Newlyweds beat 1 in 10k odds for scholarship

A married couple beat 1 in 10,000 odds to both be awarded a competitive university scholarship.

Maria Aguillon and Santiago Muriel discovered they had earned the University of Bristol’s Think Big scholarship just days after they tied the knot in their native Mexico.

Only 1% of applicants receive the funding, so there was 1 in 10,000 chance they would both get it.

Ms Aguillon, who is studying for a master’s in education, said: “We were on a date in the centre of Mexico City, celebrating being married and suddenly we got the email. We were very excited.”

“I think it was a game changer to study abroad with someone that believes in you and also inspires you – he inspires me by being who he is, but also by the way he looks at me and encourages me,” she added.

They said they are “loving” studying at the university and particularly enjoy taking long walks through the city’s streets.

Mr Muriel said: “We are sharing this experience in another country and another culture, but at the end of the day, we are together, and for me that is everything.”

The couple grew up around 200 miles from each other. They met in Mexico City in 2019 and fell in love over a shared desire to improve the world.

The Think Big scholarship was introduced in 2017 and has since supported more than 1,000 students from around the world.

This year, funding for the scholarship has doubled to £6m.

Ms Aguillon added: “All our family were very proud that we got the scholarships because they knew the amount of effort we put in.”