At UCA we have a number of scholarships and fee discounts available to assist you with the cost of your studies.

Here you'll find everything you need to know for your level of study - read on to find out whether you could be eligible.

For information on the financial support available to our students please visit our fees and financial support section.

Explore the tables below to find details of our scholarships and fee discounts, if you could be eligible and how to apply.

Please note: the scholarships on this page are applicable for the 2024/25 academic year. If you are awarded more than one UCA scholarship or bursary, you will receive the fee discount or award highest in value, as only one fee discount can be applied.

UCA Creative
Scholarships

Undergraduate creative scholarships 2024/25 entry

Sir Ray Tindle Scholarship (up to three available)

  • Course(s): BA (Hons) Journalism & Communications; BA (Hons) Television Production; BA (Hons) Digital Media & Magazine Publishing
  • Value: £1,500 per year for the duration of the course
  • Eligibility: Applicants or current students to any of UCA’s undergraduate media or journalism courses. Applications are welcome from UK, and international students
  • Selection Criteria: Academic excellence and financial need
  • Application: Download and complete the application form and return to us by the application deadline of the 31 July 2024.

Elaine Thomas Bursary for Care Leavers

  • Course(s): Applications are welcomed from those entering embarking on their first year of an Undergraduate course as well as students continuing onto subsequent years (including part time).
  • Value: £1,500 per year for the duration of the course.
  • Eligibility: To be eligible for the Elaine Thomas Bursary for Care Leavers, you should normally have been in local authority care for a period of time since reaching the age of 14 and be in care on your 16th birthday. Applicants should also normally be under the age of 25 when entering the University. We do however aim to be flexible and respond to individual circumstances.
  • Selection Criteria: Confirmation of status and a local authority letter of support will be required at the time of application.
  • Application: Download and complete the application form. Applications can be made to the Elaine Thomas Bursary for Care Leavers all year round.

Bashir Makhoul International Excellence Scholarship

  • Value: Full fee waiver for the duration of the course.
  • Course(s): All applicants for any full-time course.
  • Eligibility: All international students.
  • Criteria: Record of academic excellence AND demonstration of financial need.
  • Application: Download and complete the application form and return to us by the application deadline of the 31 July 2024.

Completed application forms should be returned to: scholarships@uca.ac.uk

Postgraduate creative scholarships 2024/25 entry

Bashir Makhoul International Excellence Scholarship

  • Value: Full fee waiver for the duration of the course.
  • Course(s): All applicants for any full-time course.
  • Eligibility: All international students.
  • Criteria: Record of academic excellence AND demonstration of financial need.
  • Application: Download and complete the application form and return to us by the application deadline of the 31 July 2024.

Fee discounts
for UK students

Partner Scholarship

£500 bursary to all students from a partner school or college who enrol onto any undergraduate course and pay the full fee of £9,250 per academic year. For more details about this scholarship please contact out admissions team: admissions@uca.ac.uk

Grenfell Tower Scholarship

Full fee waiver for the duration of the course offered to any Category A Grenfell survivors. To apply and for more details about this scholarship please contact our admissions team: admissions@uca.ac.uk

UK Excellence Scholarships

UCA is offering a £1,500 fee reduction for the first year of study to one student on each full-time Undergraduate and Postgraduate (taught) courses and four students on a Postgraduate (research) course.

Every student who applies, accepts their offer and enrols for the 2024-25 academic year, will be assessed by our Programme Directors and course teams for the scholarship, which is awarded for academic and creative excellence. Information in application forms and portolio/audition work on Applicant Days are used to form shortlists and make final decisions.

Vice Chancellor PhD Studentships

The studentship package includes a fee waiver for three years’ full-time study, and a stipend (currently £18,622 for 23/24) each year for three years (or equivalent for part-time study for Home students). The studentships recognise excellence in research and are highly competitive and limited in number. Applicants whose application passes an initial review will be invited to interview. Applicants who are successful at interview and offered a place will be put forward for consideration for the Vice-Chancellor’s Studentship awards. Studentship decisions are based on the relevance of the research proposal, and performance at interview. Find out more.

Masters fee discounts

A fee discount off the first-year tuition fee is available to eligible UCA students who match the following criteria:

  • A current UCA student in your final year or have graduated from UCA up to five years ago.
  • The course you completed (or will complete) was a BA/BSc (Hons) degree at UCA.
  • Applying to study a postgraduate degree (such as a MA, MFA, MSc, MBM, MBA, MArch) starting in 2024

The discount available depends on the grade you achieved in your undergraduate course at UCA:

  • If you achieved a 2:1 and above you will receive a fee discount of £2,000
  • If you achieved a 2:2 you will receive a fee discount of £1,500

You do not need to apply. The discount will automatically be deducted from your fees before you enrol. The fee discount will be split over two years for part-time courses.

To be eligible for this fee discount you will need to accept your offer by the 30 June for September entry or the 30 November for January entry. 

PhD fee discounts

For MPhil and PhD courses, the progression discount depends on the grade you achieved on your course at UCA:

Postgraduate students:

  • If you achieved a Distinction you will receive a fee discount of £3,000
  • If you achieved a Merit or Pass you will receive a fee discount of £2,000

Undergraduate students:

  • If you achieved a first-class degree you will receive a fee discount of £2,500

This discount is off the fees of each year of the course you are progressing to and is available for graduates of all UCA undergraduate and postgraduate degrees who graduated within the previous five years of starting your research degree course. Fee discounts will be applied pro-rata for part-time studies.

To be eligible for this fee discount you will need to accept your offer by the 30 June for September entry or the 30 November for January entry.

Fee discounts
for international students

We have a number of fee discounts, also known as scholarships, available to new students from international countries who would like study with us.

Early-bird reduction

  • Value: £1,200 fee deduction for first year
  • Course(s): All full-time courses including PhD
  • Eligibility: All international students
  • Criteria: Deposit paid in full by 30th April (September start date) or October (February start date) AND first year tuition fees paid in full by the deadline of second instalment. Please see our fee regulations for additional payment options and conditions.

International Future Leaders of the Creative Industries Scholarships 

  • Value: £3,000 fee deduction for the first year 
  • Course(s): All full-time courses including PhD 
  • Eligibility: All international students 
  • Criteria: Academic and creative excellence, meet the English language requirements for direct entry to your course, deposit paid in full by 30th June (September start date) or November (February start dates) AND first year tuition fees paid in full by the deadline of second instalment. Please see our fee regulations for additional payment options and conditions.

UCA Creative Europe Scholarship

  • Value: Fee reduction to the equivalent of home student fee for duration of the course 
  • Course(s): All full-time courses including PhD (excludes International Foundation in Creative Practices)
  • Eligibility: All applicants who are a national of an EU country and a resident in the EU or UK.
  • Criteria: The scholarship will be automatically awarded if you meet all the eligibility criteria. You do not need to complete an application form.

UCA Merit Scholarship (September 2024)

  • Value: £4,500 fee deduction for the first year.
  • Course(s): All full-time courses including PhD. 
  • Eligibility: All applicants who achieve 80% or higher in their entry qualification.
  • Criteria:
    • For applicants from Nigeria and Ghana; £5,500 deposit paid prior to CAS issuance, and first year tuition fees paid in full by the deadline of the second instalment.
    • For applicants from China; £2500 deposit paid prior to CAS issuance, and first year tuition fees paid in full by the deadline of the second instalment.
    • For applicants from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Brunei or Timor-Leste.; 50% of total first year tuition fees paid before CAS issuance and remaining 50% to be paid by end of enrolment.
    • For all other applicants, the required deposit paid prior to CAS issuance and first year tuition fees paid in full by the deadline of the second instalment.
    • Please see our fee regulations for additional payment options and conditions.

UCA Creative Development Scholarships (September 2024)

  • Value: £3,000 fee deduction for the first year for applicants from Nigeria, Ghana, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal or Bhutan. £4,500 fee reduction for the first year for applicants from Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Brunei or Timor-Leste.
  • Course(s): All full-time Design programmes, Pathways and PhD for applicants from Nigeria and Ghana. For all other countries listed, all full-time courses including PhD.
  • Eligibility: All applicants who are residents of Nigeria, Ghana, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Brunei and Timor-Leste.
  • Criteria:
    • For applicants from Nigeria and Ghana; £5,500 deposit paid prior to CAS issuance, and first year tuition fees paid in full by the deadline of the second instalment.
    • For applicants from all other countries listed; 50% of total first year tuition fees paid before CAS issuance and remaining 50% to be paid by end of enrolment.
    • Please see our fee regulations for additional payment options and conditions.

UCA Excellence Scholarships (September 2023 onwards)

  • Value: £2,000 each year for the 2nd and 3rd years of an Undergraduate course.
  • Course(s): All full-time undergraduate courses
  • Eligibility: All international offer holders
  • Criteria: Students need to achieve a 2.2 or above in the previous year of study. Please see our fee regulations for additional payment options and conditions.

Pathways to degree Scholarships (September 2024 onwards)

  • Value: If you received a scholarship for your Integrated International Foundation or Integrated International Pre-masters, you will receive a £3,000 fee reduction again in the following year of study.
  • Course(s): All full-time degree courses
  • Eligibility: All international offer holders
  • Criteria: You will need to successfully complete and pass in your previous year of study. Please see our fee regulations for additional payment options and conditions.

UCA International PhD Scholarship

  • Value: £5,000 fee reduction for the 1st year, £3,000 fee reduction for year 2 and 3.
  • Course(s): All full-time PhD courses
  • Eligibility: All international students
  • Criteria: The scholarship will be automatically awarded if you meet all the eligibility criteria. You do not need to complete an application form.

Terms and conditions

Eligibility

  • Applicable for the stated entry points.
  • The scholarship cannot be combined with any other UCA scholarship.
  • Successful applicants will be expected to get involved in promotional activities.
  • There are a limited number of each scholarship available and they are awarded on a first come first serve basis so long as you meet the eligibility criteria and you have been nominated by an academic.
  • Scholarships are awarded based on the information provided. If any information is later found to be falsified/misleading, the scholarship may be removed if this means that an applicant no longer meets the above criteria.

How to apply

To apply for the International Future Leaders scholarship please complete the online application form. For all other scholarships listed in this section, you do not need to apply. They will be done automatically for anyone who is eligible.

We have a range of fee discounts, also known as scholarships, available to our current students from international countries who would like to continue studying with us and International alumni who graduated within the last five years.

To be eligible for a fee waiver discount under the new discount/ scholarship scheme, international applicants must have paid their deposit by the end of June.

You do not need to apply. The discount will automatically be deducted from your fees before you enrol.

Integrated Foundation to Undergraduate 

If you are progressing from the Integrated International Foundation to an undergraduate course, you can get a progression discount of £1,500 off the fees for the first year of the course you are progressing to.

Masters fee discounts

For postgraduate taught courses, the progression discount depends on the grade you achieved in your undergraduate course at UCA:

  • If you achieved a 2:1 and above you will receive a fee discount of £4,500
  • If you achieved a 2:2 you will receive a fee discount of £3,000

This discount is off the fees of the first year of the course you are progressing to and is available for graduates of all UCA undergraduate degrees who graduated within the previous three years of starting your postgraduate course.

Pre-Masters to Masters

If you are progressing from the Integrated International Pre-Masters to an postgraduate course, you can get a progression discount of £1,500 off the fees for the first year of the course you are progressing to.

PhD and MPhil

For MPhil and PhD courses, the progression discount depends on the grade you achieved in your postgraduate course at UCA:

Postgraduate students:

  • If you achieved a Distinction you will receive a fee discount of £3,000
  • If you achieved a Merit or Pass you will receive a fee discount of £2,000

Undergraduate students:

  • If you achieved a first-class degree you will receive a fee discount of £4,500

This discount is off the fees of each year of the course you are progressing to and is available for graduates of all UCA postgraduate degrees who graduated within the previous five years of starting your research degree course.

UCA Partner
Scholarships

Saïd Foundation scholarships

The Saïd Foundation awards fully-funded scholarships to outstanding individuals from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine who are looking to study for a master’s degree in the UK.

The Saïd Foundation has offered educational scholarships since 1984. This scholarships programme aims to empower people through educational opportunities and is targeted towards individuals who demonstrate the potential to become leaders and drivers of change within our target countries of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine.

Scholarships are offered for one-year master’s degree courses at our UK partner universities.

Applications in all subject areas are considered but candidates should demonstrate how their chosen course will help them to contribute towards the development of the region.

Who can apply?

To be considered for a Saïd Foundation scholarship, candidates should:

• Hold Syrian, Jordanian, Lebanese or Palestinian nationality and be permanently resident in one of these countries. The Foundation will consider Syrians residing elsewhere due to current circumstances in the country.

• Hold an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK 2:1 or higher (or be in the final year of an undergraduate degree)

• Have work and/or voluntary experience relevant to their field of study and a clear career plan

• Demonstrate leadership potential in their chosen field

Candidates must also:

• Apply for a course at one of the Foundation’s UK partner universities

• Meet the Foundation’s English language requirement

• Submit all required documentation

How to apply

Please go to the Saïd Foundation website www.saidfoundation.org/apply for more information and to apply online. Candidates will be asked to submit a number of supporting documents with their application, including educational transcripts/certificates, a CV and three recent references, so please read the guidance carefully before starting your application.

JuventudEsGto Scholarship
Residents of State of Guanajuato, Mexico, with an offer to study at postgraduate taught (Masters) and research levels (PHD) at the UCA are eligible for this scholarship.

Amount
£4,000 scholarship per student for our postgraduate taught programs (Masters) and £4,000 scholarship yearly on our postgraduate research programs (PHD) against UCA’s standard International tuition fees for the duration of the JuventudEsGto-UCA Scholarship.

Who is qualified to apply?
Residents of State of Guanajuato, Mexico, wishing to study at postgraduate taught and research levels.

For more information
Please visit JuventudEsGto for more information