Dozens of students have been provided with a funding boost from the Department of Workforce Development to help them further their education.

This year awards were given to a total of 23 Bermuda College students and 25 overseas students.

The amount of funding for overseas recipients has been raised from $5,000 annually up to $10,0000, while Bermuda College recipients’ tuition will be subsidised per semester.

“I would like to thank the Department of Workforce Development for continuing to provide scholarship awards and opportunities for our people,” said Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy.

“Because of these 2015 scholarships 48 people now have the chance to further their education and improve their marketability in the workforce.”

Award recipient Rachael Burrows, 41, who studies applied science with business administration at Bermuda College, says the award money will help her to finish her course a lot faster.

“Times are hard,” she said. “This money means the difference between going or not going back to school this semester. By finishing this course I want to show my children the importance of never giving up on your dreams.

“I want to make things easier financially for my family and the opportunities this associate’s degree will bring will hopefully do that.”

Lynnique Castle, 17, will begin her studies at Durham University, England this September for her five-year pharmaceutical degree. She says she hopes to return to Bermuda with her degree once she graduates.

“The scholarship money means that I’ll be able to go abroad to get my degree,” said Miss Castle. “It definitely would have been more of struggle without this scholarship money. Without it, I would have had to invest in a student loan to study abroad and I’d be paying back that loan for years.”

Kyle Simmons, 24, is just about to start a four-year degree at Ontario College of Art and Design studying integrated media. He hopes to become a film director.

“This scholarship certainly makes things a lot easier” he said. “It shows there are people willing to support you — which means more to me than the money. I want to thank the Department of Workforce Development for showing their support for young Bermudians.”