AI and Data Science Scholarships

Level of study
Postgraduate taught masters
Subject area
Computer Science, Biological Sciences, Medicine and Medical Sciences, Business
Nationality
UK
Type of Award
University
Deadline for applying
Closes 07/02/2025

Award Description

The University of Birmingham is offering AI and Data Science Scholarships in 2024/25 for nine Masters programmes to support under-represented students in the UK's AI and Data Science workforce.

This will include over 100 students from under-represented groups, particularly women, Black and disabled students and those from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, who will each be supported by a £10,000 scholarship.

Scholarship funding will be prioritised for women, Black students, disabled students and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, to ensure that AI reflects the makeup of our society. Funding is intended only for those under-represented students who meet the eligibility criteria outlined below.

Value of Award

Over 100 awards of £10,000 per award.

Eligibility Criteria

You must have either an unconditional or conditional offer for a place on one of the following University of Birmingham courses:

  • MSc AI and Sustainable Development
  • MSc AI and Government
  • MSc Bioinformatics
  • MSc Bioinformatics (Online) - October 2024 entry or March 2025 entry
  • MSc Computer Science
  • MSc Data Science
  • MSc Health Data Science
  • MSc Financial Technology
  • MSc Cognitive Neuroimaging and Data Science

Additionally, applicants will need to demonstrate that they are categorised under at least one of the 9 under-represented groups as identified by the Office for Student (OfS).

Applications for scholarships will initially be reviewed using a points-based system. Priority for these awards will be given to applicants in the following categories:

  1. Black students (as defined by HESA codes: 21; 22; 29; 41; 42)
  2. Female students
  3. Disabled students
  4. Students from low participation neighbourhoo (POLAR Q1 and Q2)

Consideration will also be given to applicants who meet other underrepresented criteria in the following secondary categories:

  1. Care experienced students
  2. Estranged students
  3. Gypsy, Roma, Traveller students
  4. Refugees
  5. Children from military families, veterans and partners of military personnel.

All applications will be assessed and priority will be given to criteria 1-4. Applicants who do not meet any of the criteria above will not be considered for a scholarship.

Judging criteria:

The awards will be allocated on the basis of merit – simply meeting the eligibility criteria will not guarantee that an application is successful. We will adopt a gathered field approach where decisions on the allocation of all 100+ awards will be considered by a single scholarship selection panel.

Selection will be determined by a University scholarship panel based on the following criteria:

  • Under-represented group score - All applications will be assessed using a points-based system and priority scoring will be given to criteria
  • Student motivation - The panel will consider the student’s interest in the subject, ability to demonstrate that their background has sufficiently prepared them for the programme, relevant experience and how the course will fit into their future plans

Prioritising criteria in case of oversubscription:

All applications will be assessed and priority scoring will be given to criteria 1-4. Scoring will prioritise:

  • Black students based on the rationale that they are just 5% of new Postgraduate taught entrants in 21/22 within University of Birmingham and under-represented in highly skilled employment. 426 new entrants in 22/23. Largest distinction attainment gap of all ethnicities of 23.4% in 20/21. Lower non-completion rate than White or Mixed individuals
  • Female students based on the rationale that they are under-represented in the tech sector although females are still the majority of new PGT entrants within the student body at University of Birmingham
  • Disabled students based on the rationale that they are the 2nd most underrepresented group within University of Birmingham with 501 new entrants in 22/23 and under-represented in highly skilled employment.

How to Apply

To be considered for an award, applicants must, by the deadline, have done both of the following:

  1. Made an application to their intended Masters programme. Please apply through the relevant programme page on the Course finder section of the University of Birmingham website. This must include all of the relevant supporting documentation: references, transcripts if available, and English language certification if applicable
  2. Completed the AI and Data Science Scholarships application form. You should enter the application ID number that you were given during the application to your Masters programme.

The deadline for scholarship applications for all September and October programmes is midnight on 31 August 2024. However, the deadline for MSc Bioinformatics (Online - March 2025) scholarship applications is 23:59 (UK time) on Friday 7 February 2025.

For further details on the scholarship, visit our dedicated webpage: www.birmingham.ac.uk/data-ai-scholarship.

Website
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/taught/fees-funding/ofs-scholarship