Undergraduate scholarships and prizes

At Birmingham we ensure that fears about finance do not constrain prospective students from considering university and that excellence is rewarded. The University offers a range of additional financial support for students studying at Birmingham in the form of bursaries, grants and scholarships.

Scholarships listed below are for 2025 entry.

Mathematics Scholarships (open to UK students)

The Mathematics Entry Scholarships, for home undergraduate students, enable you to be recognised and rewarded for your excellent academic achievements before arriving as a student at the University of Birmingham. If you have placed one of our courses as a firm choice and achieved at least A*A*A with an A* in Mathematics, you may be eligible for either the George Watson Scholar Award or the Mathematics Excellence Award.

George Watson Scholar Award

The George Watson Scholar Award consists of £1000 bank transfer during year 1 for all students who meet the criteria below.

To be eligible for this award you must:

No application is required, all those who meet the conditions above will be contacted in semester 1 of 2025.

* Conversion from other qualification systems is calculated internally by the university, to enquire about your qualifications, please contact the student recruitment team.

Mathematics Excellence Award

The Mathematics Excellence Award consists of £1500 bank transfer during year 1 for all students who meet the criteria below.

To be eligible for this award you must:

No application is required, all those who meet the conditions above will be contacted in semester 1 of 2025.

* Conversion from other qualification systems is calculated internally by the university, to enquire about your qualifications, please contact the student recruitment team.

International Mathematics Scholarships (open to International students)

These scholarships, for international undergraduate mathematics students, enable you to be recognised and rewarded for your excellent academic achievements before arriving as a student at the University of Birmingham. If you place a mathematics course at Birmingham as firm choice in UCAS you may be eligible for one of two awards, depending on the level of your achievements. For those who are awarded either scholarship in first year, the Achievement Scholarship can be renewed annually, in recognition of your continued success during your studies at Birmingham, subject to the conditions below.

Mathematics International Achievement Scholarship

The Mathematics International Achievement Scholarship consists of £1500 tuition fee discount in each year of your undergraduate degree for all students who meet the criteria below.

To be eligible for this award you must:

  • The Mathematics International Achievement Scholarship cannot be held in the same year as the Mathematics International Excellence Scholarship. The Excellence scholarship takes priority over this award. 

To renew this award in a subsequent year of study you must:

  • Hold Mathematics International Achievement Scholarship or Mathematics International Excellence Scholarship in the previous academic year.
  • Achieve 60% year average at the first attempt in your previous year of study.
  • Renewal will pause for years spent in international study or intercalated study and will restart during your return to study in the School of Mathematics at Birmingham, based on the performance from the year before your year out.

No application is required, all those who meet the conditions above will be contacted in semester 1 of 2025.

Mathematics International Excellence Scholarship

The Mathematics International Excellence Scholarship consists of £2000 tuition fee discount during the first year of your undergraduate degree for all students who meet the criteria below.

To be eligible for this award you must:

Holders of the Mathematics International Excellence Scholarship are eligible for the Mathematics International Achievement award, see details above, in subsequent years of study if you

  • Hold Mathematics International Achievement Scholarship or Mathematics International Excellence Scholarship in the previous academic year.
  • Achieve 60% year average at the first attempt in your previous year of study.
  • Renewal will pause for years spent in international study or intercalated study and will restart during your return to study in the School of Mathematics at Birmingham, based on the performance from the year before your year out.

No application is required, all those who meet the conditions above will be contacted in semester 1 of 2025.

Mathematics Prizes

The School of Mathematics attracts and retains excellent students in Mathematics, but this is not the end point. We recognise that young people change when they move away to University. Therefore the School offers a number of prizes and awards during our programmes to recognise promising and distinguished students.

In addition, the University has in its gift a number of scholarships for second and subsequent year students for which the School can make nominations (in competition with nominees from other Schools in the Science/Engineering group).

Examples of Prizes (subject to change)

The Corbett Prize

Awarded for overall outstanding performance in Mathematics to two graduating third- and fourth-year students (one for each year). Recipients of the Corbett Prize will also receive the IMA prize, consisting of free membership of the IMA for one year.

The Alison Powell Memorial Prize

Awarded for outstanding performance by a graduating student in taught modules related to Data Science, Probability and Statistics.

The Andrew King Prize

Awarded for outstanding performance by a graduating student in taught modules related to Applied Mathematics. The prize is founded in memory of the late Professor Andrew King, who was a Professor in Applied Mathematics.

The Kuttner Prize

Awarded for outstanding performance by a graduating student in taught modules related to Pure Mathematics. The prize is provided from contributions made by friends, colleagues and former students to acknowledge the long and distinguished association with the Department of Pure Mathematics of the late Professor Brian Kuttner, Professor of Mathematical Analysis 1969-1975 and a member of the academic staff from 1932.

The Austin Prize

Awarded for outstanding performance in the MSci Project in Pure Mathematics. The prize was founded in memory of the late W. H. Austin MA, Lecturer in Mathematics.

The Frank Downton Prize

Awarded for outstanding performance in the MSci Project in Data Science, Probability and Statistics. The prize is provided from contributions made by friends, colleagues and former students in memory of Professor Frank Downton, Professor of Statistics 1970-1984, and in recognition of his distinguished service to the University and his many contributions to statistical science.

The James Mann Prize

Awarded for outstanding performance in the MSci Project in Applied Mathematics. James Mann was a gifted undergraduate and postgraduate who died from leukaemia during his PhD studies. This prize is founded in memory of his talent for research, his analytical skills and positive attitude.

The Blackburn Prize

Awarded to up to three students for outstanding performance in their Research Skills in Mathematics projects.

The Mary Lee Berners-Lee Prize

Awarded for outstanding performance in third-year Mathematics for a non-graduating student. The prize is awarded in honour of Mary Lee Berners-Lee, who graduated in Mathematics from the University of Birmingham in 1947 and went on to become a pioneering computer programmer.

The Anton Evseev Prize

Awarded for outstanding performance in second-year Mathematics. The prize is founded in memory of Dr Anton Evseev, who was a talented and dedicated algebraist. Anton was a Lecturer in the School of Mathematics from 2011 to 2017.

The Nora Calderwood Prize

Awarded for outstanding performance in first-year Mathematics. The prize is provided from subscriptions made by past students and colleagues to acknowledge the service to the University of the late Dr Nora Calderwood, Lecturer in the Department of Pure Mathematics from 1920 to 1963.

The Allied Maples Prize in Industrial Mathematics

Awarded to the group with the best project in the 2MI Mathematics in Industry module. The prize is kindly donated by Allied Maples Ltd.

The Mona Hirst Prize

Awarded to the group with the best project in 1MMPS Mathematical Modelling and Problem Solving. The prize is awarded in honour of Mona Hirst who, in 1925, was one of the first students to graduate with a Masters in Mathematics from the University of Birmingham.

The Beth Kelin Prize

Awarded to a student who has faced specific difficulties beyond their control while studying at the University of Birmingham.

Additional scholarships/bursaries

In addition to the statutory support that is available, as a full-time undergraduate you may also be eligible to receive additional scholarships or bursaries, depending on your financial circumstances, previous academic achievement, or the course you are undertaking.

Please see the University scholarships, grants and bursaries page for details of other university-administered scholarships.