University of Cambridge - RW Barnes Educational Fund

R W Barnes Bursary Grant

You will receive a one-off payment of up to about 2,900 EUR (£2,500) to help fund your bachelor’s degree at a UK university. As this is a grant, you do not need to repay the money. The funding comes from the Quartet Community Foundation, which supports people from the South West of England. You can apply again at a later stage during your studies.

Who can apply

• Where you're from: You currently live, or lived prior to the start of your degree, in one of the following postcode areas in the United Kingdom: BS, BA, TA, DT, SP3, SP7, SP8, SN10, SN12, SN13, SN14, SN15 or GL9 (in the West of England and neighbouring parts of the South West).
• Nationality: You have held British nationality since birth.
• Study level: You are about to start your first (Bachelor’s) degree in 2026/27, or are already in the middle of such a degree at a British university.
• Subject: At least 60% of your courses are in mathematics, physics, astronomy, oceanography or an engineering discipline such as aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, electronics, mechanical engineering or manufacturing engineering.
• Family income (bonus): You do not need to prove financial need. However, priority is given to students from households with an income of less than approximately 52,000 EUR (£45,000), particularly families supporting more than one child in higher education.
• University (bonus): Any British university is an option. Places at the University of Bath, the University of Cambridge or Imperial College London are preferred, followed by other universities in the Russell Group or the top 40 universities.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the Quartet Community Foundation; please read the applicant’s guide beforehand. The 2026/27 round runs from 20 May to 20 July 2026 (deadline for submissions at 1) and decisions are expected to be announced by the end of August 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is very narrowly defined: you must come from a specific postcode area in the south-west, have been a British citizen from birth, and be studying a subject in the fields of mathematics, physics or engineering. As a result, the pool of eligible applicants remains small. If you clearly meet these criteria, come from a low-income household and are studying at one of the preferred universities, your chances are good. Apply early within the application period, as the programme closes on a fixed date.