Grants of £2.7m make a real difference to University of Bradford students
Students at the University of Bradford received £2.7m in grants and bursaries during the 2022/23 academic year, according to the latest figures.
Prospective students considering applying for a place at the University of Bradford – particularly through Clearing – are being urged to consider the numerous scholarships and bursaries on offer.
The University of Bradford has a proud history of supporting underrepresented or marginalised groups – one of the most recent scholarships to address this is the Howard Opportunities Fund (which offers £400 a month towards living costs), aimed at encouraging white working-class males to enter higher education.
Grants and awards
Some 3,324 students received cash payments through a range of initiatives, including UG Bursary, UK Academic Excellence Scholarship, Baroness Lockwood Memorial Scholarship, Bradford Futures Scholarship, International Relations, Politics and Security Studies Scholarship, Sanctuary Scholarship (home fee status), and UG Architecture Scholarship.
This included £2,350,400 for undergraduate students.
In addition, £138,696 was paid out in scholarships and bursaries to 26 postgraduate UK students. These included: Office for Students Scholarship, Archaeological and Forensic Sciences Endowed Scholarship, Bradford-Renduchintala Scholarships for MSc in Satellite Systems Engineering, Postgraduate Bursary, and Architecture and Heritage Masters Scholarship).
Other awards included £60,000 to 15 undergraduate international students, via the university’s Sanctuary Scholarship.
Finally, £211,358 was also awarded to 24 postgraduate international students through the Bestway Foundation Scholarship (new and continuing), Sanctuary Scholarship (new and continuing), and the Office for Students Scholarship.
Taken together, it means the University of Bradford awarded over £2.7m to students last year.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Shirley Congdon of the University of Bradford, pictured above, said: “These figures illustrate how much of a difference we make by providing opportunities for people who thrive and prosper because of access to higher education. We are grateful and humbled that most of these bursaries are the result of generous philanthropic donations made by organisations or members of the community who themselves want to make a difference. As a result of their generosity, many of these students have been given life-changing opportunities, and many will go on to change the world for the better.
“Universities are uniquely positioned to create opportunities that not only benefit individuals but, through our deep links with industry, and our impact-driven research, have a beneficial effect on local, regional and national economies. As we approach City of Culture 2025, we are particularly proud to be able to evidence the difference we – and those who support us – have made and will continue to make.”
More about the Howard Opportunities Fund
This year the University of Bradford is offering a new scholarship for four white, working class males from the Bradford District. The Howard Opportunities Programme, made possible by a generous donation from The Keith Howard Foundation, offers recipients £400 per month (with an annual 10% increase) to study on full-time, undergraduate degree courses. The first scholarship of its kind, the Howard Opportunities Programme will be targeted at a group that is severely under-represented in higher education and at the University of Bradford.
Making a difference
The University of Bradford was ranked top of the Higher Education Policy Institute’s Social Mobility Index in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
The latest International Student Barometer (ISB) results placed the university 2nd in the UK for its finance office, 4th for employment and careers service and 5th for networking opportunities and counselling. Student support services received a 95% satisfaction rating.
Office for Students data shows that of the university’s Home UG intake, 29% have been on free school meals, 58% are from the most deprived areas (Index of Multiple Deprivation Quintile 1), and 75% are in the first generation to go to Higher Education.
Some 78% of its UK domiciled graduates successfully entered employment 15 months after graduation, with 76 per cent of those taking up high-skilled roles (compared to 71 per cent nationally).
Over the last year, its Career and Employability Services has provided personalised information, advice and guidance services to 445 individuals who graduated in 2022.
Case study
Aimee Brennan graduated in July 2023 after receiving support as a care experienced adult. She said she could not have achieved her goals without the support of the university.