Students of Colour Scholarship

Please note, this scholarship was previously called the Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) Scholarship

At Southampton Solent University we recognise that for many students of colour, the playing field for entry into university isn’t always level. This can create barriers to accessing higher education and reaching potential.

To support students from under-represented backgrounds, Solent University is offering the Students of Colour Scholarship for applicants joining undergraduate courses in September 2026.

These scholarships provide eligible first year undergraduate students from specific ethnic backgrounds with £1,000 to help with the cost of student living.

How the scholarship is awarded

The Students of Colour Scholarship is a £1,000 credit applied to the scholarship recipient’s Solent University Everyday catering app account.

The Everyday app can be used to purchase food and drink across all Solent University catering outlets, including Costa Coffee and Starbucks.

The scholarship is non means tested, non-repayable, and available in addition to any other government-related funding you may also be in receipt of (excluding other Solent University scholarships).

The University reserves the right to apply the scholarship on a pro-rata basis if a student suspends or withdraws from study during the academic year. Please refer to our student fees and finance section for more information.

Eligibility

To be considered for the Students of Colour Scholarship, applicants must:

• Be a UK national with 'home' fee status.
• Have made Southampton Solent University their firm choice via UCAS by the equal consideration deadline of Wednesday 14 January 2026.
• Have applied for a full-time three or four-year undergraduate course (excluding foundation year) at Southampton Solent University starting in September 2026.
• Self-identify as belonging to one or more of the following ethnic categories, as defined by the UK Government's ethnicity classifications:
• Asian or Asian British (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese, or any other Asian background)
• Black, African, Caribbean or Black British (African, Caribbean, or any other Black background)
• Mixed multiple ethnic groups (White and Black Caribbean, White and Black African, White and Asian, or any other Mixed background)
• Other ethnic groups (Arab)

How to apply

Applications for the BAME Scholarship for students joining us in September 2025 are now closed. We are now accepting applications for our Students of Colour Scholarship for September 2026 entry.

Applicants holding a firm acceptance (conditional or unconditional) for an undergraduate course at Southampton Solent University, starting in September 2026, must submit their application for the scholarship through the applicant gateway. You will need your applicant username and password to log in.

This will enable the University to link your UCAS application with your application for this scholarship.

Please note

A limited number of scholarships are available each year. These are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, determined by the order in which your university place offer is accepted by you.

The Students of Colour Scholarship is part of Solent University’s promise to make higher education fairer and more inclusive. It forms part of our work under the Race Equality Charter and our Access and Participation Plan, which guide the steps we take to reduce inequalities in higher education. We know that students of colour are often under-represented at university, and this award is one of the ways we’re working to change that. By offering extra support, we aim to break down barriers, close gaps in success, and help more students from diverse backgrounds thrive at Solent.

For further details, please email stepintosuccess@solent.ac.uk.