Undergraduate scholarships and prizes

At Birmingham we ensure that fears about finance do not constrain prospective students from considering university and that excellence is rewarded. The University offers a range of additional financial support for students studying at Birmingham in the form of bursaries, grants and scholarships.

Mathematics Scholarships (open to UK students)

The Mathematics Entry Scholarships, for home undergraduate students, enable you to be recognised and rewarded for your excellent academic achievements before arriving as a student at the University of Birmingham. If you have placed one of our courses as a firm choice and achieved at least A*A*A with an A* in Mathematics, you may be eligible for either the George Watson Scholar Award or the Mathematics Excellence Award.

George Watson Scholar Award

The George Watson Scholar Award consists of £1000 bank transfer during year 1 for all students who meet the criteria below.

To be eligible for this award you must:

No application is required, all those who meet the conditions above will be contacted in semester 1 of 2023.

* Conversion from other qualification systems is calculated internally by the university, to enquire about your qualifications, please contact the student recruitment team.

Mathematics Excellence Award

The Mathematics Excellence Award consists of £1500 bank transfer during year 1 for all students who meet the criteria below.

To be eligible for this award you must:

No application is required, all those who meet the conditions above will be contacted in semester 1 of 2023.

* Conversion from other qualification systems is calculated internally by the university, to enquire about your qualifications, please contact the student recruitment team.

International Mathematics Scholarships (open to International students)

These scholarships, for international undergraduate mathematics students, enable you to be recognised and rewarded for your excellent academic achievements before arriving as a student at the University of Birmingham. If you place a mathematics course at Birmingham as firm choice in UCAS you may be eligible for one of two awards, depending on the level of your achievements. For those who are awarded either scholarship in first year, the Achievement Scholarship can be renewed annually, in recognition of your continued success during your studies at Birmingham, subject to the conditions below.

Mathematics International Achievement Scholarship

The Mathematics International Achievement Scholarship consists of £1500 tuition fee discount in each year of your undergraduate degree for all students who meet the criteria below.

To be eligible for this award you must:

  • The Mathematics International Achievement Scholarship cannot be held in the same year as the Mathematics International Excellence Scholarship. The Excellence scholarship takes priority over this award. 

To renew this award in a subsequent year of study you must:

  • Hold Mathematics International Achievement Scholarship or Mathematics International Excellence Scholarship in the previous academic year.
  • Achieve 60% year average at the first attempt in your previous year of study.
  • Renewal will pause for years spent in international study or intercalated study and will restart during your return to study in the School of Mathematics at Birmingham, based on the performance from the year before your year out.

No application is required, all those who meet the conditions above will be contacted in semester 1 of 2023.

Mathematics International Excellence Scholarship

The Mathematics International Excellence Scholarship consists of £2000 tuition fee discount during the first year of your undergraduate degree for all students who meet the criteria below.

To be eligible for this award you must:

Holders of the Mathematics International Excellence Scholarship are eligible for the Mathematics International Achievement award, see details above, in subsequent years of study if you

  • Hold Mathematics International Achievement Scholarship or Mathematics International Excellence Scholarship in the previous academic year.
  • Achieve 60% year average at the first attempt in your previous year of study.
  • Renewal will pause for years spent in international study or intercalated study and will restart during your return to study in the School of Mathematics at Birmingham, based on the performance from the year before your year out.

No application is required, all those who meet the conditions above will be contacted in semester 1 of 2023.

Mathematics Prizes

The School of Mathematics attracts and retains excellent students in Mathematics, but this is not the end point. We recognise that young people change when they move away to University. Therefore the School offers a number of prizes and awards during our programmes to recognise promising and distinguished students.

In addition, the University has in its gift a number of scholarships for second and subsequent year students for which the School can make nominations (in competition with nominees from other Schools in the Science/Engineering group).

Examples of Prizes (subject to change)

The Corbett Prize

Awarded to the most promising and distinguished third and fourth year student (one for each year) reading for a Single Honours degree in the School of Mathematics and for the Joint Honours degree in Mathematics and Computer Science.

The Alison Powell Memorial Prize

Awarded to up to three undergraduate students in the School of Mathematics for outstanding performance in examinations in probability and statistics.

The Allied Maples Prize in Industrial Mathematics

Provided by Allied Maples Ltd. It is awarded annually to a third or fourth year undergraduate in the School of Mathematics for meritorious and promising work in the field of industrial or commercially applicable Mathematics.

The Andrew King Prize

Awarded for outstanding performance in Applied Mathematics by a student sitting their final year of a programme in Mathematics (single honours, joint honours or major/minor) run by the School of Mathematics or successor school. In the case of distinction needing to be made between third and fourth year students, or in any similar situation, priority should be given to the student who has been examined at the more advanced level. The prize is founded in memory of the late Professor Andrew King, who was a Professor in Applied Mathematics.

The Austin Prize

Awarded to a Single Honours student of high merit in the School of Mathematics at the final honours examination for the BSc, BA or MSci degrees. The recipient of a Corbett prize is not eligible for this award and it will normally be given to a student who has shown distinction in Pure Mathematics. The prize was founded in memory of the late W H Austin MA, lecturer in Mathematics.

The Beth Kelin Prize

Awarded to a student who has faced specific difficulties beyond their control whilst studying at the University of Birmingham.

The Blackburn Prize

Awarded to up to three students for outstanding performance in their Research Skills in Mathematics projects.

The Calderwood Prize

Awarded to the student who is most distinguished in algebra at the end of the first year. It is open equally to students reading for a Single Honours degree in the School of Mathematics or for a degree in which mathematics is combined with another subject. The prize is provided from subscriptions made by past students and colleagues to acknowledge the service to the University of the late Dr Nora Calderwood, Lecturer in the Department of Pure Mathematics from 1920 to 1963.

The Frank Downton Prize

Awarded to a final year student in the School of Mathematics for an outstanding performance in project or practical work in Statistics. It is provided from contributions made by friends, colleagues and former students in memory of Professor Frank Downton, Professor of Statistics 1970-1984, and in recognition of his distinguished service to the University and his many contributions to statistical science.

The IMA Prizes

Awarded to the best two graduating Single Honours students in the School of Mathematics.

The James Mann Prize

Awarded to the student with the best fourth year applied project (open to those students doing a project supervised by a member of the Applied Mathematics staff) on the recommendation of the head of group in consultation with the external examiner provided there is a project of sufficient merit. James Mann was a gifted undergraduate and postgraduate who died from leukemia during his PhD studies. This prize is founded in memory of his talent for research, his analytical skills and positive attitude

The John Avins Scholarship

Awarded to undergraduate students on first and second year in the Science Schools who have attended a secondary school in Birmingham.

The Kuttner Prize

Awarded to the Single Honours student in the School of Mathematics who, in the final Honours examination for the BSc or MSci degrees, returns the best performance in Mathematical Analysis. The prize is provided from contributions made by friends, colleagues and former students to acknowledge the long and distinguished association with the Department of Pure Mathematics of the late Professor Brian Kuttner, Professor of Mathematical Analysis 1969-1975 and a member of the academic staff from 1932.

Additional scholarships/bursaries

In addition to the statutory support that is available, as a full-time undergraduate you may also be eligible to receive additional scholarships or bursaries, depending on your financial circumstances, previous academic achievement, or the course you are undertaking.

Please see the University scholarships, grants and bursaries page for details of other university-administered scholarships.