Scholarships

Scholarships are a reward given to applicants based on final results and accumulate, as per the examples below.

Scholarships will be awarded via a tuition fee reduction to the cost of a student’s full annual course fee.

Any student is only eligible for one scholarship type in any single academic year.

For more information on any of the scholarships mentioned here, please contact admissions@solent.ac.uk.

2024/25 entry

Solent Postgraduate Taught International Excellence Scholarship

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

How to apply

There is no application process. All Students will be automatically considered during the application process and awarded this scholarship if eligible.

Please refer to our student fees and finance section for further information.

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.

Application deadline

There is no deadline for this award, all international postgraduate applicants will be considered as part of the application process.

Further information

For further information on your application, please contact admissions.international@solent.ac.uk.

MSc Applied AI and Data Science scholarship

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 of the 2024/25 academic year) 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.

Before applying for a scholarship, you must have applied for the course and provided all the required documents, including reference letters (click here).

For frequently asked questions on this scholarship please click here.

Key dates

September 2024 intake: Application submission deadline: 30 August 2024
January 2025 intake: Application submission deadline: 10 January 2025
May 2025 intake: Application submission deadline: 9 May 2025

2025/26 entry

Contextual offers scholarships

To further enhance the support we provide for students in receipt of a contextual offer, students may also receive a one-off contextual offer scholarship upon enrolment. This £500 scholarship aims to support eligible students with the cost of student living or course tuition fees.

There are 100 contextual offer scholarships available for the academic year 2024 - these are awarded on a first-come-first-served basis in the order the UCAS applications are received.

The contextual offer scholarship is awarded in the form of a £500* 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 contextual offer scholarship is a non-cash payment, is non means tested, and non-repayable. It is available in addition to any other funding applicants may be eligible to receive (excluding other Solent University scholarships).

The University reserves the right to pro-rata this discount, should you suspend or withdraw from study during the academic year. Please refer to our student fees and finance section for further information.

Eligibility

Students eligible for the contextual offer scholarship must:

have applied to study at Solent University before the equal consideration deadline of 31 January 2024.
have been made a contextual offer by the University and have received an offer letter via the Solent University applicant portal confirming this.
have successfully enrolled onto their chosen Solent University course of study beginning in September 2024.
not be in receipt of any other Solent University scholarship.

How do I apply?

Once you have been made a contextual offer by the University and have received a letter via the Solent University applicant portal confirming this, you do not need to do anything else apart from enrol on to the first year of your chosen undergraduate course.

After successfully enrolling on to your course, our Admissions Team will assess your eligibility for the scholarship and, if you meet the criteria, you will be contacted directly, informing you if you have been awarded the contextual offer scholarship and with information about the next steps you will need to take.

For more information about eligibility for our contextual offers and for answers to some frequently asked questions, visit our contextual offers page.

Sport Excellence Programme

Our performance sport programme can be applied for by student-athletes competing at, or have the potential to compete at, national or international level.

The support package is delivered by a dedicated team who are fully committed to our student-athletes' development and sporting success. This includes:

Strength and conditioning.
Dual career and lifestyle services.
Access to sport therapy support.
Access to sports science laboratory testing support.
Sports psychology support.
Sports nutrition support.
Athlete workshops.

Find out more about the Sport Excellence Programme

Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Scholarship

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.

Applications for the BAME Scholarship for students joining us in September 2024 are closed. We are now accepting applications for September 2025 entry.

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.

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.

Have applied for this scholarship through the applicant portal.

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

How to apply

To be considered for the BAME student scholarship, applicants holding a firm acceptance place (conditional or unconditional) on an undergraduate course at Solent University, starting in September 2024, must apply for this scholarship through the applicant portal. You will need your applicant username and password to log in.

This will enable the University to link your UCAS application with your application for the scholarship.

Please note, there are a limited number of scholarships provided each year and these are awarded in the order completed forms are returned.

The scholarship is one of several initiatives we are undertaking as part of our Race Equality Charter and acts to address the gap in under-represented groups of students, as set out in our Access and Participation Plan.

This scholarship cannot be used in conjunction with any other scholarship, bursary or fee discount.

For further information about the scholarship, please email stepintosuccess@solent.ac.uk.

Solent Sanctuary Scholarship

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. Find out more about contextual offers.

For further information please contact Monika Materna-Brossier, International Student Adviser, at sanctuary@solent.ac.uk who will support you through the application process. If you do not yet have a conditional or unconditional offer from Solent University, we can also support you with this process.

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships Scheme

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

How to apply

To apply for this scholarship, you must

Make an application on the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships website by the deadline given by Commonwealth Scholarships.

Applications for 2025 entry open on 11 November 2024 and close on 12 December 2024.

Have made an application to study one of the approved programmes at Southampton Solent University.

Further information

We strongly encourage you to check the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships website for more information about this scholarship.

Contact us

For more information about funding, graduation and awards at Southampton Solent University, please email international@solent.ac.uk.

GREAT Scholarships - Nigeria

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.

How to apply

Students will be considered for a GREAT Scholarship at the time of submitting an online application for any Postgraduate discipline for September 2025 entry.

Visit your course page to apply online

When completing the online application, students will need to upload a 'GREAT Scholarship request' demonstrating the following:

A clear passion and interest for the course you are applying for.
Your ambitions and how you believe studying at Solent would help you achieve your career aspirations.
Any relevant skills or achievements you have gained from education, work or extra-curricular activities.
Contributions you could bring to Southampton Solent University as a Solent alumni ambassador back in Nigeria.

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.

Successful candidates will be notified by email by 30 June 2025. Once informed, students will have one week to accept the scholarship. If they do not accept within this time, it will be offered to another qualified applicant.

Further information

The GREAT Scholarship will be awarded at the start of the course as a tuition fee reduction, based on the full annual fee for the course.
The scholarship cannot be used in conjunction with any other scholarship or fee discount.

For general information on the GREAT Scholarships 2025, please visit the British Council website.

For further information on your application, please contact admissions.international@solent.ac.uk.

Alumni discount

Solent alumni could be eligible for a reduction of tuition fees if returning to study a postgraduate course. Eligibility criteria and more information can be found on our discounted fees page.