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A number of £6,000 bursaries are available across 3 years of study to support students from underrepresented backgrounds, so you can focus on your studies.

Bursary Details
To those receiving the Ignite Your Success Bursary from 26/27, they will be awarded £6,000 over 3 years of study, as follows:

Ignite Coordinators provide a dedicated point of contact for all Ignite Your Success students.

They can provideÌýinformation, guidance and support as well as offeringÌýregular catch ups with students throughout the year.

Ignite also hold informal monthly drop-ins during term time.

You will have access to a series of exclusive digital and recorded workshops featuring a range of alumni and University teams, designed and created to support you throughout your time at University and beyond.Ìý

Topics covered may include: managing your time at University; looking after your wellbeing whilst at University; preparing for graduate life; managing your finances. There will also be a number of workshops from alumni, these have previously covered topics such as networking and making the most out of your time at university.

In their first year of study, all Ignite Your Success students are supported to secure a range of paid opportunities. Previous opportunities have included internships with University departments such as Study Abroad, Public Policy, the Medicine Faculty as well as others.Ìý

Supported by the Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise Service, students will receive support before, during and after the internship, enabling them to make the most of the opportunity.

Undertaking paid work experience in your first year of study not only further supports students financially but also sets students off on a great path to secure future work experience opportunities throughout the remainder of their time at university.

You will have the opportunity to beÌýmentored each year of the Ignite programme.

The types of mentoring you will experience are:

• Year 1- Peer Mentoring
• Year 2 and Year 3 - Career Mentoring

Your peer mentor will be a student in a later year of Ignite and they are there to support you with the transition to university, answer any questions and provide general guidance in your first year. Second and third year Ignite students will have the opportunity to mentor first year Ignite students.

Career mentoring is an opportunity to apply to be paired and mentored by a professional in an area of your choice. This is a separate initative ran by the University's Careers Service and all students are encouraged to apply and engage with this opportunity.

Eligible students will be invited to a Transition Day designed to support new undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds transition to University life and help give you the best possible start at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ.

The Transition Day will take place before the start of term and will include information on Ignite Your Success as well as giving you the opportunity to find out more about studying at the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ and the support available to you when you join us.

There will also be the opportunity to meet current Ignite Your Success students, tour Highfield campus and pick up a welcome pack.

Eligible students will be contacted with more information and details on how to register for the Transition Day during the summer.

Eligibility criteria is as follows:

• You must have a place to study on an undergraduate course at the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ starting in the 2026/27Ìýacademic year
• Be studying for your firstÌýundergraduate degree
• Be a EU or UK student with Home fee status

and, meet at leastÌýONEÌýof the following criteria:

• Been in receipt of free school meals* during your secondary education
• A care leaver** or care experienced***
• Estranged****
• Have a home address in an IMDQ1 (indicies of multiple deprivation, lowest 20%) neighbourhood
• Participated in Ignite Your Journey

^{*ÌýThis data is received via UCAS declarations- UCAS currently asks all applicants 'Are you currently receiving free school meals, or have you been in receipt of free school meals during your secondary education? Yes/No/Don't Know}

^{** We define a care leaver as a young person who has been in UK local authority care, including supported accommodation schemes such as Foyers or under a Special Guardianship Order, for 3 months or more since the age of 14. For further information on our Care Experienced and Care Leaver definitions, please visit this page -ÌýCare Leavers | The Student Hub | ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ.Ìý}

^{*** We define a care experienced student as anyone who has been or is currently inÌýUK local authority care or from a looked-after background at any stage in their life, no matter how short, including adopted children who were previously looked-after.ÌýFor further information on our Care Experienced and Care Leaver definitions, please visit this page -ÌýCare Leavers | The Student Hub | ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ.Ìý}

^{**** You must be aged 24 or under when starting your degreeÌýand assessed as estranged from your parentsÌýby Student Finance prior to starting your courseÌýor during your studies.ÌýFor further information on our Estranged student definitions please visit this page -ÌýEstranged Students | The Student Hub | ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ.}

Please note: Eligible students will be invited to apply for the Ignite Programme via a direct email.

Applications for 26/27 will open in August 2026.

If you are eligible to apply for the Ignite Programme you will be contacted via email with the application form.

Once submitted, eligible students’ applications will be shortlisted by a panel before successful students are invited to a selection interview.

At the interview, you will be asked a series of questions around your application by the panel. Following the interview, the panel will deliberate, considering your answers from both your application and interview.

Successful students will be notified directly following the interviews.