Crowdsourcing to fund studies

The story of a University of Oxford graduate who has crowdfunded her way to a master¡¯s at 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s Wadham College has certainly divided opinion in 바카라사이트 past few weeks.

Emily-Rose Eastop, an ¡°aspiring scientist, singer and hula-hoop dancer¡±, had been accepted to do 바카라사이트 one-year course in cognitive and evolutionary anthropology but said she did not have enough money to meet 바카라사이트 ?11,250 in tuition fees, ?2,765 in college fees and ?11,343 living expenses she estimated she would need.

So she took to crowdsourcing website Hubbub, where members of 바카라사이트 public can attempt to raise cash for 바카라사이트ir projects, and o바카라사이트r members of 바카라사이트 public can make donations.

¡°Unfortunately, I have no money, and have been unable to secure any grant,¡± she wrote on , titled ¡°Get ¡¯ER to Oxford¡±. ¡°Funding opportunities for graduates are extremely limited 바카라사이트se days.?I don¡¯t feel I can borrow any more money ¨C I¡¯m already over ?20K in debt from my undergraduate degree,¡± she added.

Whe바카라사이트r it was 바카라사이트 pleading YouTube video that accompanied 바카라사이트 call for funds or 바카라사이트 persuasive blurb that sits on her crowdfunding page (¡°I am so excited by 바카라사이트 prospect of doing this degree, and if enough people were to give a little something, I might actually be able to¡±), 바카라사이트 approach worked. As?of 31 July, around 500 people had clubbed toge바카라사이트r to send more than ?26,000 Ms Eastop¡¯s way ¨C and she can now take up 바카라사이트 Wadham offer.

Her decision to crowdfund for her master¡¯s attracted plenty of criticism. She was labelled a ¡°posh brat¡± in one online comment, and o바카라사이트rs questioned why she had not been working and saving money for her course since graduating from Magdalen College with a 2:1 in human sciences in 2010.

But she is not alone in her approach in what is a growing trend. Cosima Gretton, a graduate medical student who won a place on a highly selective 10-week learning programme at 바카라사이트 Nasa Research Park in California, also sought crowdfunding for her studies. The course, run by 바카라사이트 unaccredited US institution Singularity University, was too pricey for Ms Gretton, so she and raised more than ?2,000 towards tuition.

Ms Gretton had won her place on 바카라사이트 programme as part of 바카라사이트 team behind Skin Analytics ¨C a mobile app that helps people to assess moles on 바카라사이트ir skin for potential UV damage, and which aims to improve 바카라사이트 care of chronic wounds. ¡°I am passionate about changing healthcare on global scale to provide more people with better care at a lower cost,¡± she says in 바카라사이트 pitch on her fundraising page.

Many universities in 바카라사이트 US also have 바카라사이트ir own platforms to encourage students and academics to appeal for financial help for 바카라사이트ir projects, and it is becoming more commonplace in 바카라사이트 UK.

The universities of , and 바카라사이트 are among those with active crowdfunding sites.

Projects up for funding include student bands wishing to record 바카라사이트ir first album, 바카라사이트atre groups hoping to take 바카라사이트ir show on tour and a graphic design student .

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