Undergraduate bursaries, awards and scholarships

There are many forms of financial support on offer for our prospective undergraduate students. The funding opportunities below relate to the academic year 2024-2025.

Please note that before applying for a bursary or scholarship you must hold an offer to study at the RAU.

Bursaries

Name Amount of bursary
RAU Bursary (Stream 1) £1,000 per year (up to a maximum of three years)
RAU Bursary (Stream 2) £3,500 per year (up to a maximum of three years)
Prospective Undergraduate Student Travel Bursary Travel costs to RAU campus in Cirencester

Additional awards

The following additional awards are available for application for new undergraduate students starting their studies in 2024.

Students can only be awarded one additional award on top of the RAU Bursary (Stream 1) or RAU Bursary (Stream 2).

Once you have applied, we may give a different additional award compared to the one applied for, if the amount available to you would be greater and you meet the eligibility criteria for the higher award.

Name Who can apply Amount of award Closing date
Next Generation Scholarship UK, ethnic minority £6,000 per year (up to a maximum of three years) plus cost of trips and activities Now closed for 2024 applications
RAU Sports Scholarships UK and international students, attainment at national or international level Up to £4,000 per year (up to a maximum of three years) Now closed for 2024 applications
Sir Emrys Jones Memorial Trust award UK, strong Welsh links

£1,500 per year

Now closed for 2024 applications
RAU MacRobert Forces Scholarship UK, armed forces links (current serving, leaving, partner or child of current serving) £1,000 for one year Now closed for 2024 applications

External awards

Name Who can apply Amount of award Closing date
1st Formations Business Scholarship UK and international Up to five awards of £500 each 31 January 2025
BASC Legacy funded scholarship UK, links to BASC Up to £4,500 per year for up to three years for students studying conservation or land management in the UK 28 June 2024
BASC Wildlife Fund David Gray Conservation Scholarship UK, links to BASC Up to £4,500 per year for up to three years for students studying conservation or land management in the UK 28 June 2024
Chadacre Agricultural Trust UK, resident in Suffolk, Norfolk or Cambridgeshire Variable, for an Agricultural course N/A
Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust educational bursaries UK, resident in Devon or Cornwall Up to £4,000 over the length of the course 30 April 2024
Edgar Pye Research Scholarship UK, must be studying an agriculture related course £2,000 towards a research project 31 October 2024
Joe Henson MBE Bursary UK £1,000 per year for up to three years 30 September 2024
Pembrokeshire County Show Student Bursary Award UK, family home in Pembrokeshire, studying agriculture related course £1,000 1 July 2024
Snowdon Trust Study Costs Grant UK or international, with a disability up to £5,000 towards specialist course equipment 12 September 2024
The Deakin and Combe Memorial Trust Must be studying an agriculture related course £500-£1,000 towards laptop, books and training courses 2 September 2024
The Dick Harrison Trust UK, strong links with Scotland, the Counties of Cumbria, or Northumberland Grants towards books, equipment or travel for students on livestock auctioneering and/or rural estate management courses 30 November 2024
The John Innes Foundation undergraduate bursary award scheme UK national from non-farming background £9,250 per year up to three years for one student studying a BSc Agriculture related degree 18 October 2024
The Royal Bath & West of England Society Grants and Scholarships UK, strong links with Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Bristol Variable. Students must be on an agriculture related course 1 November 2024 and 1 June 2025
University Bursary - One Degree More, Wiltshire Community Foundation UK, living in Wiltshire, receiving two means-tested benefits/Universal Credit £1,600 for each academic year 2025

Awards for existing students

Here are just some of the awards that our current students can apply for:

Name Who can apply Amount of award Closing date
The Kaleb Cooper Agriculture Bursary UK RAU student, 18-30 years old £3,000 for one year 28 October 2024

Professor Barry Dent Scholarship and International Exchange

RAU student in the second year of a BSc Agriculture course £3,000 for one year To be confirmed

Access to Learning fund

If you are in financial hardship you can apply for additional help from the Access to Learning fund at any point throughout the duration of your course and irrespective of any other bursaries you have already been awarded. Please contact financial.support@rau.ac.uk for details and we'll be happy to advise.