These awards are for all new home (UK) on campus undergraduate students [1] enrolling from September 2025 for the 2025/26 academic year. The value of the awards will be commensurate with academic achievement on entry.

There is no application necessary: these scholarships are awarded automatically to those meeting the eligibility criteria (see below) once you receive your grades. Scholarships are paid in two installments per academic year, usually in December and in February.

Excellence Scholarships

For UK undergraduates with tariff points and a profile equal to or exceeding those set out below, we offer an Excellence Scholarship worth £7,500 over three academic [2] years. Points requirements vary depending on type of qualification.

In year one and year two, those receiving the scholarship will also be expected to assist the Recruitment, Outreach, Admissions and Marketing Directorate at a minimum of two open days or offer-holder days (for which you would also be paid). In exceptional circumstances, where a recipient is unable to attend these events, we will work to find an alternative, unpaid option to support marketing and recruitment, which could include school visits, blogs/vlogs, interviews and any other reasonable activity to support the promotion of the University.

High Achievement Scholarships

This scholarships is for UK undergraduates with an entry qualification score of 120 UCAS tariff points or more.

The scholarship is worth £1,500 over three academic years. This is paid as two installments per academic year, usually in December and in February [2].

Eligibility criteria

The Excellence and High Achievement Scholarships are only available to home students [3] who meet the following eligibility criteria. You must:

• be registered on campus [1] on a full-time, undergraduate Bachelor’s degree course (BA, BSc, BEng, LLB or similar)
• be registered at level 4 (ie you are not eligible if you are on a Foundation Year or joining the course in your second or third year)
• be registered on the course at the relevant dates when eligibility for the award is determined (ie the census dates, by which students must be registered and have paid their fees in the University’s return to the funding council).
• be a home/UK [3] student who will be paying the maximum tuition fee of £9,250 (including students whose fees may be paid by the Student Loans Company (SLC) [4]). The University reserves the right to review our scholarships in the event that this maximum fee is reduced by the UK Government or other third parties
• have fulfilled and completed all stages of financial processes which may be required with sponsors or external bodies who are paying your fees to ensure that there is no impediment to the University receiving the payments. This includes a requirement for students whose fees are to be paid by the SLC or similar bodies to have completed all aspects of their application, including completing the declaration to fully accept the tuition fee loan and any associated terms and conditions.

You are not eligible for the Excellence or High Achievement Scholarships if you are:

• an overseas or ‘equivalent-level qualification’ (ELQ) fee payer. Find out more about International student scholarships
• studying your undergraduate course at one of our study centres or partner colleges (eg Emil Dale Academy)
• deferring study beyond a 2025/26 academic-year start date
• not in good financial standing with the University.

The University reserves the right to withhold payment of the scholarship or bursary if a student withdraws, interrupts, does not attend or otherwise does not progress satisfactorily.

Eligible students must maintain an appropriate standard of behaviour throughout their course of study at the University of Bedfordshire. If a recipient does not meet the appropriate standard of behaviour, scholarships may be withdrawn.

Students can only receive one scholarship or bursary awarded by the University of Bedfordshire. The exception is a Sport Scholarship, which can be additional. Where students may meet eligibility for more than one scholarship, the University will award the scholarship of the highest value over the period of the course.

Excellence and High Achievement Scholarships are not payable during a year out from on-campus, taught study, such as the Professional Practice Year [2].

[1] Includes courses studied only at our Luton, Bedford and Aylesbury campuses. Students studying at partner colleges and study centres are not eligible for these scholarships.
[2] Professional Practice Years do not qualify as academic years for the purpose of eligibility for the Excellence and High Achievement scholarships.
[3] ’Home’ includes the Channel Islands and the Republic of Ireland where applicants have taken courses that are eligible to be included in the UCAS tariff for this purpose.
[4] Excludes students whose fees are paid on their behalf by an employer or other organisation (eg those on Degree Apprenticeships).

The University also offers practical support to students who get into financial difficulties. For information on what help is available or to discuss your eligibility for the Excellence and High Achievement Scholarships, please contact studentmoney@beds.ac.uk