When it comes to finding scholarships, grants, and awards, there’s a wealth of awards available. This list is in no way exhaustive, but, it’s a good starting point for your scholarship and grant search!
Scholarship Directories
I’ve used scholarship directories like Scholarship Hub to find scholarships, grants, and funding. These directories are great because they collate scholarships. You can apply filters to find opportunities you might be eligible for, saving you time, too!
University/Organization-Based
If you’re studying in higher education, your place of study may have scholarships or grants. These scholarships may have criteria such as academic merit or financial need. Additionally, there are often scholarships available to support underrepresented groups. Consider checking your university or college website. I was fortunate to study at a university that offered a scholarship for women in engineering. I only found out about this opportunity through the university website. I’ve listed some examples below:
- https://www.kcl.ac.uk/nmes/women-in-science
- https://www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/winning-women-in-technology-j-p-morgan-scholarships/
- https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/eng/undergraduate/scholarships/wie/
- https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/dir-record/scholarships/1788/school-of-food-science-and-nutrition-uk-undergraduate-scholarships
- https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/chemistry/undergraduate/scholarships
Government-Funded Scholarships
If you’re conducting research, you may be eligible for government funding. The UK government allocates funds towards research in specific areas of interest. You can check the government website to learn more about available funding. While I haven’t received government funding, I know it’s a great option for those doing research-based studies.
Industry-Specific Scholarships
Professional Bodies & Industry-Specific Charities. Most fields of study likely have a professional body that governs its standards. These bodies and industry-specific charities offer scholarships and grants. These awards are to support students pursuing careers in their field. Professional bodies often also provide amazing networking opportunities and access to valuable resources.
- https://www.iop.org/about/support-grants
- https://www.theiet.org/impact-society/awards-prizes-and-scholarships/scholarships-and-bursaries
- https://www.lms.ac.uk/grants
Company Scholarships
In some industries, scholarships might awarded to specific companies. Though less common, these may include internships or job opportunities after graduation. This can be a great way to reduce financial stress and allow you to focus on your studies.
- https://www.pwc.co.uk/careers/early-careers/our-programmes/flying-start-degrees/accounting.html
- https://www.aiasfoundation.org/programs/scholarships.asp
Charitable Trusts and Foundations
Many amazing charitable organisations support people through their educational pursuits. Their support is often directed towards underrepresented groups. These are great but can be hard to find!
Tips for Finding Scholarships and Grants
- Explore as many avenues as possible. Use a combination of approaches in your search. Also, reach out to your network, for advice.
- Search often. New scholarships appear throughout the year, so search a few times.
- Be open-minded. Don’t limit yourself to scholarships designed for your subject. Look at scholarships in related areas of your study or interest. For example, I looked beyond engineering scholarships and considered STEM, and tech scholarships. Additionally, because my dissertation focused on sustainability, I explored environmental scholarships as well.
Wishing you all the best in your search.
This article was written by Tosin Sonubi.
