University scholarships, bursaries and discounts

Citizens of Change Scholarship

Submissions open from Wednesday 11 December 2024.

In 1921, the first eleven Citizens of Change enrolled on our campus. Now, over one hundred years later, we honour their legacy with our unique Citizens of Change scholarships.

At Leicester, we are all citizens of something. Citizens of breaking new ground, of seeing things differently, Citizens of Change. We are bound by our differences and united by a state of mind.

As Citizens of Change, we are working for a better future through diverse understanding and ambitious research. We’re diverse in our makeup but united in our ambition to pursue knowledge that has the power to transform and make our world a better place.

But what about you? What do you stand for? Who is your community? What is your passion? Maybe you are a citizen of justice, of new ideas, of equal access.

Whether you’re an inventor, an activist, an entrepreneur or a dreamer, we want to hear about your ambitions for making the world a better place.

What's on offer?

  • 50 scholarships for UK students - £7,500 (£2,500 per year for the first 3 years of your course).
  • 25 scholarships for UK students - £15,000 (£5,000 per year for the first 3 years of your course).

What do I need to do?

To be considered, we’d like to know, in 200 words or less, your response to the statement:

  • I am a citizen of...

Apply now

Need some inspo?

To help inspire you we asked our current students what they are citizens of.

Citizen of preservation - Maery, Biological Sciences, Physiology with Pharmacology

I stand for preserving and protecting endangered species and cultures around the world by doing my part in safeguarding all the things that can often get lost with time and apathy.

I am very passionate about protecting things unable to seek protection themselves. My ideation of the world is a place where natural ecosystems and cultural heritage is valued, protected and recorded.

My goal is to impact the world by raising more awareness and to leave a lasting impact on conservation techniques, thus creating a world that is aware of the importance of its natural and cultural resources.

To me, this is a big change. One that keeps me excited to contribute to society and to playing my part.

Citizen of positive wellbeing - Zara, Psychology

A quote I once read says: "If you get on the wrong train, get off at the nearest station because the longer it takes, the more expensive the return trip will be." This resonates with wellbeing; highlighting the importance of early intervention in mental health.

While support services exist during crises, there’s a lack of awareness about recognizing early signs of decline and making proactive changes. It’s crucial for everyone to be mindful of their lifestyle choices and habits.

From my experiences with a determined sibling, two working parents, and my fellow students, I've seen how easy it is to neglect personal needs. Even basic self-care can fall behind when life gets busy. To promote early identification of mental health issues, we must raise awareness through varied approaches, such as social media campaigns, workshops, and informative talks tailored to different audiences. It’s never too late to prioritise wellbeing.

Scholarship and application information

Who is eligible?

Any UK student who has applied to the University of Leicester and who holds an offer to study with us on a full-time campus-based undergraduate course starting in September 2025. Successful applicants will need to have made Leicester their firm choice and have met the conditions of their offer.

How do I apply?

Submit your answer of 200 words or less on the form below, from Wednesday 11 December 2024.

We're looking for how you approach the question, to learn what you stand for and what your ambitions are.

When can I apply?

You can submit your application from Wednesday 11 December 2024.

The deadline for submissions is Wednesday 4 June 2025 at 23.59pm.

How will my submission be assessed?

So, how are we scoring your submissions? We are looking at three main categories and we’ve included some guidance below that our scoring panel will be looking for.

Impact

At Leicester, we are Citizens of Change. We want to make a difference in the world. No change is too big or too small. Does what you stand for have real world impact, big or small.

Vision

This is about your thought process, your idea and how you’ve approached the topic and demonstrated your idea. Does your concept stand out from the crowd?

Communication

You only have 200 words; we’ll be looking to see how clearly you can convey what you are a Citizen of. How well can you demonstrate and summarize what you believe in.

When will I hear if I am successful?

Our panel will be scoring your submissions based on the three main categories from Thursday 5 June 2025. We expect there to be a large number of submissions. We will convey a decision whether you are successful or not by Friday 25 July 2025.

About the scholarship

The Citizens of Change Scholarship can be awarded to students in receipt of other University of Leicester or other external scholarships.

Successful applicants will need to have made Leicester their firm choice and have met the conditions of their offer.

There are 25 x £15,000 and 50 x £7,500 (£5,000 and £2,500 per academic year for the first three years of study) and will be renewed automatically each year subject to satisfactory academic progress on the course.

In the event that this progress has not been achieved, the University reserves the right to withdraw the scholarship at the end of the relevant academic year. In the event that you transfer from the course, or suspend your period of study, the scholarship will discontinue.

I have a question about the Citizens of Change Scholarship

Please email CoCScholarship@leicester.ac.uk if you have any questions.

Apply now

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