The University of Bath and The Cowrie Scholarship Foundation will be supporting a student of Black African or Caribbean heritage throughout their undergraduate study.

As a Cowrie Scholar at The University of Bath, your tuition fees will be covered and you will receive a contribution towards living costs of £8,000 per year (excluding paid placement years).

You will also benefit from an extensive mentorship programme consisting of:

• support from at least two personal Cowrie Scholarship Foundation mentors who will work with you during your degree programme
• workshops with partner companies
• work shadow activities
• training
• skills development
• annual conference

Cowrie scholars are expected to actively participate and input in these activities.

We will make payments at the same time as payments made by Student Finance England (or equivalent student loans awarding agency). You will receive three equal instalments in September, January and April each year.

To be considered you must meet all of the following:

• be of Black African; Black Caribbean; Black Other; Mixed – White and Black Caribbean; Mixed – White and Black African; or Other mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or Black Other) heritage
• be an eligible new first-year Home UK¹ undergraduate student starting studies in 2022/3
• be registered on a full-time undergraduate degree course
• be eligible for and have a UK student loans household income assessment of £25,000 or below²

You must also meet one or more of the following criteria:

• your home address is in an area where there is a low participation of young people progressing into higher education
  
• your home address is considered to be in an area of general disadvantage according to Indices of Multiple Deprivation
• you or your family receive a state means-tested benefit
• you have an Access to HE Diploma
• you are a care leaver
• you are irreconcilably estranged from your parents or guardians
• you are a Young Carer
• you are a refugee or asylum seeker

If you are successful in receiving the Cowrie Foundation Scholarship, you will not be eligible for the Bath Bursary or Gold Scholarship Programme award. If you are unsuccessful in receiving the Cowrie Foundation Scholarship, you will be considered for the Gold Scholarship Programme award if you have applied.

Application timeline

• mid-February onwards: All 2022 entry offer-holders sent information about scholarships and bursaries
• may onwards: Firm and insurance offer-holders for 2022 entry will be emailed information on how to apply
• 5 September 2022: Applications close for the Cowrie Foundation Scholarship
• 9 September 2022: Notification of the Cowrie Foundation Scholarship award outcomes will be emailed

Application process

New first year undergraduates who are due to start studies in 2022 will be invited to apply for the Cowrie Foundation Scholarship through your University of Bath Application Tracker. You will be required to provide a supporting statement. You will be invited, by email, to do this from mid May 2022, if you have made us your Firm or Insurance choice via UCAS.

Make sure you have given permission for your/your family's household income assessment to be shared with the University by your student loans awarding agency. This is needed so we can assess your eligibility for our funding awards.

See our scholarships and bursaries web pages for information about other funding opportunities.

If you are a current student experiencing financial hardship you can speak to Student Money Advice who will be able to offer you helpful information and advice.