Skylark Scholarship

The Skylark Scholarship programme has been established thanks to the generous support of philanthropic donors, who have made gifts to the University of Leicester to support talented home fee paying students facing financial challenges during their university studies.

Each successful applicant will receive up to a maximum of £12,000 over three years. The scholarship will be paid in equal instalments in February of the first, second and third years of undergraduate study.

Two Skylark scholarships are available for applicants commencing study in September 2024.

Eligibility

To be considered for a Skylark Scholarship, you must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Be in receipt of an offer from the University of Leicester to study your first undergraduate degree course, and start your course in September 2024
2. Be studying full time and campus based
3. Have been assessed for fee status as a 'Home' student
4. Achieve at least 128 UCAS tariff points (e.g., ABB in A Levels or equivalent). In exceptional circumstances, consideration may be given to an applicant in receipt of a contextual offer.
5. Have been permanently resident in the UK for the past three years in an area of low participation in higher education (POLAR 4, Quintile 1), or, have been permanently resident in the UK for the past three years in an area of socio-economic deprivation (IMD Decile 1-2)
6. Have a household income of £25,000 or below, as confirmed by the Student Loans Company, or alternative evidence produce upon request.

How to apply

Applications for this academic year have now closed. Starting from late Spring 2025, we will begin accepting applications from applicants who are commencing study at Leicester from September 2025.

Please check your eligibility before making an application. Awards may be withdrawn if we later become aware that successful applicants have not met eligibility criteria or have provided false information. 

As part of your application, you will be asked to provide a personal statement of up to 350 words, which should explain:

• i) what difference will receiving the scholarship make to your university experience
• ii) what barriers have you already encountered or overcome in pursuit of your education
• iii) what ambitions do you have for your time at university and/or the future beyond university?
• iv) what achievements, academic and/or personal, are you most proud of. There is no right or wrong answer; we are just keen to hear your own story.

The deadline for applying for this bursary is 11.59pm BST on Monday 30 September 2024. Applications made after this date will not be considered.

You are welcome to submit an application in advance of results day if you have confirmed the University of Leicester as your firm choice, or after results day and clearing if you want to wait until you know you have definitely been accepted and have met all of the eligibility criteria. If you apply early and then do not achieve at least 128 UCAS points and accept your place at Leicester, you will not be shortlisted.

Please note that the Stoneygate Scholarship and Skylark Scholarship are very similar and share the same application process. If you have applied for one of these awards, you do not need to apply for the other as well. Unsuccessful Skylark Scholarship applicants who show merit in their application may be considered for a Stoneygate Scholarship instead.

Notification

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications by mid-November 2024.

Questions

If you have any questions about this scholarship, please contact the Development and Alumni Relations Team by email at stewardship@leicester.ac.uk.