Attention agricultural students! Closing date approaches for Centenary Award

In 2011 NFU Mutual, the UKs leading rural insurer, is once again offering its Centenary Award for postgraduate students in agriculture.

The Centenary Award gives annual bursaries to pay 75% of course fees for selected postgraduate students in agriculture (Masters or PhD).

The award is open to students from the UK who have gained, or expected to gain, a 2:1 or above in agriculture or a closely related degree, and have been accepted or provisionally accepted onto a Masters or PhD course in agriculture in the UK.

The closing date for applications for courses starting in Autumn 2011 is the 30th April, and prospective postgraduate students interested in applying for the award are being encouraged to submit their applications.

In addition to the above factors, the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust has identified three topic areas of interest for eligible students:

• Sustainable agriculture

• Climate change and agriculture

• International agricultural development

Commenting on the Centenary Award, Sir Donald Curry, NFU Mutual Chairman, said: As the leading rural insurer, with its history interwoven in farming, NFU Mutual understands the challenges facing the agricultural industry such as bio-diversity, climate change, food security, and international agricultural development.

He added: We want our Centenary Award to benefit agricultural education and research, and help encourage a vibrant and sustainable farming industry.

Prospective postgraduate students who think they may be eligible to apply for the award should contact centenary_award@nfumutual.co.uk to request further details and an application form.

About the Charitable Trust Centenary Award

• Launched in 1998, the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust supports exclusively charitable causes in the areas of agriculture, rural development and insurance in the UK. It is entirely funded by NFU Mutual.

• The Centenary Award was launched in 2010 to celebrate NFU Mutuals 100th birthday.

• NFU Mutual donated 250,000 to fund the project, and last year five students from across the UK were the first to benefit from the bursary payments.

• The closing date refers to applications for courses starting in Autumn 2011

About NFU Mutual:

NFU Mutual offers a wide range of products, including general insurance, life, pensions and investments. These products and services are delivered through the agency network, as well as through a direct sales and service centre.

With over 300 offices located in rural towns and villages throughout the UK, NFU Mutual has become part of the fabric of rural life and remains committed to serving the needs of people who visit, live or work in the countryside.

NFU Mutual is The National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Limited (No. 111982). Registered in England. Registered Office: Tiddington Road, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 7BJ. A member of the Association of British Insurers.