EMPLOYERS' SCHOLARSHIPS

Applications now open for 2027 entry

Open to undergraduates living in areas of economic and social hardship

Our Employers' Scholarships provide a comprehensive package of financial support if you live in an area of economic and social hardship, and may previously have discounted your possibility of going to university due to financial pressures.

As part of our commitment to widening participation, we firmly believe that financial circumstances should never be a barrier to academic excellence, which is why we are offering a pioneering suite of fully funded Employers' Scholarships for courses starting in September 2027.

We are currently offering 27 full scholarships across all of our undergraduate BA, BEng and BSc courses.

What exactly will you receive if you are awarded an Employers’ Scholarship?

We understand that the cost of university extends far beyond tuition. To provide truly holistic support, our Employers' Scholarships offer an exceptional financial package, including:

Full tuition fee waiver, worth £30,150 across three years
Dedicated living bursary of £1,600 per year
Fully funded accommodation in The Maltings halls of residence, worth £5,628 per year
Kick-Start bursary of up to £800 per year

This package does not have to be paid back and is in addition to our other award-winning support. The scholarship package is designed to empower you to immerse yourself fully in the university experience, from campus life to extracurricular opportunities, without the stress of external financial pressures.

Please note these scholarships are NOT open to international students. If you’re an international student, please see our International Scholarships page for information about scholarships available to you.

Employers’ involvement

Our scholarships are delivered in partnership with employers, giving you valuable industry experience alongside our financial support. If you are awarded a scholarship, you will benefit from industry mentoring, work experience and, where possible, a guaranteed job interview with the partner employer.

Eligibility criteria

There are 27 scholarships available in total:

3 national scholarships are open to students anywhere in the UK.
24 Birmingham scholarships are for students living in specific Birmingham postcodes.

Read full Terms and Conditions

Academic requirements

You must hold an offer for the first year (level 4) of a BA, BEng or BSc degree with UCB starting in September 2027.
You must be in your final year of post-16 education when you apply, for example, year 13 or the final year of your college course.
You must be eligible for home UK fee status. If your fee status is due to change from overseas to home in the near future, you can still apply, but we may need to contact you for additional information.
If you still have overseas fee status by 1 August 2027, you may not be able to benefit from the scholarship offer. You have until 1 September 2027 to obtain home fee status in order to benefit from the financial support as an undergraduate.
You must meet all of the qualification and subject requirements of the course you are applying for, as outlined on the University website (for example be studying the correct A-levels (or equivalent) and have achieved any required GCSEs).
You must have achieved at least five GCSE at grades 9-6 (A*-B) (or equivalent). If these do not include English Language and Maths, you must have achieved at least grade 4 (C) in both of those subjects.

Specific requirements

All applicants must meet at least two of the following criteria (unless you have experience of local authority care, as explained below). Priority will be given to applicants who meet multiple criteria.

You have been in receipt of, or have within the last six years, been eligible for, free school meals.
You are the first generation of your family to attend university (not including siblings).
You are currently attending UCB's Sixth Form or UCB College.
You have experienced significant extenuating circumstances that have had (or are having) a detrimental effect on academic attainment. Examples include being a young carer, experiencing a long-term illness requiring time out of education, having a disability or a specific learning difficulty.
Your household income is £35,000 or below.

If either of the following statements apply to you, your application will be prioritised:

You have spent time in local authority care.
You currently live in a foyer or other supported accommodation.

Eligible postcodes and wards

Postcode district	Ward
B10	Hodge Hill
B11	Hall Green
B12	Hall Green
B14	Selly Oak
B18	Ladywood
B19	Ladywood
B2	Ladywood
B20	Perry Barr
B21	Ladywood / Perry Barr
B23	Erdington
B24	Erdington
B25	Yardley
B26	Yardley
B31	Northfield
B32	Northfield
B33	Hodge Hill / Yardley
B36	Hodge Hill / Meriden
B6	Ladywood
B7	Ladywood
B8	Hodge Hill
B9	Hodge Hill

"Our ultimate goal is to empower students from disadvantaged backgrounds to not only enter university, but to thrive and succeed within it. By offering these scholarships, we are levelling the playing field and allowing our scholars to compete with their peers on equal terms. They are designed to foster confidence, academic success and professional readiness, ensuring graduates leave us ready to lead, innovate and make a lasting impact on the world."

Professor Michael Harkin University College Birmingham Vice-Chancellor and Principal

How to apply

Before applying for an Employers' Scholarship, you must have applied for a course at UCB and received an offer. Once you have your offer, please complete the application form below.

You will not be able to submit the form unless you have an offer, as you will need your student ID number.

As part of the initial application process, you will need to demonstrate your commitment to your chosen course and explain how the scholarship would make a meaningful difference to your ambitions.
The deadline for applications is 1 July 2027. If you are shortlisted, we will invite you to a selection interview during week commencing 12 July 2027. Successful applicants will be selected and informed of the outcome by 31 July 2027.
If you are awarded a scholarship, you will be expected to meet ongoing criteria throughout your studies, including maintaining good attendance and meeting academic performance standards.

If you need help with writing your application, here is some guidance to support you. If you have any questions about our scholarships, please email a.aganovic@ucb.ac.uk.

Apply now