Commonweal Housing Masters Scholarship

Masters opportunity for September 2026

To celebrate 20 years of tackling social injustice in the UK, Commonweal Housing is partnering with the University of Birmingham to offer one applicant a £10,000 award to support the costs of postgraduate study.

Commonweal Housing has used housing-based solutions to tackle social problems in the UK, particularly focusing on supporting women leaving the criminal justice system and young people experiencing homelessness; including those navigating difficult transitions into adulthood such as leaving the care system or involvement with the criminal justice system.

Why apply?

• Financial support: A £10,000 contribution to support you with your studies.

• Industry mentoring: Receive guidance from a Commonweal Housing team member alongside your academic tutor.

• Professional networking: Gain access to Commonweal’s extensive network of social justice partners and policymakers.

• Dissertation support: Get expert ‘real-world’ feedback to support you with your research project.

Who can apply?

Academic criteria

You must have applied to study one of the following Masters programmes for the 2026/27 academic year:

• MA Global Criminology and Criminal Justice

• MA Social Policy

• MA Sociology

This scholarship is only available to UK students who hold an offer to study one of the eligible programmes.

Personal criteria (Widening Participation)

Applicants will need to demonstrate that they are categorised within at least one of the following criteria:

• Completion of a University of Birmingham (Birmingham Scholar) or another university's Widening Participation Scheme.

• Care Leaver: Applicants who have once been a care leaver, which includes spending three months or more in local authority care.

• Disability: Applicants who are in receipt of DSA (Disabled Students Allowance) as an undergraduate student and/or currently receive DLA (Disability Living Allowance) or PIP (Personal Independence payment).

• Black and Ethnic Minority Background: Applicants from a black and minority ethnic group are encouraged to apply.

• Bereaved of or Estranged from Both Parents: Applicants who are bereaved of or estranged from both parents and are under the age of 25 are eligible. Estrangement is defined as having no communication or functioning relationship with either parent and no physical or financial support from them for at least 12 months.

• Caring Responsibilities: Applicants who have caring responsibilities for a family member or friend who could not cope without their support are eligible. This may be due to illness, disability, a mental health issue, or substance misuse.

• Household Income: Applicants with an annual household income of £42,875 or less at their permanent residence.

Your Dissertation

In the spirit of the organisation’s drive to use housing to tackle social issues, the successful recipient must focus their dissertation on how housing as the basis for exploring at least one of Commonweal Housing’s current research themes:

• Criminal justice

• At risk young people

• Migration, asylum and trafficking

Commonweal are keen to hear from applicants interested in exploring how these themes have evolved over the past twenty years, the current landscape, and the future for individuals experiencing these forms of injustice. This scholarship is only available to UK students who hold an offer to study one of the eligible programmes. 

Which countries and nationalities are eligible?

Open to students who are Home fee-paying students. 

How to Apply

To be considered for the award, please submit a 750-word proposal outlining to Emily Ball (e.ball@bham.ac.uk).

Your proposal must include:

• A justification for investigating the chosen topic

• A working research question

• A short literature review

• An overview of your methodology

Please note that shortlisted candidates may be required to attend an interview as part of the selection process.

Students will share their dissertation research findings at a dedicated presentation event hosted with Commonweal.