education institutions in the world isn’t possible.

The lack of diversity in Oxbridge universities have been a long-standing topic of controversy in the UK, and the Guardian revealed that between 2012 and 2016 one Cambridge college did not offer a place to any black applicants.

Oxford was also criticised after it was revealed that more than one in four of its colleges failed to admit a single black British student between 2015 and 2017.

He also talked about wanting to study at Oxford University.

I was always reminded by my teachers that I was destined, if I wanted, to go down that road and study at one of the top universities.

I diverted and ended up doing music so it didn’t happen for me. I thought I was quite a rare case in that I knew that was possible.

That’s not always the case. When students are young, academically brilliant and getting great grades, they should know that’s an option.

People online are delighted with the grime artist’s decision, praising him for giving back to his community.

Stormzy is a national treasure.

We stan.

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbot praised him too.

As did David Lammy.

And for those criticising him for focusing only on underprivileged black students? For the knee-jerk 'ThIs Is RaCiSt' reaction?

He had the following to say:

Picture: Stormzy/Instagram

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