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 2026-2027.
Please note that before applying for a bursary or scholarship you must hold an offer to study at the RAU.
All eligible requests received after 10 April 2026 cannot be guaranteed, but will be considered after the Scholarship Committee have reviewed existing requests at the end of April. The committee for each scholarship will meet each month to consider remaining applications and the outcome will be emailed to you soon after.
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 2026.
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 | Closed for applications |
| Bowyer Family Memorial Trust Scholarship | UK students only | Up to £3,000 | Mid May 2026 |
| Clyde Higgs Scholarship | UK students only | Up to £2,000 | Closed for applications |
| RAU Sports Scholarships | UK and international students, attainment at national or international level | At least £1,000 per year (up to a maximum of three years) | Closed for applications |
| Sir Emrys Jones Memorial Trust award | UK, strong Welsh links | Up to £2,000 per year | Closed for applications |
All scholarship applications received after 1 May 2026 will be considered by a selection panel, with a decision expected by the end of the following month.
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 | Closed for applications |
| Ashby de la Zouch Agricultural Society Higher Education Scholarship | British National, 18-years old and over, permanent residence within 25 miles of Ashby de la Zouch, studying agriculture or associated subject at College or University | Up to £2,000 | Closes 14 June 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 | Closed for applications |
| 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 | Closed for applications |
| 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 studying for a Diploma | Up to £4,000 over the length of the course | Closed for applications |
| Edgar Pye Research Scholarship | UK, must be studying an agriculture related course | £2,000 towards a research project | Closed for applications |
| Education Future International Scholarship | Indian national | Between 2 - 10 lacs Indian Rupees | Open for applications |
| Global Scholarships | International students | $3,000 | 31 May 2026 |
| Joe Henson MBE Bursary | UK | £1,000 per year for up to three years | Opens 1 March 2026 and closes 30 September 2026 |
| John Tedstone Bursary | Permanent residents living or studying within Herefordshire, Gloucestershire or Worcestershire | Payment of course fees, or part thereof | Opens 1 March 2026 and closes 30 September 2026 |
| Nuffield Farming Next-Gen Scholarships | UK residents age 18-24 | Three dairy Scholarships and three regenerative agriculture Scholarships. Includes a fully funded 30-day study programme which will take place in June/July 2026 | Closed for applications |
| Pembrokeshire County Show Student Bursary Award | UK, family home in Pembrokeshire, studying agriculture related course | £1,000 | Closed for applications |
| 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 | Closed for applications |
| 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 2026 |
| 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 Rich Wigram NZ Dairy Farming Scholarship | UK residents only | One year dairy farming work placement in New Zealand. Includes return flights to NZ. Two candidates per year in June/July 2026 | 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 2026 and 1 June 2026 |
| University Bursary - One Degree More, Wiltshire Community Foundation | UK, living in Wiltshire, receiving two means-tested benefits/Universal Credit | £1,900 for each academic year | Closed for applications |
| The Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors (WCCS)/Pathways to Property Bursary | 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 |
| 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 | Now open |
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.
