The Geology Award

Thanks to the generous support of Metal Focus Ltd, we will be awarding one Geology Award during academic year 2025/26.

This award is intended for applicants with Black African or Caribbean heritage from socio-economically challenged backgrounds who will be commencing study of a Geology undergraduate degree programme (more information on qualifying degree programmes below) from September 2025.

The successful applicant of the Geology Award will receive an award of £4,000 during their first year of study. This will be paid in two equal instalments in February 2025 and July 2026.

Eligibility

To be considered for the Geology Award, you must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Applicants must identify as belonging to one of the following categories of ethnicity:
   • Black African
   • Black Caribbean
   • Any other Black, Black British or Caribbean background
   • Mixed or multiple ethnic groups including White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean, or any other mixed or multiple ethnic background that includes Black African, Black Caribbean, Black, Black British or Caribbean background
2. Be in receipt of an offer from the University of Leicester to study your first undergraduate Geology degree course, and start your course in September 2025. Specific degree courses which are eligible to apply for this scholarship and award are:
   • Geology BSc
   • Geology MGeol
3. Be studying full time and campus based
4. Have been assessed for fee status as a 'Home' student
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 £30,000 or below, as confirmed by the Student Loans Company, or alternative evidence produced upon request.

The award may be withdrawn if we later become aware that the successful applicant has not met eligibility criteria or has provided false information. 

How to apply

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 or award 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 scholarship is 11.59pm BST on Sunday 19 October 2025. Applications made after this date will not be considered.

Apply for the Geology Award

Notification

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications by mid-November 2025.

Questions

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