AI and Data Science Masters Scholarships

£10,000 scholarships available for 2024 entry - over 100 available

We are offering AI and Data Science Masters Scholarships in 2024-2025 for nine Masters programmes to upskill students from under-represented backgrounds to progress into the 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.

Who can apply?

The award is part of £8.1 million funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Office for Artificial Intelligence to encourage more women, Black students, disabled students, and students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds to study artificial intelligence (AI) and data science postgraduate programmes (see Eligibility criteria below for full details).

  • Students must have a UK nationality or residence status.
  • Students must have already submitted a study application for a place on one of the above eligible courses at the University of Birmingham before applying for this scholarship. If you apply to the scholarship without submitting a study application for one of the above eligible courses, your scholarship application will be void.

Please note: the application for the AI and Data Science Scholarship is separate to the study application for your intended course above; you will need to submit a study application via the course's online application portal. It is recommended that you submit your study application before applying to the scholarship; if you do not submit a study application to your intended MSc course, your scholarship application will not be considered.

What are the deadlines?

Applications for MSc Bioinformatics (Online) March 2025 cohort are open until 23:59 (UK time) on Friday 7 February 2025. Applications for all other courses closed on Saturday 31 August 2024.

Due to the high volume of applications, previous application deadlines were as follows:

  • The deadline for round one application closed 23:59 (UK time) on Sunday 31 March 2024.
  • The deadline for round two applications closed 23:59 (UK time) on Sunday 30 June 2024.
  • The deadline for round three applications closed 23:59 (UK time) on Saturday 31 August 2024.

If you are unsuccessful in one round, your application will automatically be carried over to the next round: you do not need to re-apply.

Due to the high volume of applications, the University reserves the right to close the scholarship scheme early, meaning that any successive round(s) after the first round of applications may not be executed, despite any initial plans of operating multiple rounds, if all scholarships are allocated to successful applicants.

Mathematics for Data Science Pre-Sessional Bootcamp

To accompany the support offered to the under-represented groups that this scholarship will benefit, the University of Birmingham is proud to be offering a Mathematics Pre-sessional Bootcamp to all Home and International students that wish to study on one of the nine above courses. This pre-sessional will enhance the accessibility of our courses by providing students with confidence in their mathematical ability that is essential for Masters study.

The bootcamp will take place online between Tuesday 27 August until Friday 20 September 2024. The course has designed to be flexible in study, meaning that travel to Birmingham is optional. The course will be structured self-guided learning with tutorial sessions with academic supervisors being offered both online and in-person.

FAQ's

Eligibility and selection criteria

The AI and Data Science Masters Scholarships will be awarded to more than 110 candidates beginning Masters study in 2024.

Eligibility

In addition to having applied for a place for a University of Birmingham Data Science or AI related Masters course, 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 Students (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 socioeconomic background (Index of Multiple Disadvantage quintiles 1 and 2, low household income)

They may also be available to:

  • Care experienced students
  • Estranged students
  • Gypsy, Roma, Traveller students
  • Refugees
  • Children from military families, veterans and partners of military personnel.

Applicants who do not meet any of the criteria above will not be considered for a scholarship.

Students must be self-funding or applying for a UK Postgraduate Government Loan to pay your fees and not in receipt of any other financial support including but not limited to scholarships, awards, bursaries, sponsorship or any other funding.

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:

  • Underrepresented group score - All applications will be assessed using a points-based system and priority scoring will be given to criteria 
  • Aptitude and skills - Scholarships will consider performance in an aptitude test. Learners will be ranked by the Scholarship Panel based on performance in our on-line aptitude test.
  • 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 1-3.

Scoring will prioritise:

  • Students identified as within two or more under-represented groups.
  • Black students based on the rationale that they are just 5% of new Postgraduate taught entrants in 21/22 within University of Birmingham and underrepresented 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 underrepresented 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 underrepresented in highly skilled employment.

Please view our website for the full terms and conditions of the scholarship.

Detailed Eligibility criteria

 

1

21 - Black or Black British - Caribbean

22 - Black or Black British - African

29 - Other Black background

41 - Mixed - White and Black Caribbean

42 - Mixed - White and Black African

 

In line with the HESA student ethnicity codes 2018/19

2

Female

Applicants who are ‘female or identify as female’ gender.

3

Disabled

You are disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. ‘Substantial’ is more than minor or trivial, e.g. it takes much longer than it usually would to complete a daily task like getting dressed. ‘Long-term’ means 12 months or more, e.g. a breathing condition that develops as a result of a lung infection. There are special rules about recurring or fluctuating conditions, e.g. arthritis.

4a

Student from postcode areas Q1 & Q2

Postcodes classified as ‘POLAR 4, Quintile 1 and 2’ by Office for Students (OfS)- ‘those wards with the lowest participation for entering Higher Education’.

Check to see if your area is in quintile 1 or 2 (Q1 or Q2)

4b

Parental occupation

Respondents self-code to the three-class version of NS-SEC. As follows:

NS-SEC three-class version

SMC classification of SEB

Higher managerial, administrative and professional occupations

Professional background or higher socio-economic background

Intermediate occupations

Intermediate background

Routine and manual occupations

Working class background or lower socio-economic background

4c

Type of school attended

Type of secondary school the individual attended. Someone who attends a ‘state-run or state-funded school’ or ‘independent or fee-paying school’ who receive a bursary covering 90% or more of their tuition.

4d

Free school meal eligiblity

Free school meal eligibility

4e

Highest parental qualification

The highest qualification of their parent/ guardian/ carer

5

Care experienced

A care experienced person is someone who has spent time in care during their childhood.

6

Estranged

An irreconcilably estranged person is someone who has not had any verbal or written contact with their parents for a significant period of time, and this is unlikely to change. This can include your biological or adoptive parents, or your only living parent. A significant period of time is usually considered to be twelve months or longer, but this can also depend on your circumstances.

7

Gypsy, Roma, Traveller

The term Gypsy, Roma and Traveller encompasses a wide range of individuals who may be defined in relation to their ethnicity, heritage, way of life and how they self-identify. This may include:

  • English or Welsh Romany Gypsies
  • European Roma
  • Irish Travellers
  • Scottish Gypsy Travellers
  • show people such as people linked with fairground or circus professions
  • people living on barges or other boats
  • people living in settled (bricks and mortar) accommodation
  • New Age Travellers

8

Refugee

The definition of a Refugee as defined on the UKCISA website is: (a) you must be ordinarily resident in England on the first day of the first academic year of your course; and (b) you must:

  • have been recognised as a refugee by the UK Government and have remained ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands since then;
  • Or be the spouse/ civil partner of such a refugee and have been in that relationship on the date on which he/she made his/her application for asylum;
  • Or be the child of such a refugee, or the child of such a refugee's spouse / civil partner, and be able to show that on the date that refugee made his/her application for asylum, you were: under 18 years of age; and the refugee was your parent, or your parent's spouse / civil partner

9

Child from UK Military family, veterans or partner of UK Military personnel

From a military family, where immediate family member (partner, child, sibling) is or was part of the UK military/ military personnel/a veteran.

How do I apply for the AI and Data Science Scholarship?

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

You should enter the application ID number that you were given during the application to your Masters programme.

For all programmes that commence from September 2024 onwards, the awards will be allocated in three rounds:

  • The deadline for round one applications closed 23:59 (UK time) on Sunday 31 March 2024.
  • The deadline for round two applications closed 23:59 (UK time) on Sunday 30 June 2024.
  • The deadline for round three applications closed 23:59 (UK time) on Saturday 31 August 2024.

In addition to the above deadlines, scholarship applications for the March 2025 intake of MSc Bioinformatics (Online) will have a deadline of 23:59 (UK time) on Friday 7 February 2025.

If you are unsuccessful in one round, your application will automatically be carried over to the next round: you do not need to re-apply.

Due to the high volume of applications, the University reserves the right to close the scholarship scheme early, meaning that any successive round(s) after the first round of applications may not be executed, despite any initial plans of operating multiple rounds, if all scholarships are allocated to successful applicants.

How do I apply for the Mathematics Pre-sessional Bootcamp?

The application for the Mathematics Pre-sessional Bootcamp is separate from the application form for the AI and Data Science Scholarship. You can fill in our short application form for the Maths Pre-sessional Bootcamp using the above button that will redirect you to our dedicated webpage. The Bootcamp will be taking place online between Tuesday 27  August until Friday 20 September 2024.

Unlike the AI and Data Science Scholarship, that is only open to students classified as Home for tuition fee payments, the Maths Pre-sessional Bootcamp is open to both Home and International students. 

You will receive a confirmation email upon completing the Bootcamp application form and further details will be sent closer to the course's start date, Tuesday 27 August 2024.  

What are the scholarship application deadlines?

For all programmes, that commence from September 2024 onwards, the awards will be allocated in three rounds:

  • The deadline for round one applications closed 23:59 (UK time) on Sunday 31 March 2024.
  • The deadline for round two applications closed 23:59 (UK time) on Sunday 30 June 2024.
  • The deadline for round three applications is 23:59 (UK time) on Saturday 31 August 2024.

In addition to the above deadlines, scholarship applications for the March 2025 intake of MSc Bioinformatics (Online) will have a deadline of 23:59 (UK time) on Friday 7 February 2025.

If you are unsuccessful in one round, your application will automatically be carried over to the next round: you do not need to re-apply.

Due to the high volume of applications, the University reserves the right to close the scholarship scheme early, meaning that any successive round(s) after the first round of applications may not be executed, despite any initial plans of operating multiple rounds, if all scholarships are allocated to successful applicants.

What are the terms and conditions of the scholarship?

Including the eligibility criteria, as listed above, you should familiarise yourself with the full terms and conditions of the scholarship before applying for the award. All scholarship offers are made in line with these conditions and any breach of the criteria may result in the scholarship offer being revoked.  

Do I need to submit a study application for my course?

Yes, students must submit an application to study one of the above eligible courses before applying to the scholarship. If you only apply to the scholarship and don't submit a course application, the University will not be able to award you the scholarship; scholarship offers are entirely contingent upon you having an offer to study on one of the above eligible courses.

I am an international student. Am I eligible for scholarship funding?

No. Funding for this scholarship aims to address the skills gap and increase diversity in the UK AI and data science workforce. Therefore, to be eligible for this scholarship's funding students must meet the nationality or residency status criteria to qualify for the postgraduate masters’ loan.

However, international students are able to apply for the online mathematics pre-sessional bootcamp to enhance their confidence in their mathematical skills in preparation for their Masters study.

What does the scholarship cover?

Students who successfully apply for a scholarship will receive a £10,000 cash payment (in two instalments) which can be used to alleviate barriers to entry; for example: the cost of course fees; course materials; cost of living; and associated costs like childcare or transport. It will be awardees' responsibility to ensure that the scholarship is spent appropriately to alleviate such barriers.

I have received an email offering me the scholarship. How do I accept and receive payment?

If you have been successfully offered the scholarship, you will need to complete the acceptance form in your awarding email. Only once you have responded and accepted the scholarship will you receive the award; if you decline or do not respond by the deadline specified in your offer email, your scholarship will be reallocated.

After accepting the scholarship and closer to your course's start date, you will receive an email to input your bank details via unique URL. This will be the nominated bank account that the scholarship will be paid into. Payment will only be processed once you have fully completed online registration; delays in completing online registration will result in the delaying of the scholarship payment. Online registration typically opens in July for students commencing their studies in September.

The scholarship is paid in two £5,000 instalments towards the start of semester one and two, depending upon each course's start date.

Is the scholarship paid to the University or to me?

The scholarship, paid in two instalments towards the start of semester one and two, will be paid directly into the awardee's bank account. Upon being awarded the scholarship, successful awardees will be asked to input their nominated bank account via a unique URL. Once received, the payment of the scholarship typically takes between 5-10 working days, depending upon bank processing times.

The reason the scholarship is paid into awardee's bank account is because the scholarship can be used towards alleviating various barriers to entry and, although this includes tuition fee costs, awardees can decide whether they use the scholarship towards tuition fee payments or not. 

It is the awardee's responsibility to monitor bank payment as notification of payment processing may not be possible.

How do I use the scholarship to pay towards my tuition fees?

Successful awardees are able to spend the £10,000 scholarship to alleviate various barriers to entry that would hinder pursuing further study; this includes tuition fee payments.

Students who accept an offer to study at the University of Birmingham will receive an invoice outlining the tuition fees that they will be liable to pay. Regardless of being awarded the scholarship or not, all students are therefore responsible for ensuring payment of these fees; payment is typically via a single payment or via direct debit (monthly or termly). Tuition fee payments will only be applicable once a student has completed online registration and enrolment.

If you choose to pay your postgraduate tuition fees via direct debit instalments, payments are typically due within the following timeframes:

  • Quarterly/termly instalments are collected on the first working day of November, February, and May

  • Monthly instalments are collected on the first working days of October through May

To be eligible to pay by instalments, you must have a UK bank account that accepts Direct Debits. If you are unsure of the type of account you have please check with your bank or building society.

Although we endeavour to provide the two instalments at the start of semesters one and two, we cannot guarantee that the instalments will be received in advance of any tuition fee payment due dates. You are therefore encouraged to budget appropriately for your tuition fees if you wish to use your scholarship to contribute towards your tuition fee payment(s).

Detailed information and guidance on how to pay your tuition fees can be found on our Funding pages.

When will I hear the outcome of my application?

Applications will be reviewed and marked after their respective deadlines. Successful applicants will be contacted typically within 3-4 weeks after the respective scholarship application deadline has passed. A scholarship offer email will be sent to awardees to accept or decline the scholarship offer; a deadline to respond will be included in this email. Students who are made a reserve will be contacted in due course as soon as any reallocated scholarships become available.

Due to the volume of applications for the scholarship, we are unable to offer individual responses to each application. Although we endeavour to keep you informed of scholarship updates, if you have not been contacted by the timeframes outlined in the above paragraph or by your course's start date, it may be the unfortunate case that your application has unsuccessful.

If I defer my course entry to the next year, can I still receive the scholarship?

No. The scholarship cannot be deferred and it is only tenable for one year. If you choose to defer your studies, you will need to re-apply for the scholarship in the next cycle if available.

Can I hold other scholarships alongside the AI and Data Science Scholarship?

No. As per the terms and conditions of the award, the AI and Data Science Scholarship cannot be held in conjunction with any internal or external funding, such as bursaries, scholarships, fee waivers and more. For example, if you are successfully awarded the AI and Data Science Scholarship, you would not be able to hold the Birmingham Masters Scholarship nor the Postgraduate Progression Award.

However, students can apply for and receive a UK governmental loan as well as the AI and Data Science Scholarship.

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