Scholarships at Solent University

Solent University is one of 30 English universities chosen to share an £8.1 million fund to invest in artificial intelligence (AI) and data science scholarships. The funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Office for Artificial Intelligence (OAI) is being awarded by the Office for Students (OfS) to support the delivery of 22 scholarships to home students (£10,000 each covering the September, January and May intakes) from eligible underrepresented groups, in order to increase diversity.

Scholarship funding will be delivered to eligible students from the following underrepresented groups, with priority being given to the first four groups:

• Women,

• Black students,

• Students registered disabled,

• Students from low socioeconomic backgrounds (Index of Multiple Disadvantage quintiles 1 and 2, low household income - UK students only) You can check if you live in Q1 or Q2 here

• Care experienced students (UK students only) (Please refer to FAQs Q10),

• Estranged students (UK students only) (Please refer to FAQs Q11),

• Gypsy, Roma, Traveller student (resident in the UK),

• Refugees (resident in the UK),

• Children from UK military families, veterans, and partners of UK military personnel.

The scholarship can be used towards tuition fees or stipend (towards cost of equipment, living costs etc) required for the course, or a combination of both and you will be asked to specify this when applying for the scholarship.

Scholarships will be paid to the University to distribute to students who are in receipt of the scholarship. The University will pay the monies in four instalments over the duration of the course with the first payment being made at the start of the course.

Key dates

• January 2025 intake: Application submission deadline: 10 January 2025.

• May 2025 intake: Application submission deadline: 9 May 2025.

We recognise that for many Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) students, the playing field for entry into university isn’t always level and this can be a barrier to students from these under-represented backgrounds reaching their potential.

For students applying for entry to our undergraduate courses, Solent University is offering the BAME Student Scholarship.

These scholarships provide eligible first year undergraduate students, from specific ethnic backgrounds, £1,000 each to use towards their university tuition fees or the cost of student living.

How the scholarship is awarded

The scholarship is awarded in the form of £1,000 which can be used by first-year undergraduate students in the following ways:

• A £1,000 reduction of tuition fees for the first year of study.

or

• A £1,000 balance credit applied to the student's Solent University Everyday catering app account. The Everyday app is used to purchase food and drink consumables from any of the University's catering outlets, including Costa Coffee and Starbucks.

The scholarship is non means tested, non-repayable, and available in addition to any other government-related funding you may also be in receipt of.

Successful applicants for this one-off scholarship must meet the following criteria:

Have applied for and hold a firm acceptance, full-time undergraduate course offer from Solent University.

Are a UK national with ‘home’ fee status who identifies as having one of the following categories of ethnicity:

• Asian or Asian British

  • Indian

  • Pakistani

  • Bangladeshi

  • Chinese

  • Any other Asian background

• Black, African, Caribbean or Black British

  • African

  • Caribbean

  • Any other Black, African or Caribbean background

  • Other ethnic group

• Mixed multiple ethnic groups

  • Mixed White and Black Caribbean

  • Mixed White and Black African

  • Mixed White and Asian

  • Any other Mixed or Multiple ethnic background

• Other ethnic groups

  • Arab

  • Gypsy or Irish Traveller

  • Any other ethnic group

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarships Scheme is a joint initiative between the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and UK universities, including Southampton Solent University, to jointly support scholarships for students from developing Commonwealth countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the United Kingdom.

Study Level

Students must apply for a full-time course in MSc Applied AI and Data Science or MSc Sustainable Building Design for September 2025 entry.

Value of award

The award is financed jointly by the University and the DFID. The award will cover:

• Full tuition fees

• Maintenance stipend

• Air fare to and from the United Kingdom

• Immigration Health Surcharge costs

• A one-off arrival allowance payment

• Thesis expenses

• Study travel grant

• Optical and dental allowance

Nationality

Candidates must be nationals of the following countries:

Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, The, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia

Eligibility

• Candidates should be commencing a course in September 2025.

• Candidates must also certify that they:

  • are nationals of a Commonwealth developing country, and not at present living or studying in a developed country,

  • have not undertaken studies lasting one year or more in a developed country,

  • are themselves, or through their families, unable to pay to study in the United Kingdom,

  • agree to return to their own country to work or study as soon as the award ends. The commission will only consider requests to extend leave to remain in the UK post-award for those wishing to move from Masters to PhD study. Strict conditions will apply.

• The DFID requires that the University certifies when submitting its shortlist of candidates that they are sufficiently proficient in the English language to cope with the course for which they have applied. This will normally mean that you will have to have satisfied any requirements concerning competence in the English language which are a condition of your offer of admission. You can read more about the eligibility criteria by visiting the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission's website.

• Candidates must also have been offered a place at the Southampton Solent University on one of the following postgraduate programmes:

• MSc Applied AI and Data Science

  MSc Sustainable Building Design

The GREAT Scholarships is a new time-limited programme from the Study UK campaign.

The GREAT Scholarships for justice and law are jointly funded by Southampton Solent University with the UK government’s GREAT Britain campaign and the British Council.

This year, in partnership with the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign, Southampton Solent University is offering one scholarship of £10,000 to students in Nigeria.

This scholarship scheme is part of the GREAT Scholarships 2025 campaign, which has been launched by the British Council together with UK universities to support more students to access excellent UK higher education opportunities.

The GREAT Scholarships scheme offers an exciting opportunity for students from Nigeria to get financial support to pursue postgraduate study in the UK.

Study level

Students must apply for a full-time course in any Postgraduate discipline for September 2025 entry.

Eligibility

You will be considered for a GREAT Scholarship if:

• You are a national of Nigeria, holding a Nigerian passport, and

• You have completed an undergraduate degree with very good grades in Nigeria

• You hold UK equivalent bachelor`s degree (minimum second class lower) with 2:2 or 50% + overall or GPA of 2.5./5.0

• You hold International Baccalaureate with 24 points

• In lieu of IELTS accept the following English Language qualifications: WAEC/NECO C6 or above with minimum of *8 years.

• You have received and accepted a conditional or unconditional offer for a postgraduate degree in any discipline at Southampton Solent University, and

• You have submitted a GREAT Scholarship request with your course application.

Application deadline

The deadline for applications is 1 June 2025.

If you're applying from an EU nation, with EU nationality, for an undergraduate course starting in September 2025, you may be eligible for the Solent EU Welcome Scholarship (Fee Discount). Here’s everything you need to know:

What is the Solent EU Welcome Scholarship?

This scholarship is automatically available to undergraduate students with EU nationality, applying from an EU country for the 2025/26 academic year. It reduces your tuition fees to £10,500.

Please note that fees may increase in future academic years if the UK government raises the standard home fee above £10,500.

Who is eligible?

• Nationality: You must be an EU national.

• Residency: You need to have been ordinarily resident in an EU country for at least three years before applying.

• Level of study: The scholarship is available for undergraduate courses only (September 2025 entry). Postgraduate courses are not included.

• Exclusions: Applicants with Settled or Pre-settled status under UK immigration rules will not be eligible for this scheme. This scholarship cannot be combined with any other Solent University scholarships.

The Solent Postgraduate Taught International Excellence Scholarship recognises strong academic performance in a bachelor’s degree prior to commencing studies at Southampton Solent University.

Available to international postgraduate taught applicants applying for January 2025, May 2025 and September 2025 entry, the scholarship offers a £1,500 fee reduction, automatically awarded to eligible international students who achieve a 2:1 equivalency in their previous academic degree (minimum bachelors).

Study level

Students must apply for a full-time course in any Postgraduate taught discipline for January 2025, May 2025 or September 2025 entry.

Eligibility

All international fee paying students applying for postgraduate taught courses with minimum duration of 12 months for January 2025, May 2025 and September 2025 entry, will be automatically assessed for this award.

Applicants must have achieved a 2:1 equivalent in their bachelor's or master's degree to be eligible for this award.

The fee discount is applied after enrolment. This award cannot be combined with any other scholarship offered at the University.

The scholarship is not applied to the CAS.

Solent University is committed to be a fair, diverse and cohesive University that challenges and tackles social inequality. We aim to foster a community with a culture of welcome, mutual trust, fairness, harmony and respect.

Our vision is to transform the lives of people from all backgrounds, through learning that is relevant to the real world. Our values create a university that is open to all, which celebrates different, and demonstrates a commitment to social justice and equality of opportunity

In support of our vision and values, each year Solent University awards one Solent Sanctuary Scholarship consisting of a full yearly fee waiver and a £3,000 grant to a person seeking sanctuary studying on a three-year undergraduate programme.

To be eligible for the Solent Sanctuary Scholarship, you need to meet the following criteria:

• Seeking asylum or humanitarian protection in the UK, or the partner/dependant of someone seeking asylum or humanitarian protection; OR

• Someone, or the partner/dependent of someone, who has been granted Discretionary or Limited Leave to Remain, or some other form of temporary status.

AND

• Have a conditional or unconditional offer from Solent University.

• Be attending a school, college or voluntary group which can provide a reference in support of your application.

• Be unable to access mainstream funding for higher education ie, Student Finance

• Not have a 'no study' immigration bail condition.

• Live within easy commuting distance of Solent University.

• Not require additional support for living expenses or accommodation, other than that provided through the Solent Sanctuary Scholarship

All undergraduate programmes are open to Solent Sanctuary Scholarship applicants except BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing Practice, BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing, foundation years, and apprenticeships.

Please be aware you are likely to be able to apply for a contextual offer, which is a scheme where applicants who meet certain criteria (including being a refugee) may receive lower entry offers than standard (based on their context and individual circumstances). Those who meet the contextual offer criteria should apply through the usual UCAS process and should also use a self-declaration form if they feel they meet additional criteria.