DSUS Bursaries - Catherine Beattie's Story

The Army offers a range of financial support packages, bursaries and scholarships to selected officer candidates during further and higher education.

Catherine knew she wanted to join the Army after starting the Army Cadet Force at 14 years old, but her parents wanted her to experience university first. So she did her research and during her second year studying for her Mechanical Engineering degree at university, she applied for the DSUS bursary and was successful. Hear how the bursary has benefited her and what she plans to do next.

WHAT IS A DSUS BURSARY?

The Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship (DSUS) scheme offers an opportunity for STEM Undergraduates interested in a future in the Army as Engineers or Technical Officers to gain financial support. Successful applicants will be sponsored through 3 years of university study.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO JOIN THE ARMY?

I joined the Army Cadet Force when I was 14 and really enjoyed the environment that it offered. I progressed up in the Cadets and found that I enjoyed helping people and teaching them — I thought the Army would offer me the same environment to be around people with similar mindsets and interests.

WHAT IS YOUR PRIMARY ROLE?

Currently I am a Platoon Commander in the MOD B Company at an Officer Training Corps. After completing MOD B last year and Commissioning Course Short in the summer, I was able to come back and help teach the syllabus. This means I am responsible for almost 30 officer cadets and helping them understand things such as the combat estimate and how to be an effective Platoon Commander. On top of this I am also guiding my platoon through the application process and helping with any Main Board prep they need to do.

ONE WORD OR PHRASE TO DESCRIBE YOUR TIME OR EXPERIENCE IN THE ARMY SO FAR?

One phrase that I would use to describe my time within the Army so far would be ‘Incredible Opportunities’.

WHICH BURSARY DID YOU APPLY FOR AND WHY?

Whilst I was in my second year of university, I applied for the DSUS bursary and was fortunate to be granted it. After studying Mechanical Engineering for a year at the University of Nottingham I knew that joining one of the technical capbadges was for me. Since I was already an undergraduate bursar, I knew about the opportunity to apply for further bursaries.

HOW DID YOU FIND OUT WHICH BURSARY WAS RIGHT FOR YOU?

I was really enjoying learning about engineering and after doing more research and talking to REME officers, I thought that a technical corps would be for me.

HOW WAS THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE BURSARY?

It was a relatively smooth process; I had help from my previous Platoon Commander in writing out a personal statement and worked with my Commanding Officer to provide a reference.

HOW DID THE BURSARY BENEFIT YOU?

The DSUS bursary allowed me to put some money aside to participate in Adventurous Training and save up to travel in my gap year. I was able to gain my Ski Foundation 1 in April on the Unit’s ski trip, as well as gain my Kayak Foundation and Quality Mountain Days on an AT trip I organised in Scotland. I plan to use some more of the funds to travel around Australia and East Asia in 2024, exploring the world and different cultures.

Further to this, it has also put me in contact with units and encouraged me to plan visits. Alongside another officer at my unit, we are planning a visit to the REME Regimental Headquarters in Lyneham this December. Because of the bursary, I have been given these opportunities to explore units, make connections with those within the capbadge; giving me more exposure to what each capbadge offers. I am looking forward to exploring the officer roles that the REME offer in the near future.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO FUTURE OFFICERS WHO ARE LOOKING AT JOINING ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY SANDHURST (RMAS) AND THE DIFFERENT BURSARY OPTIONS AVAILABLE?

The advice I would give to future officers would be to be as much of a “sponge” as possible. There is a common trend within potential officers that they think they have to be the loudest voice in the room, or the ones who already know everything. In my opinion, the best officers are the ones who listen as much as possible and absorb all the knowledge they can, imparting it back onto their troops.

For those who are looking to apply for bursaries, I would say to try and do as much research as possible – participate in unit visits and get in contact with those within the regiments/corps they are looking to join. Gain as much of an understanding as possible, be as open as you can to learning new things and listening to all the advice those within the unit can offer.

WHO INSPIRED YOU TO JOIN THE ARMY AS AN OFFICER AND LOOK INTO THE BURSARY ROUTE?

When I was 14, I joined the Army Cadet Force (ACF) as a quiet and reserved young girl, who didn’t say a word on her first night. The ACF helped me to come out of my shell and grow into the confident person I am today. I seemed to thrive in an environment that encourages people to grow and work on different attributes that help them to become better leaders. Through the encouragement of my ACF’s Unit Officer, I started to research what a career in the Army would look like.

Discussing the option of joining the Army with my parents, we decided that the best route for me would be to join after going to university and gaining some more life experience. After this discussion I researched some more and discovered the undergraduate bursary. Despite the fact I had some previous experience of an Army environment with the ACF, I went to Main Board with the mindset of trying to absorb as much information as I possibly could to become a better leader, not with the mindset of passing. I didn’t really think I would have been the ideal candidate for the bursary, but I was eager to continue on to Sandhurst at some point in my life; hence the mindset of learning as much as possible. The bursary enabled me to continue learning whilst being at university, constantly making me a better leader.