Meet Savannah Gordon, scholarship winner and MSc Immunology student

Savannah is the first recipient of the MSc Immunology Scholarship for Students of Black Heritage by the Department of Immunology and Inflammation.

Black students have historically faced more barriers and inequalities in education than their white peers. At Imperial College London, we have recognised that there that is underrepresentation of black students in the undergraduate and postgraduate student population.

As part of a drive to tackle this, Imperial launched the Presidential scholarships for students of black heritage in both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. In addition, the Department of Immunology and Inflammation launched an additional scheme and committed to providing one award for a student of black heritage to study the MSc Immunology course, to break down barriers for black students to enter the field of immunology.

The MSc Immunology scholarship for students of black heritage provides full home tuition fees to the MSc Immunology programme, a maintenance stipend and the use of a department laptop. It is now open for applications until Friday 23 May 2025 and applicants can use the Presidential Scholarship for Students of Black Heritage application form which means you will also be considered for the presidential award.

Here we spoke with Savannah Gordon, the first ever recipient of the MSc Immunology Scholarship to learn more about why she applied and how the award has had an impact on her future.

Tell us a bit about yourself. What led you to apply to an MSc in Immunology at Imperial?

I always knew I wanted to pursue an master’s, but I struggled with deciding where. That changed when I was invited to attend the Black Graduate Careers Conference 2024 (BGCC) in 2022. The event played a significant role in leading me to apply to Imperial College London. I was fortunate to attend and found it incredibly valuable. Panels of young black academics, sharing their experiences in academia, resonated with me, particularly the discussions around the financial challenges. It was encouraging to connect with students who looked like me and were thriving at Imperial, which solidified my decision. As for Immunology, I performed particularly well in this module during my undergraduate studies, so it felt like a natural choice for me.

What was the process of applying and receiving the scholarship?

When applying for the scholarship, the process began with filling out a form and submitting an application. After that, I sent in a personal statement and then waited for the next steps. A few weeks later, I was scheduled for an interview with two senior members of the faculty. This was our first meeting, and they asked me questions about myself, while I had the chance to ask them questions as well. After some deliberation, they gave me the result at the end of the interview. I was thrilled!

How has the scholarship had an impact on your personal or academic goals?

The scholarship had a profound impact on my studies, as it relieved the financial burden of funding myself while balancing work and study. Knowing that the intensity of the course would be a significant step up from my undergraduate degree, I wanted to avoid the exhausting hustle of juggling both, which I knew from experience could negatively affect my academic performance.

Thanks to the scholarship, I was able to fully focus on my master’s, engage in incredible research, and collaborate with fascinating people. It's hard to fully express the personal impact this opportunity has had on me. Although I faced several personal challenges and difficult experiences during my time at Imperial, the chance to pursue my master's here helped me push through. It wasn’t always easy, but the journey was incredibly rewarding.

What was your favourite part of the MSc Immunology course?

One of the highlights of my MSc course was attending the BSI Congress Conference in Belfast. It was an incredible experience to be surrounded by cutting-edge science and witness the remarkable advances in research. It was truly inspirational. Another great aspect was the chance to bond with my peers.

That was the first time we really connected, and it was comforting to share our experiences and support each other, knowing we were all going through the same journey. I also have to mention the 6-month research project, which was another standout experience. I had the privilege of conducting mine abroad in Denmark, working with an amazing team at the Centre for Molecular Prediction of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (PREDICT) in Copenhagen. It’s an experience I will never forget and one of my favourite memories from the course.

What do you most appreciate about studying at Imperial College London?

I appreciate the overall experience. Having the opportunity to attend lectures where Imperial researchers present their work, projects they may have spent years developing, was truly inspiring. Their research is not only fascinating but also highly relevant and essential to the field of immunology.

I’m also grateful for the incredible support from the staff, lecturers, and my peers. Although the course was intense, the encouragement from those around me made it manageable. Experiencing research at such a high level was particularly meaningful to me. The skills and critical thinking abilities I’ve gained during my time at Imperial are invaluable for the next steps in my career, and I’m excited for what’s to come.

Do you have any words of advice for anyone applying to the course or scholarship?

My advice to anyone considering applying for this course or the scholarship is: JUST. DO. IT.

It's better to try than to not try at all. Don't let doubts hold you back. Apply, wait, and have faith. I highly recommend both the course and the scholarship. However, if you’re thinking about MSc Immunology, be aware that having some prior background or familiarity with the subject will be very helpful.

Finally, what do you hope to do in the future?

In the future, I see myself pursuing a PhD-though not immediately. I'll take some time to work, gain experience, travel, and take a break from academia before diving back in. For those considering applying for both the course and the scholarship, I wish you the best of luck. Go ahead and apply! If I can do it, so can you.

The Presidential Scholarship for Students of Black Heritage (postgraduate) and the MSc Immunology Scholarship for Students of Black Heritage are open for applications until Friday 23 May 2025.

To be considered for for the MSc Immunology scholarship, or if you are applying to another postgraduate programme and want to be considered for the Presidential Scholarship, please fill in the application form.

If you are interested in applying to Imperial College London for undergraduate entry, we run a similar programme for undergraduate student entry. The application form for undergraduate entry programmes can be found here.