Scholarships

If your household income is at or below £40,000 or you are classed as a care experienced and/or estranged student, you may be eligible for the Opportunity Scholarship. You do not need to apply for this as you will be automatically considered if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Am I eligible?

To be automatically considered for an Opportunity Scholarship, you need to meet the following criteria:

• you are registered at the University
• you commenced your studies between 2014/15 and 2026/27
• you have been income assessed by Student Finance England, Wales, Northern Ireland or the Student Awards Agency for Scotland
• your household income has been evaluated as £40,000 or below and you and your parents have consented to share this information with the University
• Alternatively, students who are classed as care experienced and/or estranged by Student Finance England (SFE), Wales or Northern Ireland or the Student Awards Agency for Scotland will be considered regardless of household income. 

You are not eligible to be considered for the Opportunity Scholarship if:

• you already hold an honours level degree or equivalent
• you are eligible for NHS funding
• you are on a placement year and paying a reduced tuition fee
• you are studying a course leading to a PGCE qualification
• you have not been income assessed by Friday 4th June 2027

How and when will I find out if I am receiving the scholarship?

We will automatically assess your eligibility for the Opportunity Scholarship. If you are eligible, you will receive an email from the Student Loans Company (SLC) directing you to your online Student Finance account to view your award letter. The email will be sent to the email address that you have listed with the SLC.

You should expect to receive this email anytime between registration and early November. You can also check your online Student Finance account under the ‘Your Inbox’ section to see if you have been issued with an award letter yet.

If you think you are eligible and you have not received an award letter by mid-November, only then contact us and we can check if you are eligible and why an award has not yet been approved.

How much will I get?

• If your household income is at or below £25,000, you will receive a £2,000 bursary
• If your household income is between £25,001 and £35,000, you will receive a £1,250 bursary
• If your household income is between £35,001 and £40,000, you will receive a £750 bursary
• If you have been classed as care experienced and/or estranged, you will receive a £2,000 bursary, regardless of household income.*

If you are studying Business Accounting and Finance, you will receive a pro rata scholarship in Years 2, 3 and 4, as you will be paying a reduced fee. You will receive either a £1,332, £833 or £500 bursary in Years 2, 3 and 4, depending on your household income.

*Students in receipt of the Opportunity Scholarship based on their household income being below £40,000 and in receipt of a lower value scholarship, i.e. £750 or £1,250 who are subsequently identified as being care experienced or estranged will be entitled to the full scholarship in the form of a top up payment where appropriate.

When and how will I receive my payments?

Your award is paid across three instalments. The instalments will be paid into the same bank account that your student loan is paid into.

The 2026/27 payment dates are:

• 11th November 2026
• 10th February 2027
• 12th May 2027

If your income assessment is completed or your status changes after 28th October 2026, you will receive any missed instalments 10 working days after we approve your scholarship (unless the academic year has ended).

If you need to update your bank details, you will need to contact the SLC as soon as possible.

What if I leave the University?

If you withdraw or suspend your studies then we will cancel all future payments of your scholarship.

If you are thinking of withdrawing or suspending and you are worried about your finance, please get in touch with our Student Finance Advisers.

Contact

If you have completed the above steps and you have not received a confirmation letter by mid-November, or if you have any further enquiries about the Opportunity Scholarship, you can get in touch by email.

Please refer to the 2026-27 Opportunity Scholarship Regulations (PDF: 135KB) for the full terms and conditions of the scholarship.

Thanks to alumni and friends of Newcastle University who support Opportunity Scholarships:

• Anthony Walter Blackwell Will Trust
• Newcastle University Women’s Club
• Scott-Briggs Bursary and Professor Paul Dent
• Imran Ahmed and Sadia Nujhat
• Fiona Foundation
• The E June Copland and Kenneth D Hunter Donation
• Gordon Cannon Scholarship‌

If your household income is at or below £40,000, you may be eligible for the Opportunity Scholarship for Final Year MBBS and BDS Students. You do not need to apply for this as you will be automatically considered if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Am I eligible?

To be automatically considered for this award, you need to meet the following criteria:

• you are registered at the University as a final year Medicine & Surgery (MBBS) or Dental Surgery (BDS) student
• you have been income assessed by Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, Student Finance Northern Ireland, or the Student Awards Agency for Scotland
• your household income has been evaluated as £40,000 or below for the previous (2025/26) academic year and you and your parents have consented to share this information with the University.

You are not eligible to be considered for this award if:

• you already hold an honours level degree or equivalent
• you are in receipt of the Opportunity Scholarship

How and when will I find out if I am receiving the scholarship?

We will automatically assess your eligibility for this award. If you are eligible, you will receive an email from ukscholarships@ncl.ac.uk confirming this.

The email will be sent to your university email address and will contain instructions on how to receive the award which you should follow carefully. You should expect to receive this email anytime between now and mid-November.

If you think you are eligible and you have not received a notification email by mid-November, only then contact us and we can check if you are eligible and why an award has not yet been approved.

What can I get?

• If your household income is at or below £25,000 then you will receive a £2,000 bursary
• If your household income is between £25,001 and £35,000 then you will receive a £1,250 bursary
• If your household income is between £35,001 and £40,000 then you will receive a £750 bursary

When and how will I receive my payments?

Your award is paid across three instalments. The instalments will be paid into the bank account you specify on the acceptance form.

The 2026/27 payment dates are:

• 11th November 2026
• 10th February 2027
• 12th May 2027

If you complete the acceptance form after 28th October 2026, you will receive any missed instalments 10 working days after we approve your scholarship (unless the academic year has ended).

What if I leave the University?

If you withdraw or suspend your studies prior to the expected payment date, you will no longer be eligible to receive the award. 

If you are thinking of withdrawing or suspending and you are worried about your finance, contact us to speak with one of our Student Finance Advisors.

Contact

If you have completed the above steps and you have not received a confirmation letter by mid-November or if you have any further enquiries contact us by emailing: ukscholarships@newcastle.ac.uk or telephoning 0191 208 4488.

Please refer to the 26/27 Opportunity Scholarship (Final Year MBBS/BDS) regulations for full terms and conditions and further information.

Background

All University Endowed Prizes for Academic Excellence (formerly Exhibition awards) are awarded annually to first year undergraduates. The prizes carry considerable prestige and are merit based awards.

The pooled awards, which are funded by various bequests, replace the former Exhibition awards and apply across varying groupings of academic disciplines to reflect the previous spread of individual awards.

Eligibility

These awards are competitive across the whole University and can be held by any Year 1 student. Only exceptionally high achieving students should be nominated for these prizes.

Selection

Endowed Prizes are awarded on the basis of end of stage examination results, reflecting the student’s performance throughout the academic year. Nominations are put forward by the Schools. Prizes are then awarded by the University Endowed Prizes Committee.

2024/25 Endowed Prizes Award Winners:

• Lauren Taylor, BSc Hons Marine Zoology
• Madeline Brown, MChem with Hons in Chemistry
• Jasmin Angel Sybil Stevens, BSc Hons Marine Biology
• Tegan Smith, BSc Hons Environmental Science
• Rachel Ramsay, BSc Hons Sustainable Land & Business Management
• Quinten Willem Joseph Verkammen, BSc Computer Science
• Ryan Duong, BSc Computer Science
• Michael Austoni, BSc Computer Science (Game Engineering)
• David Heseltine, BSc Computer Science
• Lydia Bassindale, BA Hons Architecture
• Ella Mae Saint, BA Hons Journalism, Media and Culture
• Teagan Herbert-Davies, BA Combined Honours
• Sam David Barker Berryman, BA Hons Philosophy
• Harry James, BA Hons Education
• Poppy Lenaghan, BA Hons Geography
• Lily Purvis, BA Hons Geography
• Eve Bellhouse, BA Hons Archaeology
• Zakariah Kareem Missouri, Bachelor of Laws
• Nathaniel Forcella-Burton, BSc Hons International Business Management
• Isabel Louise Cowan, BA Hons English Language and Lit
• Lukasz Taczek, BA Hons Modern Lang & Linguistics
• Marina Walid Badie Fayez, Master of Pharmacy with Honours
• Kara Louise Stabler, BSc Hons Psychology
• Zahraa Khan, BSc Hons Psychology
• Owen John Law, BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science
• Lily Mai Broadbent Phillips, BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science
• Kiri Furukawa, BSc (Hons) Nutrition with Food Marketing
• Elsa Grace Lees, Master of Dietetics
• Jessica Yve Bastin, BSc Hons Biomedical Sciences
• Liam Duffy, MB BS
• Eduarda Fernandes Valente, MSci Pharmacology

2023/24 Endowed Prizes Award Winners:

• Grace Pocklington, BSc Hons Sustainable Land & Business Mng
• Heather McGregor, BSc Hons Mathematics
• Carl Andre, BSc Computer Science
• Leo Gaunt, BSc Computer Science
• Joel Fletcher, BSc Hons Mathematics
• Caitlin Pyper, BSc Hons Biology
• Nikoletta Charalambous, BSc Hons Biology
• Millie Bentley, BSc Hons Physics
• Matthew Roxby, BSc Computer Science w Ind Plac (GE)
• Jack Stephenson, BA Hons Ancient History
• Tobias Collins, BA Hons Architecture
• Kathryn Smith, BA Hons Geography
• Maddy Lambert, BA Hons Sociology
• Oluwabukolami Oluwadarasimi Adeyemi, Bachelor of Laws
• Romy Huegle, BA Combined Honours
• Allison Yee Hui Xin, Master of Speech and Language Sciences
• Abbey Lawson, BA Hons History
• Max Gregson, BSc Hons Economics and Finance
• Monique Ellithorn, BA Hons English Literature
• Jonathan Ayre, BA (Hons) Modern Languages
• Trinity Eadie, BA Hons Journalism, Media and Culture
• Emily Rose, BSc Hons Accounting and Finance
• Aemilia Elizabeth Still, BA Hons Archaeology
• Isabelle French, BA Hons Urban Planning
• Sophia Shek, Bachelor of Laws
• Kostiantyn Havrylov, BSc Hons Biomedical Sciences
• Adrija Das, BSc Hons Biomedical Sciences
• Michael Goodfellow, Bachelor of Dental Surgery
• Jasmine Koh, Master of Dietetics
• Tasniem Azzeldin Zaid Madkour, Master of Pharmacy with Honours
• Charlotte Farrelly, Master of Dietetics
• Ellen Green, BSc Jt Hons Psychology & Mathematics
• Jol Tarongo, BSc Jt Hons Psychology & Biology
• Laura Pridmore, Master of Pharmacy with Honours
• Angelos Mappouras, BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science

The Stanley Raymond Dennison Scholarships were established from legacy funds donated from the estate of Professor Stanley Dennison CBE. Professor Dennison was a notable and eminent economist, former chief economic assistant in the war cabinet, holder of the David Dale chair of economics, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Newcastle University and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hull. He also served on the review body for doctors’ and dentists’ remuneration, on the University Grants Committee, and as Vice-Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals.

The Scholarships are devoted to assisting the further studies of the highest achieving first year undergraduates at Newcastle University.

2024/25 Stanley Dennison Scholarship Winners:

• Jawad Alamri, BSc Computer Science (Software Engineering)
• Will Gowens, BSc Hons Animal Science
• Hadi Abbas, BEng Hons Mechanical Engineering
• Mannik Bhambhu, BSc Hons Economics and Finance
• Amelia Rose Thompson, BA Hons Modern Lang & Linguistics
• Johanna Therese McEvedy, BA Hons Ancient History
• Amy Eluned Gill Holmes, BA Combined Honours
• Mi-Yin Min, BA Hons Architecture
• Anna Shipton, BSc Speech and Language Therapy
• Charlotte Olivia Taylor, Master of Pharmacy with Honours
• Nicole Clifford, BSc Jt Hons Psychology & Biology
• Brin Dobinson, BSc (Hons) Nutrition with Food Marketing
• Jack O'Reilly, BSc Hons Biochemistry

2023/24 Stanley Dennison Scholarship Winners:

• Adam Patchett-McCrea, BSc Computer Science
• Fotis Motitis, BSc Hons Mathematics
• Will Oldroyd, BSc Hons Zoology
• Niamh Goodacre, MChem with Hons in Medicinal Chemistry
• Ioanni Fasoulioti, BSc (Hons) Bus Acc & Finance w Work Plcm
• Anya Spey, BA (Hons) Modern Languages
• Katie Archbold, BA Hons Linguistics
• Bonnie Holmes, BA Combined Honours
• Charlotte Edge, BSc Speech and Language Therapy
• Jessica Bartlett, BA Hons Contemporary and Popular Music
• Ryan Beckett, BA Hons Philosophy
• Georgia Chapman, BSc Hons Biomedical Sciences
• Theo Williams, BSc Hons Biomedical Sciences
• Dorian Kiss, BSc (Hons) Human Nutrition
• Eleanor Stretch, BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science

The William Benedict Coleman Scholarships were established in 1997 from the funds donated from the estate of the late Mrs Sarah Ann Deary Coleman. The funds perpetuate the memory of her husband, a successful engineer who lived and worked in the North East of England.

1. The Scholarship shall be known as the William Benedict Coleman Scholarships and shall be devoted to assisting studies of the most promising undergraduates in Engineering at Newcastle University
2. The Scholarships shall be awarded each year to the best students seeking entry to Stage 2 of the MEng/BEng course in any Engineering School within the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, at least one of whom will be in receipt of Student Loans Company fee and maintenance funding
3. The award of the Scholarship will be based in each case upon the candidate's performance in Stage 1 of his/her degree programme. The awards shall be made by the University Exhibitions and Engineering Scholarships Committee which includes at lease one member of each Faculty. The Heads of Engineering Schools (or their nominees) shall submit nominations for the Scholarship on an annual basis
4. The minimum value of each Scholarship shall be £2,000 per year. The Scholarships will be renewable each year for Stages 3 (and Stage 4 MEng only), subject to satisfactory progress towards the chosen degree
5. The Scholarships will be awarded from the fund annually, up to the full value of the monies available (as advised by the University Finance Office), except when there are too few applicants of sufficient merit

2024/25 William Benedict Coleman Scholarship Winners:

• Elaf Fawzi Alasi, MEng Hons Chemical Engineering
• Adam Waterworth, MEng Hons Mechanical Engineering
• Alfie Ashton, MEng Hons Chemical Engineering Industry
• Nayef Al Jilani, BEng Hons Elec & Electronic Engineering
• Joseph Oliver Shaw, BEng Civil Engineering with Yr in Industry
• Panayiotis Charalampous, MEng Hons Nav Arch & Mar Engineering
• Theodor Patrick Lovso Nielsen, BEng Hons Mechanical Engineering
• Thomas Elliot Scrivener, MEng Hons Elec & Electronic Engineering w Ind Project

2023/24 William Benedict Coleman Scholarship Winners:

• Mihkel Rebane, BEng Hons Elec & Electronic Eng
• Ahmad Ghanam, MEng Hons Mechanical Engineering
• Ahmed EL-N'aimat, MEng Hons Civil Engineering
• Tejas Sankar, BEng Hons Mechanical Eng
• Oliver Whitehead, BEng Hons Civil Engineering
• Chi W.M. Cheng, MEng Naval Architecture
• Edna Mary Evelyn Naluyima, BEng Hons Chemical Engineering
• John Bessymon Koloth, BEng Geospatial Surveying and Mapping

The M A Burnip Scholarships were established with funds from the Will of the late Mabel Annie Burnip for the general purposes of Newcastle University in memory of Dr Ethel Williams, suffragette. Up to two Scholarships are normally awarded each year to undergraduate women students in Engineering.

1. The Scholarships shall be known as the M A Burnip Scholarships.
2. Up to two Scholarships may be awarded in any one year, subject to the level of income available.
3. The Scholarships shall be tenable by women students who enter undergraduate courses in Engineering with the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering.
4. The value of each Scholarship in any year shall be £600.
5. The Scholarship shall be awarded by the University Exhibitions and Engineering Scholarship Committee on behalf of the Senate of the University on the recommendation of the Head of an Engineering School.
6. The Scholarship shall not be tenable jointly with any other Scholarship, Exhibition or similar award in the gift of the University.
7. Each Scholarship shall be tenable for the normal three of four consecutive years of an undergraduate degree course, subject to the student maintaining satisfactory attendance and progress on her course and provided that:

• in the event of the student not maintaining satisfactory attendance and progress the Scholarship shall be terminated unless the Committee, on the recommendation of the Head of School concerned, determines that the Scholarship shall be suspended for a specific period, not exceeding one academic year;
• the Committee on the recommendation of the Head of the School concerned suspend the Scholarship for a period not exceeding one academic year in order to permit the student to obtain relevant professional or industrial experience;
• not more than one period of suspension of the Scholarship under sections 6 (a) and (b) shall be granted to any one student.

2024/25 MA Burnip Scholarship Winners:

• Kyla Lauren Baxter, MEng Hons Nav Arch & Mar Engineering
• Abigail Sophie Crompton, BEng Hons Chemical Engineering

2023/24 MA Burnip Scholarship Winners:

• Lucy Gamble, MEng Hons Chemical Engineering Industry
• Anuoluwapo Ajagbe, BEng Hon Civil & Struc Eng
• Ela Nur Ceylan, BEng Hons Mechanical Eng
• Rachel Baker, MEng Hons E'ronics & Comp Eng w Ind Proj

The late Miss Jane Whiteside Alexander Batey bequeathed the sum of £5,000 for the purpose of establishing a memorial fund in memory of her late brother, Robert Alexander Batey, who graduated in 1926 at Armstrong College, Newcastle and was for a time lecturer at the Sunderland Technical College. It has been determined that the income from this bequest shall be applied in accordance with the following regulations.

1. The scholarships will have an annual value of £600 and shall be tenable for two years. The holders will be known as R A Batey Scholars.
2. The scholarships will be awarded by the University Exhibitions and Engineering Scholarship Committee, after consultation with all the Heads of Engineering Schools in the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, to the two students who achieve the best results in the Part 1 course in each academic year.
3. If no candidate is deemed to have attained a sufficiently high standard the scholarships will not be awarded.
4. These Regulations may be varied from time to time by the University if, by reason of material changes in the conditions of study in the University, or of changes affecting the majority of students attending Schools within the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering (whether their homes are in the North East of England or elsewhere), or of changes in Government regulations or otherwise, amendments are deemed to be necessary to comply with the wishes of the original benefactor. Such amendments must be of a minor character and should be introduced for the purpose of affecting the overall charitable purpose of Miss Batey.

2022/23 RA Batey Scholarship Winners:

• Aiyla Wijayakoon, BEng Mar Tech Hons Mar Eng
• Patrick David Allen, BEng Geospatial Surveying and Mapping
• Abhay Prashar, MEng Marine Tech with Hons in Naval Arch
• Youssef Haddi, BEng Hon Civil & Struc Eng
• Niahl Davey, MEng Hons Mechanical Engineering

2023/24 RA Batey Scholarship Winners:

• Adam Wilson, BEng Hons Mechanical Eng
• Mustafa Emir Cobanoglu, BEng Hons Electronics & Computer eng
• Henry Dawson, BEng Naval Architecture
• Adam Carman-Jones, BSc Hons Geographic Info Science
• Joseph Nixon, MEng Hons Mechanical Engineering

Funding provided by Research Councils is usually very competitive with strict application deadlines. In most cases, you must apply through the department in which you intend to study. Most Research Councils will not accept applications made directly to them.

Contact your prospective supervisor or department to find out more about Research Council funding opportunities, eligibility criteria and how to apply. UK students are usually eligible to receive funding for all of their tuition fees and maintenance. EU students usually receive fees-only funding.

Research Councils:

• Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
• Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
• Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
• Medical Research Council (MRC)
• Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
• Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)