Birkbeck Scholarships 2025–26: Access to Postgraduate Study & Foundation Year Success Bursaries

1. Access to Postgraduate Study Scholarship 2025–26

Birkbeck’s Access to Postgraduate Study Scholarship is designed to support students facing financial, social, or structural barriers to postgraduate education. Funded by Birkbeck alumni and supporters, this scholarship offers £3,000 toward tuition fees for eligible students enrolling in a master’s program for the 2025–26 academic year.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be accepted onto a Birkbeck master’s degree starting in 2025–26.

• Have made arrangements to fund the remainder of their studies.

• Not already hold a master’s degree from a UK institution.

Additionally, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Declared disability

• Care leaver (under 25, with at least 3 months in public care)

• Black, Asian, or minority ethnic background

• Single parent

• Carer (unpaid support to someone with frailty, illness, or disability)

• Refugee status

Preference may be given to those returning to study after three or more years out of formal education.

Scholarship Value and Terms

• Non-repayable grant of £3,000, applied directly toward tuition.

• Paid in equal instalments for part-time students over the duration of study.

• Does not cover repeated years or modules.

Applicants will be assessed by faculty panels, and successful recipients must be fully enrolled and agree to share their Birkbeck journey for donor-related communications.

Important Dates

• Deadline to Apply: July 29, 2025

• Decisions Announced By: September 17, 2025

2. Foundation Year Success Bursary 2025–26

The Foundation Year Success Bursary is intended to help students transition from their Foundation Year to undergraduate study by alleviating financial constraints and recognizing academic potential.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Have completed a Foundation Year at Birkbeck.

• Be progressing to the first year of an undergraduate degree at Birkbeck in 2025–26.

• Be classified as a Home fee-paying student.

Applicants may apply before enrolling, but awards will only be disbursed after full enrolment is confirmed by October 17, 2025.

Bursary Value and Terms

• £3,000 cash grant paid during the first undergraduate year.

• Paid across the first two years for part-time students.

• Funding is conditional upon full enrolment and active course participation.

Like the postgraduate scholarship, recipients will be invited to share their student stories in donor communications and possibly attend donor engagement events.

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: September 29, 2025

• Decision Notification: September 22, 2025

How to Apply

Applications for both scholarships are now open:

• For the Access to Postgraduate Study Scholarship, complete the online application form by July 29, 2025.

• For the Foundation Year Success Bursary, submit the application by September 29, 2025.

For more opportunities, visit opportunitiesforyouth.org.