Aston Aspirational Scholarship / Aston Forward Scholarship (Nachfolgeprogramme auf Einkommensbasis)

What you get

Aston University in Birmingham offers two grants for UK home students on a low household income. The Aston Aspirational Scholarship is a one-off £500 (about 580 EUR) in your first year, paid automatically with no application. The Aston Forward Scholarship is worth £5,000 (about 5,800 EUR) across your whole degree, or £8,000 (about 9,300 EUR) if you study medicine (MBChB). Aston pays the Forward money in yearly instalments, for example £2,000 in the first year and £1,500 in later years. Former Aston students and business partners fund it. Forward holders also join an enrichment programme with one-to-one advice, mentoring (regular guidance from an experienced person), help for would-be entrepreneurs and networking events. You never repay either grant, and both come on top of your government tuition and maintenance loans.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are starting a new full-time bachelor's degree at Aston University in 2025/26 or 2026/27.
• Status: You are a UK home fee payer receiving UK student finance (from Student Finance England, Wales, Northern Ireland or SAAS Scotland).
• Income (Aspirational): Your household income is £42,875 or below. No application needed; Aston checks your data and pays automatically.
• Income (Forward): Your household income is £25,000 or below. This grant is competitive and you must apply.
• No sponsor: No company, government grant or other outside sponsor pays your fees.
• Forward extra condition: You must also fit at least one of these: you came in through an access route (for example Pathway to Healthcare, STEM, Law or Business); personal, social or family difficulties affected your studies; you live in an area where few people go to university; you have a disability or receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP); or you belong to an under-represented group such as Gypsy, Roma or Traveller communities.

How to apply

The Aspirational Scholarship needs no application. Aston tells you about it through the My Aston Portal, usually by 30 November. For the Forward Scholarship you fill in an online form in the My Aston Portal with three short essay questions. Applications run from 19 August to 5 October, and late ones are not accepted.

How realistic are your chances?

The Aspirational grant is close to automatic. If your household income is at or below £42,875 and you meet the basic rules, you receive it, and there is no cap on numbers. The Forward grant is far tighter, with only around 60 awards, a much lower income limit and a demand that you show a compelling personal story on top of need. If you clearly fit one of the selection criteria and can tell that story well, your prospects are reasonable, but meeting the rules does not guarantee an award.