Undergraduate bursaries, awards and scholarships
There are many forms of financial support on offer for our prospective undergraduate students. The funding opportunities below relate to the academic year 2025-2026.
Please note that before applying for a bursary or scholarship you must hold an offer to study at the RAU.
Bursaries
| Name | Amount of bursary | Applying |
|---|---|---|
| RAU Bursary (Stream 1) | £1,000 per year (up to a maximum of three years) | No application needed. Eligibility is assessed by the University upon application of Student Finance |
| RAU Bursary (Stream 2) | £3,500 per year (up to a maximum of three years) | No application needed. Eligibility is assessed by the University upon application of Student Finance |
| Prospective Undergraduate Student Travel Bursary | Travel costs to RAU campus in Cirencester | Please see link for further details on eligibility and how to claim expenses |
Additional awards
The following additional awards are available for application for new undergraduate students starting their studies in 2025.
Students can only be awarded one additional award on top of the RAU Bursary (Stream 1) or RAU Bursary (Stream 2).
Once you have applied, we may give a different additional award compared to the one applied for, if the amount available to you would be greater and you meet the eligibility criteria for the higher award.
| Name | Who can apply | Amount of award | Closing date |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAU Next Generation Scholarship | UK, ethnic minority | £6,000 per year (up to a maximum of three years) plus cost of trips and activities | 6:00pm, 11 June 2025 |
| RAU Sports Scholarships | UK and international students, attainment at national or international level | Up to £4,000 per year (up to a maximum of three years) | 6:00pm, 11 June 2025 |
| MacRobert Forces Scholarship | UK, armed forces links (current serving, leaving, partner or child of current serving) | £1,000 for one year | 6:00pm, 11 June 2025 |
| Sir Emrys Jones Memorial Trust award | UK, strong Welsh links |
Up to £2,000 per year |
6:00pm, 11 June 2025 |
External awards
| Name | Who can apply | Amount of award | Closing date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Formations Business Scholarship | UK and international | Up to five awards of £500 each | 31 January 2026 |
| BASC Legacy funded scholarship | UK, links to BASC | Up to £4,500 per year for up to three years for students studying conservation or land management in the UK | 27 July 2025 |
| BASC Wildlife Fund David Gray Conservation Scholarship | UK, links to BASC | Up to £4,500 per year for up to three years for students studying conservation or land management in the UK | 27 July 2025 |
| Chadacre Agricultural Trust | UK, resident in Suffolk, Norfolk or Cambridgeshire | Variable, for an Agricultural course | N/A |
| Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust educational bursaries | UK, resident in Devon or Cornwall | Up to £4,000 over the length of the course | 30 April 2025 |
| Edgar Pye Research Scholarship | UK, must be studying an agriculture related course | £2,000 towards a research project | 31 October 2025 |
| Education Future International Scholarship | Indian national | Between 2 - 10 lacs Indian Rupees | Open for applications |
| International students | $3,000 | 31 May 2025 | |
| Joe Henson MBE Bursary | UK | £1,000 per year for up to three years | Closed for applications |
| Pembrokeshire County Show Student Bursary Award | UK, family home in Pembrokeshire, studying agriculture related course | £1,000 | 1 July 2025 |
| Snowdon Trust Study Costs Grant | UK or international, with a disability | up to £5,000 towards specialist course equipment | Closed for applications |
| The Deakin and Combe Memorial Trust | Must be studying an agriculture related course | £500-£1,000 towards laptop, books and training courses | 1 September 2025 |
| The Dick Harrison Trust | UK, strong links with Scotland, the Counties of Cumbria, or Northumberland | Grants towards books, equipment or travel for students on livestock auctioneering and/or rural estate management courses | 31 November 2025 |
| The John Innes Foundation undergraduate bursary award scheme | UK national from non-farming background | £9,250 per year up to three years for one student studying a BSc Agriculture related degree | Closed for applications |
| The Royal Bath & West of England Society Grants and Scholarships | UK, strong links with Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Bristol | Variable. Students must be on an agriculture related course | 1 November 2025 and 1 June 2025 |
| University Bursary - One Degree More, Wiltshire Community Foundation | UK, living in Wiltshire, receiving two means-tested benefits/Universal Credit | £1,600 for each academic year | Closed for applications |
|
For students studying real estate / property / rural land courses accredited by the RICS. |
£10,000 per year for three years |
Closed for applications
|
Awards for existing students
Here are just some of the awards that our current students can apply for:
| Name | Who can apply | Amount of award | Closing date |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Kaleb Cooper Agriculture Bursary | UK RAU student, 18-30 years old | £3,000 for one year | Closed for applications |
| RAU student entering into the second year of a BSc Agriculture course | £3,000 for one year | 16 June 2025 | |
| The Douglas Bomford Trust Scholarship | RAU FdSc and BSc Agriculture students | Up to £1,500 for one year |
Closed for applications |
Referral award
| Name | Who can apply | Amount of award | Closing date |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Referral Programme | RAU alumni or current student | £500 to referrer and £500 to new international student | 14 July 2025 |
Access to Learning fund
If you are in financial hardship you can apply for additional help from the Access to Learning fund at any point throughout the duration of your course and irrespective of any other bursaries you have already been awarded. Please contact financial.support@rau.ac.uk for details and we'll be happy to advise.