Blackbullion’s National Scholarships Week (NSW) is back for a second year from 15-19 April. The week is supported by the Office for Students (OfS), who recognise the importance of our work in this area.
Here’s some information about National Scholarships Week 2024, why we do it, and information about the hundreds of thousands of pounds in new funding that businesses are launching for university students during the week for you to share with your students – to help put more money in their pockets.
Why we created National Scholarships Week
Since its inception, National Scholarships Week has been about exploring the role that scholarships can play in closing the gap between what students have and need financially.
During the week, we get leaders and stakeholders within businesses and other organisations together to focus on the importance of offering scholarships for students.
Why? Because our Student Money & Wellbeing 2024 research found that students need £621 extra a month on average to feel confident they’ll be able to complete their degree. For students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, these financial shortfalls can be especially devastating and mean they are unable to finish their studies.
Scholarships are a way to help fill this void and often provide career opportunities too.
That’s why we’ve been partnering with businesses and other organisations over the past 18 months, encouraging more and more of them to provide scholarships, bursaries and grants for students.
It’s also why we built the Blackbullion Funding Hub – the UK’s largest hub of scholarships, grants and additional funding for students – so it’s as easy as possible for students to find extra money they may be eligible for.
National Scholarships Week is the annual awareness week that celebrates and highlights this work, with the aim of transforming the perception of scholarships in the UK.
At odds with the more developed scholarship market in the US, our university partners have told us that UK students desperately in need of money sometimes don’t apply for scholarships due to the stigma around being labelled as ‘poor’ – viewing scholarships as ‘handouts’.
Scholarships can make a real difference to students. Our goal is for them to be viewed as something to strive for, encouraging students to see scholarships for what they are: prestigious opportunities to be earned.
New scholarships for your students during National Scholarships Week 2024
In partnership with this year’s National Scholarships Week sponsors, including Nationwide, STACK Infrastructure, FTI Consulting and Chaucer, more than £800,000 of new scholarships will be made live on the Blackbullion Funding Hub during National Scholarship Week 2024.
Here’s everything you need to know, so you can share these new opportunities with your students.
G-Research Technology Scholarship
- Award: £3,600
- Number of scholarships available: 1
Accu, who provides precision engineering components to over 50% of the world’s top manufacturers, has created this scholarship to help students fund their engineering degrees and deepen their knowledge.
Applicants must be:
- Studying Computer Science, Software Engineering or a related undergraduate degree
- Paying domestic UK tuition fees
- From an underrepresented community in tech
Share with your students here.
Ocean Winds Scholarships
- Award: Up to £8,000
- Number of scholarships available: 6
Ocean Winds, the global leader in the development and operation of offshore wind farms, has created six scholarships to support students hoping to make an impact in the offshore wind industry.
Applicants must be:
- Completing, or have already completed, secondary education at a state school or college in Moray, Aberdeenshire or Highland, Scotland
- Studying a STEM or other offshore wind sector-related subject
- A resident in Moray, Aberdeenshire or Highland when not studying
Share with your students here.
London Connection Scholarship
- Award: £3,000
- Number of scholarships available: 1
Matrix, a leading provider of workforce management solutions, wants to serve the local community where so much of their work takes place with this scholarship.
Applicants must be:
- Entering the final year of an undergraduate degree relevant to Matrix, which includes Accounting, Economics and Computing
- From one of the 32 London boroughs
- Eligible for UK domestic fees
Share with your students here.
Postgraduate AI and Data Science Scholarship
- Award: £10,000
- Number of scholarships available: Up to 818
The Office for Students aims to ensure that students from every background can access and experience a high-quality higher education that enriches their lives and careers.
Applicants must be:
- Eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan
- A member of one of the following groups to be prioritised for funding (students from other groups may also be considered): women, black students, disabled students, students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds
- A student at a participating university (each university may include additional eligibility requirements)
Share with your students here.
G-Research PhD Scholarship
- Award: £2,300
- Number of scholarships available: 3
As with their undergraduate Technology Scholarship, this scholarship is to support students interested in pursuing a career in quantitative finance.
Applicants must be:
- Entering the first or second year of their PhD
- Studying a subject related to Maths, Physics, Computer Science, Machine Learning or a related field
- From a historically underrepresented group within finance
Share with your students here.
Ultrafabrics
- Award: £3,000
- Number of scholarships available: 1
This scholarship is for undergraduate students in the 2nd year of a design-based undergraduate course.
Applicants must be:
- In their second year of a design-based undergraduate course
- With an interest and understanding of sustainable innovations
- Open to all fields of design, but textile design courses are preferred
Share with your students here.
More info
Here’s a full list of every scholarship available during the week (including for applicants) with more details on each.
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