Scholarships, grants and bursaries
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 through scholarships, bursaries and other awards.
Scholarships
For a comprehensive list of all the awards on offer at the University please consult the undergraduate or postgraduate funding databases. You can filter your search to pull up scholarships which you may be eligible to apply for. Application processes and eligibility will vary between opportunities. Please read each entry carefully and reach out to the advertised contact at the bottom of each scholarship page if you have any queries.
Some of the scholarships we offer for undergraduate students include:
Music scholarships
In recognition of the role that music plays within the University, we offer several Music Scholarships each year. Offering approximately 17 hours of musical tuition per year for three years (total equivalent cash value of £3,000), these scholarships are open to prospective students who are performing at a Grade 8 standard in an instrument or vocals and have an offer of a place on a full-time undergraduate programme (other than a programme offered by the Department of Music) at the University.
Sports scholarships
University of Birmingham Sport & Fitness offers sports scholarships each year to high-achieving performers from any academic department and of any nationality. Scholarship support could consist of facility membership, strength and conditioning work, sports science and medicine services (including physiotherapy), lifestyle workshops and help with sports-specific expenditure.
Bursaries
At Birmingham we believe that financial worries should not be a barrier to accessing higher education. If you are a UK student joining the University in September 2024 to undertake your first undergraduate degree then you may be eligible for additional financial support in the form of a Chamberlain Award.
The Chamberlain Award for 2024 entry is available to new applicants belonging to one of the following groups:
- If your household income is below £25,000
- If you complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme and your household income is below £60,000
- If your household income is below £60,000 and you are resident in a Low Progression Neighbourhood (defined as a POLAR4 quintile 1 area) when applying to study at Birmingham, as recorded on your UCAS application (as your home address).
If you are a continuing student who joined the University before the 2024/25 academic year, please see the Chamberlain Award information for current students page. New students starting in 2025/26 should expect updated Chamberlain Award information to be released in early 2025.
Support for care leavers
At the University of Birmingham, we offer the highest quality academic experience within a supportive environment. But if you are leaving care to come to university we believe that you deserve a little extra support to help you make the right choices, and get the financial help and assistance you’re entitled to. You can then settle in quickly, focus on your studies and enjoy your student experience.
The Enhanced Chamberlain Award is available to help you fund your accommodation. If you choose to live in University-owned halls, the award will cover a contribution of your accommodation cost up to a maximum of £9,395 for 2024/25 (the figure for 2025/26 will be confirmed in early 2025). If you choose to live elsewhere, you can receive this award as a £3,000 cash bursary. Please note that care leavers who have subsequently been adopted would not normally be eligible for this award.
We also offer the Care Leaver Scholarship, a cash bursary of £2,000 per academic year and £500 on graduation after completing your programme. A minimum of two scholarships are awarded each year.
Pathways to Birmingham
Students who complete a Pathways to Birmingham programme and apply to Birmingham will receive special consideration from admissions tutors. If their application is successful, they will receive two offers from the University: the standard offer and an alternative offer. The alternative offer is at least two grades below the standard offer, as advertised in the prospectus. Students may also be eligible to receive Pathways to Birmingham financial support.