The Birmingham Grant offers additional support to home undergraduate students from lower-income backgrounds who meet the University's eligibility criteria. You will automatically receive the Grant if you are a new full-time undergraduate, are eligible to pay full tuition fees, are classed as a UK-domiciled student, have applied for a Maintenance Grant and have successfully achieved a place at the University. Learn more about the Grant.
The Birmingham Scholarship recognises the achievement of students from lower-income backgrounds who perform extremely well in their A levels (or equivalent entrance qualifications). The scholarship is available to students who meet the criteria for the award of a Birmingham Grant and, in addition, achieve a minimum of AAB at A level, more than 34 points in the IB, or DDD in BTEC. Other examinations may be considered.
Please note: The award of a scholarship is not based on UCAS tariff points. Re-marks for your entrance qualifications will be considered but re-sits will not. Learn more about the Birmingham Scholarship.
There is no application form for the Birmingham Grant or Scholarship; however you must have applied for a Maintenance Grant from the Student Loans Company AND given consent for your information to be shared with the University.
If you qualify you will be notified of your award in writing by the University, usually at the start of term.
Students doing a Graduate Entry course (eg PGCE, Law or Medicine), those on NHS funded courses and those who already have a degree will not be eligible for the Scholarship, but depending on their financial circumstances and course may be eligible for the Grant. Access Course applicants will also not be eligible to receive a Birmingham Scholarship.
Payment will be in two instalments, the first in late January and the second in early May. Payment will be made directly into your bank account.
You will receive your award for each academic year of study provided you progress normally.
If you need to repeat a year then your award will be frozen and recommence once you progress into the next year.
If you withdraw from your course you will no longer be entitled to your award(s) and payments will cease.
The University reserves the right to demand the full or part repayment. Please refer to the terms and conditions of the Birmingham Grant and Scholarship for further information.
Family income will be assessed each year (ie when you apply for support from your Local Authority), so there will be no "in year" changes. However, if your circumstances do change and you become eligible for a Grant (and thus a Scholarship), you will be entitled to receive the Grant (and possibly the Scholarship) from the start of the academic year after the assessment and for each subsequent year.
The award is paid by the Student Loans Company directly into your nominated bank account. If your bank details change you will therefore need to notify the Student Loans Company and NOT the University.
Payment of the Birmingham Grant or Birmingham Scholarship is based on an electronic process that matches a students name and course details held by the Student Loans Company (SLC) with that held by the University.
Please can you check that both your name, date of birth and course details on the notification of payment letter (the letter that told you how much money to expect) exactly match the details on your student registration card. If they do not this is the reason why you have not received your payment.
