The recipients, who all lived in Bedfordshire for at least three years before the start of their courses, were chosen by the University on the basis of excellent academic records despite difficult circumstances or financial problems.

22-year-old Farida Ali (pictured above), whose disabled mother requires round-the-clock care, was one of those who benefited from receiving the bursary.

Farida became responsible for her mum and five siblings, one of whom suffers from learning difficulties, at just 20-years-old.

Farida has been forced to get by on her and her partner's part-time wages, receiving minimal financial support despite her duty of care, volunteering work and university fees.

In spite of her hardship, Farida managed to complete her second year of her Education Studies degree with honours. Continuously aiming high, she hopes to graduate with first-class honours before going on to study a PhD and, ultimately, become a lecturer at the University.

"The bursary will help me provide for my family and my husband, particularly my mother and my young brother with their special needs," she said. "It will enable me to attend all my lectures and seminars as I tend to miss a lot of content due to caring responsibilities.

"I am very grateful for the extra funding. I hope that I am able to obtain the first-class degree that I need in order to embark on my doctorate next year."

Another recipient, Anya Hobbs, was chosen for channelling her depression and family problems into poetry.

The aspirational Creative Writing student says she will use the money given to her to "explore the creativity the world has to offer".

She continues: "I am not the best writer I can be yet, but maybe with the help of this bursary I can get a step closer."

A third student also received one of the grants, having moved out of home in her late teens after her mother passed away.

It's not the first time she has been commended for her dedication, receiving an award in Year 11 for 'overall academic endeavour in the face of adversity'.

The grant will allow her to continue her studies at the University, rather than postpone her studies in search of a full-time job.

Rounding up the awards, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Bill Rammell, said: "We are enormously grateful to work with The Steel Charitable Trust. We all know times can be tough and challenging, and we are very grateful for this extra support.

"Last year 92 per cent of recipients of the bursaries went on to achieve either a first class or Upper Second Class Honours degree.

"You are exemplars of how we work with our students. You are real success stories for this University."

The Chairman of the Trustees of The Steel Charitable Trust, Nicholas Wright, who presented this year's awards alongside Mr Rammell, said: "The Trust is very pleased to continue to be associated with the University in support of such bursaries and is delighted that the students continue with their studies and achieve such high standards."

About The Steel Charitable Trust

The Steel Charitable Trust was established in 1976 by the late Mr and Mrs Walter Reginald Steel, who had lived in Luton for almost all their lives.

The Trust has been associated with the University for almost 20 years. During that time the Trust has provided an Endowment to finance the Powdrill Chair in English Language Acquisition and also another Endowment to finance a PhD student.

As well as the education sector, the Trust supports areas of arts and heritage, environment, health, and social or economic disadvantage.