Birkbeck welcomes Cyril Taylor scholars advancing digital innovation

Launched for the 2025/26 academic year, the Cyril Taylor Scholarships provide each student with a £15,000 package of support. This includes full tuition fees for master's degrees in areas such as Applied AI, Computer Science, Advanced Computing, Quantitative Finance with Data Science as well as AI, Ethics and Society. Students also receive a flexible bursary to help cover essential living and study costs.

The scholarships aim to attract outstanding emerging talent while improving access to postgraduate education. By removing financial barriers for those with strong potential, the partnership is helping students to pursue specialist training in fields that will shape the UK's digital future.

Professor Sally Wheeler, Vice-Chancellor of Birkbeck, said: "We are delighted to be partnering with the Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation who share our commitment to ensuring that talented students can access the education they need to thrive. At Birkbeck, we are focused on equipping our students with cutting-edge digital and AI skills that will enable them to succeed in a rapidly evolving job market. This partnership strengthens that mission and ensures that our graduates can seize emerging career opportunities in data, computing and AI."

William L. Gertz, Trustee of the Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation and Chairman of the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), said: "The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation is pleased to award Birbeck with a grant of £75,000 to assist socially disadvantaged students attending the university in 2026. These scholarships continue the legacy of Sir Cyril Taylor, former Chairman and Founder of AIFS. Our Founder would be pleased to parter with an innovative university committed to excellence and student diversity. We celebrate the Cyril Taylor scholars selected for this innovative programme and wish them the best of luck at Birkbeck."

A lifelong champion of educational access, Sir Cyril Taylor founded the American Institute for Foreign Study to expand learning opportunities for students worldwide. He served as Chairman of the company from its launch in 1964, until his death in 2018. This scholarship programme continues his legacy by supporting talented students to develop the advanced skills needed in today's digital economy.

The inaugural scholars have explained how the financial support is having a transformative impact on their time at Birkbeck. Zihan Huan, who is studying an MSc in Quantitative Finance with Data Science to move closer to her dream of becoming a quantitative trader at a leading bank in London, said she wants to inspire other women of Asian backgrounds to pursue careers in data and finance.

She said: "When I attended an open day and met the course leader and an alumni guest speaker, I felt motivated and confident that this was the right path for me. This scholarship has not only helped me financially but also strengthened my confidence and motivation to pursue my goals. It showed me that hard work is recognised and supported."

Muhammed Abdul Khaled, who is studying MSc Computer Science, aspires to build a career in cybersecurity, focusing on safeguarding organisations from digital threats. He said: "Receiving the Cyril Taylor Scholarship has allowed me to focus on my coursework and research without financial stress, particularly in areas like cybersecurity and network systems. It has also inspired me to pursue leadership opportunities and contribute to a safer, more secure digital future."