The prestigious First Rand Laurie Dippenaar Scholarship for international postgraduate study is awarded annually to a South African citizen (or permanent resident) for study outside South Africa in any discipline, at an internationally recognised university of his/her choice. Excellence is the only criterion for success. This year the prestigious scholarship was awarded to Ms Ingrid Penzhorn, an alumna of the University of Pretoria (UP).  

Ms Penzhorn commenced her studies at UP in 2001. After studying Human Physiology, Genetics and Psychology, she enrolled for a Bachelor of Medicine (MBChB) in 2003, which she obtained cum laude in 2008. She was the top student in Internal Medicine in her final year at UP’s School of Medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences. 

Her keen interest in mental health and the limited emphasis it enjoys in South Africa, prompted her also to enrol for a Diploma in Mental Health at the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa, which she obtained earlier this year.

Ms Penzhorn says that she has always had an interest in psychopathology and psychiatry, and especially in the genetic aspects thereof. The First Rand Laurie Dippenaar Scholarship will enable her to pursue her studies in this field abroad. She will leave for the United Kingdom shortly to commence her master’s studies in Neuroscience at King's College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience in September.