The University College Birmingham Vice-Chancellor’s Award pays your full tuition fee for the first year of a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate degree at University College Birmingham (UCB) in the UK. It is for international students on overseas fees who meet a high entry bar: 144 UCAS tariff points for undergraduates, or a first-class honours degree for master’s applicants.
The award covers year one only, and no living costs, so it is not fully funded. There are three rounds tied to UCB’s intakes. The deadline for February 2027 entry is 31 October 2026, then 31 May 2027 for September 2027 and 30 October 2027 for February 2028. You apply with a 500-word personal statement after you hold an offer.
University College Birmingham Vice-Chancellor’s Award at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University College Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom |
| Value | Full tuition fee for the first year of study |
| Later years | Not covered; you pay the normal overseas fee from year two |
| Living costs | Not covered |
| Levels | Full-time undergraduate and postgraduate programmes |
| Fee status | Overseas (international) fee payers only |
| Entry bar | 144 UCAS points (undergraduate) or a first-class honours degree (postgraduate), or the international equivalent |
| Application | Online form for your intake plus a 500-word personal statement |
| Number of awards | Not published |
Scholarshipair.com lists the award as undergraduate only. UCB’s page says it is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate applicants, with a different entry bar for each.
Vice-Chancellor’s Award deadlines for each intake
| Intake | Deadline | Result by email |
|---|---|---|
| February 2027 | 31 October 2026 | 30 November 2026 |
| September 2027 | 31 May 2027 | 30 June 2027 |
| February 2028 | 30 October 2027 | 30 November 2027 |
Deadline
The February 2027 round closes on 31 October 2026. You need a UCB offer before you submit, so if you have not applied for a course yet, aim for the September 2027 round instead.
Eligibility for the UCB Vice-Chancellor’s Award
- Offer: you have accepted an offer for a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate programme at UCB. Part-time, distance learning and other levels are not eligible.
- Fee status: you are classed as overseas and pay overseas tuition fees. Home fee payers cannot apply.
- Undergraduate grades: 144 UCAS tariff points or the international equivalent. At A level, 144 points equals AAA.
- Postgraduate grades: a first-class honours degree or the international equivalent. Ask UCB admissions how your country’s grading maps to a first.
- Deposit: you pay at least £1,000 towards your deposit within 14 days of the scholarship offer, or the offer is withdrawn.
- Marketing: you agree to give testimonials, appear in case studies or join marketing activities if UCB asks.
For applicants with WAEC, Indian Class 12, or other national results, UCB decides the UCAS equivalent itself. The admissions team or international office (international@ucb.ac.uk) can tell you before you spend time on the statement.
How to apply
- Get an offer: apply to a full-time UCB programme for the intake you want and accept the offer.
- Pick the right form: the Vice-Chancellor’s Award page has a separate link for each intake (February 2027, September 2027, February 2028).
- Write the statement: 500 words on your achievements in your field, your career plans and how you will contribute to society.
- Submit before the deadline: use the form for your intake.
- Watch your email: UCB sends the outcome by the notification date in the table.
- Pay the deposit: if you win, pay at least £1,000 within 14 days to keep the award.
Writing the 500-word personal statement
The form names three topics, so I would give each its own paragraph. Lead with one or two achievements you can prove, such as a top grade, a competition, or work experience in your field. Then say what job you want after UCB and why this course gets you there. End with something you already do for other people, because the award asks how you will contribute to society, and a real example is stronger than a promise. Our scholarship recommendation letter guide has tips on presenting the same evidence.
What you still need to pay
The award removes year-one tuition, but your UK Student visa still needs proof of living funds. For Birmingham (outside London), applications made from 30 November 2026 need £1,203 a month for up to nine months, which is £10,827. Any tuition still unpaid on your CAS must be added. You will also pay tuition in full from year two, so plan for it before you accept.
If you want a larger award at another UK university, compare the Cardiff International Excellence Scholarship and the Manchester Global Futures Scholarship.
Step-by-step timeline for the September 2027 round
Most international students will be aiming at September 2027, since the February 2027 round closes on 31 October 2026 and needs an offer already in hand. Working back from the 31 May 2027 deadline, this is the order I would follow.
- Now to early 2027, choose a course: pick a full-time UCB degree and check its entry and English language requirements on the course page.
- Apply for admission: follow the application route your course page gives for international students. Leave time for an offer to come back before May.
- Accept your offer: the award form is only for students who have accepted an offer.
- Write and polish the 500-word statement: draft it early, then cut it down to the limit.
- Submit the September 2027 form by 31 May 2027: use the link for that intake on the award page.
- Get your result by 30 June 2027: UCB emails the outcome.
- Pay at least £1,000 within 14 days: if you win, this deposit keeps the award.
- Get your CAS and apply for your visa: check that the award appears on your CAS, then prove your living funds for the Student visa.
Keep these ready: your offer letter, your transcripts or certificates (and how they convert to UCAS points or a UK first), your passport, and your English test result if your course asks for one.
How to write the Vice-Chancellor’s Award personal statement
UCB says it is looking for academic excellence, leadership and commitment to the betterment of society. The statement asks for three things: your achievements in your field, your career aspirations and your contribution to society. Map one to each, and 500 words splits neatly.
| Part | Roughly | What to put in it |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | 50 words | Who you are, the course you have accepted, and one line on why UCB |
| Achievements | 150 words | Your results with numbers, plus one prize, project, job or responsibility that shows leadership |
| Career aspirations | 150 words | The role you want, where, and how this specific course leads there |
| Contribution to society | 150 words | Something you already do for others, and what you plan to do with your degree |
UCB is known for hospitality, culinary arts, tourism, business, education and health-related courses. Tie your achievements and plans to that kind of practical, career-focused study where it fits; a reader in a hospitality school will recognise real kitchen, hotel or events experience straight away.
A sample opening
For tone only, not to copy:
“I have accepted a master’s place in hospitality management at UCB after graduating with first-class honours in Hospitality Management from a university in Nairobi. For the past two years I have supervised a team of eleven at a 120-room hotel in Mombasa, where I redesigned the night shift rota and cut overtime costs by a fifth.”
Check the exact course title on your offer letter before you write it into your statement, and keep every claim to something you could show proof of if asked.
Eligibility edge cases
- Non-UK school results: UCB decides what equals 144 UCAS points for WAEC, Indian Class 12, the IB and other systems. Ask international@ucb.ac.uk with your actual grades before you write the statement.
- Upper second class (2:1) for a master’s: the bar is a first or its international equivalent, so a 2:1 does not meet it as written.
- Home fee status: if you qualify for home fees, for example through settled status or long UK residence, you cannot apply, even if you hold a foreign passport.
- Foundation years, top-ups and part-time study: the award is for full-time undergraduate and postgraduate programmes; part-time, distance learning and “other levels” are excluded. Check with UCB if your course is a top-up year.
- Deferring your offer: each round is tied to an intake. If you defer, apply in the round for your new intake.
- Other UCB discounts: UCB also lists an International Scholarship Award of fee discounts for new overseas students, but its page still shows a deposit date from 2025, and neither page says whether the two can be combined. Ask the international team.
Common mistakes
- Submitting before accepting your offer.
- Using the form for the wrong intake.
- Going well over 500 words, or writing a general essay that skips one of the three topics.
- Missing the 14-day window for the £1,000 deposit after winning.
- Planning your budget as if years two and three are also free.
What happens after you win
UCB emails you by the notification date for your intake. You then pay at least £1,000 towards your deposit within 14 days, or the offer is withdrawn. Ask UCB to confirm the award is reflected on your CAS, because any tuition shown as unpaid there is added to the funds you must prove for your visa. You also agree to give testimonials or join case studies and marketing if UCB asks. UCB has not published any condition about keeping the award, since it only lasts one year.
Full cost picture
UCB’s award page does not give the tuition fee in pounds, so check the overseas fee on your course page. Beyond that, you will still pay for:
- Tuition for year two onwards, at the full overseas rate
- Living costs, with £10,827 to show for a nine-month visa period outside London on applications from 30 November 2026
- The Student visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, both set by the Home Office (check current amounts on GOV.UK)
- Flights, accommodation deposits and an English test if your course requires one
How the award compares
| Scholarship | Level | Value | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCB Vice-Chancellor’s Award | Undergraduate and postgraduate | Full first-year tuition | 31 May 2027 (September 2027 intake) |
| Cardiff International Excellence Scholarship | Undergraduate | £10,000 off first-year tuition, nine awards | 2 April 2027 |
| Manchester Global Futures Scholarship | Students from 23 countries | £10,000 to £36,000 tuition discount | Varies by region |
| Maastricht Global Studies Scholarship (Netherlands) | Bachelor’s | Tuition plus EUR 20,150 a year, one award | 10 December 2026 and 1 February 2027 |
Who should apply, and who shouldn’t
Apply if you pay overseas fees, have AAA-level school results or a first-class degree, already want to study at UCB, and can fund living costs and the rest of your tuition. For that student, a free first year is a large saving with a short application.
Think twice if you need a fully funded place, because this award will not get you a visa on its own and leaves later years to you. If your grades are below the bar, put your effort into awards with lower entry requirements instead.
FAQ about the UCB Vice-Chancellor’s Award
Is the University College Birmingham Vice-Chancellor’s Award fully funded?
No. It pays full tuition for the first year only and gives nothing towards living costs or later years.
Can master’s students apply for the UCB Vice-Chancellor’s Award?
Yes. Full-time postgraduate applicants can apply if they hold a first-class honours degree or the international equivalent.
What is the deadline for the UCB Vice-Chancellor’s Award?
It depends on your intake: 31 October 2026 for February 2027, 31 May 2027 for September 2027, and 30 October 2027 for February 2028.
Do I need an offer before applying for the Vice-Chancellor’s Award?
Yes. You must hold and accept an offer for a full-time UCB programme before you submit the scholarship form.
Sources and updates
Value, eligibility, entry requirements, deposit rule, statement topics and all three intake deadlines come from University College Birmingham’s Vice-Chancellor’s Award page, which also names academic excellence, leadership and commitment to society as what it looks for. The note on the separate fee discount comes from UCB’s International Scholarship Award page. The visa maintenance figures come from OTS Solicitors’ summary of the Home Office change taking effect on 30 November 2026; confirm them on GOV.UK before you apply for your visa. Last checked 24 October 2026.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
