Scholarship opportunities for under-represented students
Each year, a number of UK higher education institutions offer scholarships for geographical study for under-represented candidates. This page is periodically updated to reflect current opportunities. We welcome the submission of any additional opportunities for inclusion on this page. Please contact rhed@rgs.org with suggestions.
Undergraduate scholarships
University of Cambridge
The Department of Geography has launched a programme of support and financial assistance for Black British students intending to read for the Cambridge Geographical Tripos.
Esri UK and Akama Fund
Esri UK has partnered with the Akama Fund to create a new scholarship programme for Black and mixed Black heritage students. Designed to support 60 higher education students, in disciplines related to the geospatial industry, the Geospatial Student Accelerator scheme will make awards totalling £30,000 in the first year.
Cowrie Scholarship Foundation
The Cowrie Scholarship Foundation was set up to allow economically disadvantaged Black students to attend UK universities. It aims to fund 100 students over the next decade.
Open University
The Open Futures Scholarship for Black Students provide the opportunity for new, UK-resident students who identify as Black to study for free.
University of Bristol - Black Futures Scholarship
These scholarships are for Black UK applicants, towards your first year of undergraduate study and employability opportunities. Up to 20 awards of £7,000 are available in 2025/26.
The Andrea Levy Scholarship
The University of Edinburgh is privileged to offer scholarships to support Black African and Caribbean heritage applicants from socio-economically challenged backgrounds, made possible by a gift from the family of the late Andrea Levy.
The Scholarship is designed to help with your living expenses, and to fully cover your tuition fees, throughout your Undergraduate degree.
Birkbeck University of London
Birkbeck's Sanctuary Scholarships are part of the Compass Project. The Compass Sanctuary Scholarship provides opportunities into higher education for people from a forced migrant background through offering the chance to study a university-level programme at Birkbeck. Students may apply for funding for either a certificate, undergraduate or postgraduate course at Birkbeck
Postgraduate scholarships
University of Birmingham
The 125th Anniversary Scholarships for Black British Researchers funds up to 10 talented Black students who want to pursue a postgraduate research degree.
Keele University
Keele University’s Leverhulme-funded Sustainable Rural Futures Programme (SURF) will train a new generation of interdisciplinary rural researchers to tackle contemporary rural challenges. This initiative seeks to decolonise how rural issues are framed and understood.
We have an opportunity for applicants of black heritage to apply for a fully funded five-year scholarship to study for a Masters degree in a relevant subject and for four years of postgraduate research.
The Leverhulme Trust
The Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships scheme (LDS) provides funding specifically for Black students and those from low-income households.
The Aziz Foundation
The Scholarships Programme offers 100% tuition fee Masters scholarships to support British Muslims to study at UK universities. The scholarships are aimed at those who wish to advance in their careers and bring positive change to their communities and beyond.
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton has created a dedicated scholarship to help talented UK-domiciled Black and mixed-Black heritage students fund their PhD study at Southampton.
Dreading the map
A resource about the Dreading the map artistic installation.
Rethinking the history of early Everest expeditions
In the 1920s, the Royal Geographical Society became involved in a series of efforts to climb Mount Everest. This resource delves into some of the forgotten stories of members of the expeditions.
Supervising Black geography PhD researchers in the UK
This report by Victoria Ogoegbunam Okoye summarises research on the supervision of Black Geography PhD students in UK universities.