Opening doors and transforming futures in Devon
The Tony Allen Scholarship Programme
Each year, many talented young people from Devon face significant barriers to higher education. The costs of tuition, travel, books and accommodation can feel out of reach for those already under financial pressure, leading some to believe that university is not an option for them.
For more than 40 students over the past sixteen years, that pressure has been lifted – thanks to one Exeter alumnus.
Tony Allen graduated in 1965 with a degree in Physics. In 2010, he approached the University to establish a unique scholarship programme directed towards supporting students from his home county at his alma mater. What began with two scholars has grown into a programme that now supports three students annually. No alumnus has supported more Exeter students than Tony.
For Areeya Anne Udomdej, a nursing scholar who completed her elective placement in Thailand, Tony's support was life changing. “Tony's support lifted the financial pressure and gave me the chance to explore nursing in a new context,” she says. “It reminded me why I chose nursing, and that experience is shaping the nurse I'm becoming.”
Tony's motivation comes from a desire to help students focus on their studies without the weight of financial worry. His scholars have been able to afford train fares to London for assessment days, buy textbooks they could not otherwise have purchased, and take up placements across the UK – many of which have led directly to permanent jobs once they graduated.
One scholar spent a summer as a camp counsellor in America – her first time travelling abroad alone. Another travelled to Beijing to study at Tsinghua University, a lifelong dream made possible by Tony's generosity.
Andrew Bartlett, who studied Law, reflects: “When I applied for the scholarship, a small part of me kept wondering where is the catch? But there was none. Tony genuinely cares about every scholar. The world needs more Tonys. I'll be forever grateful.”
For Merlin Davies-Abraham, now a Research Scientist, the support did not end at graduation: “Tony’s scholarship was instrumental in getting me here. It allowed me to focus on gaining lab experience and placements instead of part-time work. Those opportunities built the relationships that helped me secure a PhD, and the role I have now.”
The University of Exeter was proud to name a seminar room in the Forum in Tony's honour – a lasting tribute to his pioneering philanthropy. His support has shown how one person's commitment can transform young lives, launch careers, and build confidence that has a lasting impact for years to come. What began as a single donation to help local students access a university education has become a programme with the power to change futures, one scholar at a time.
"This programme is a beacon of opportunity," says Professor Lisa Roberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter. "Tony has not only provided financial support but has given something equally valuable: his time, his encouragement, and his genuine belief in each scholar's potential. The interest he has shown in their journey has meant as much as the financial assistance itself."