Cowrie Foundation Scholarship

To help us to get to know you, we will ask you for a personal statement of between 600 and 900 words explaining:

• Why the scholarship would be beneficial to your studies
• How it would help you to achieve your academic goals
• How your education would be of future benefit to your community and/or society
• What achievements, academically and personally, are you most proud of? This could include overcoming a challenging personal circumstance. There is no right or wrong answer. We are keen to hear your personal story.

Alongside your personal statement we will ask for you for some additional information including:

• Your full name
• Your University applicant ID number or, if not known, your UCAS number
• Your full home address (including Postal Code)
• Your programme of study
• Name of the School or College you are currently attending
• Your ethnicity
• Your email address
• Confirmation that you have applied, been assessed for, and expect to be in receipt of the maximum level of support from the government through your regional student funding body, Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) or Student Finance (England, Wales or Northern Ireland) for tuition fees and maintenance loans and that you have provided consent to share your information with the University.
• Confirmation this is your first undergraduate degree programme, and you have not started a degree programme previously
• Confirmation that you understand that representatives from The Cowrie Scholarship Foundation will view your application and any submitted documentation as part of the selection process.
• Agreement that your UCAS references (personal and supporting statements) may be used as part of the selection process.

The Cowrie Scholarship Foundation will offer one scholarship to support Black African and Caribbean heritage applicants from socio-economically under-represented backgrounds. Applicants must be ordinarily resident in the UK and commencing undergraduate study in the academic year 2026/27.

The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee waiver for Undergraduates for 2026 entry. There is also a maintenance stipend of £8,000 per year of study.

The maintenance stipend consists of any bursaries and/or scholarships from Lancaster University that you may be eligible for plus an additional award from the Cowrie Scholarship Foundation. The total amount available will equal £8,000 per year of study.

Who is eligible?

• You are eligible to apply for this scholarship if you:
• are from a Black African and Caribbean heritage
• are a full-time Home fee paying applicant
• have a household income of £35,000 or less
• make Lancaster University your firm UCAS choice