University of Birmingham AI and Data Science Scholarships for Masters Students to Study in UK 2024 Deadline 31 August, 2024

The University of Birmingham is offering AI and Data Science Masters Scholarships in 2024-2025 for nine Masters programmes to upskill students from under-represented backgrounds to progress into the AI and Data Science workforce.

This will include over 100 students from under-represented groups, particularly women, Black and disabled students and those from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, who will each be supported through this scholarship program.

Scholarship funding will be prioritised for women, Black students, disabled students and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, to ensure that AI reflects the makeup of our society. Funding is intended only for those under-represented students who meet the eligibility criteria outlined below.

About University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a public research university located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen’s College, Birmingham (founded in 1828 as the Birmingham School of Medicine and Surgery) and Mason Science College (established in 1875 by Sir Josiah Mason), making it the first English civic or ‘red brick’ university to receive its own royal charter. It is a founding member of both the Russell Group of British research universities and the international network of research uni… read more

University of Birmingham AI and Data Science Scholarships

Aim and Benefits of University of Birmingham AI and Data Science Scholarships

£10,000 Scholarships for Data Science and AI Masters courses

University of Birmingham AI and Data Science Scholarships Courses

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Data Science

Requirements for University of Birmingham AI and Data Science Scholarships Qualification

The award is part of £8.1 million funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Office for Artificial Intelligence to encourage more women, Black students, disabled students, and students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds to study artificial intelligence (AI) and data science postgraduate programmes (see Eligibility criteria below for full details).

• Students must have a UK nationality or residence status.
• Students must have already submitted a study application for a place on one of the above eligible courses at the University of Birmingham before applying for this scholarship. If you apply to the scholarship without submitting a study application for one of the above eligible courses, your scholarship application will be void.

In addition to having applied for a place for a University of Birmingham Data Science or AI related Masters course, applicants will need to demonstrate that they are categorised under at least one of the 9 underrepresented groups as identified by the OfS.

Applications for scholarships will initially be reviewed using a points-based system. Priority for these awards will be given to applicants in the following categories:

1. Black students (as defined by HESA codes: 21; 22; 29; 41; 42)
2. Female students
3. Disabled students
4. Students from low socioeconomic background (Index of Multiple Disadvantage quintiles 1 and 2, low household income)

They may also be available to:

• Care experienced students
• Estranged students
• Gypsy, Roma, Traveller students
• Refugees
• Children from military families, veterans and partners of military personnel.

Applicants who do not meet any of the criteria above will not be considered for a scholarship.

Students must be self-funding or applying for a Postgraduate Government Loan to pay your fees and not in receipt of any other financial support including but not limited to scholarships, awards, bursaries, sponsorship or any other funding.

Interview date, Process and Venue for University of Birmingham AI and Data Science Scholarships

Judging criteria:

The awards will be allocated on the basis of merit – simply meeting the eligibility criteria will not guarantee that an application is successful. We will adopt a gathered field approach where decisions on the allocation of all 100 awards will be considered by a single scholarship selection panel.

Selection will be determined by a University scholarship panel based on the following criteria:

• Underrepresented group score – All applications will be assessed using a points-based system and priority scoring will be given to criteria
• Aptitude and skills – Scholarships will consider performance in an aptitude test. Learners will be ranked by the Scholarship Panel based on performance in our on-line aptitude test.
• Student motivation – The panel will consider the student’s interest in the subject, ability to demonstrate that their background has sufficiently prepared them for the programme, relevant experience and how the course will fit into their future plans.

Prioritising criteria in case of oversubscription

All applications will be assessed and priority scoring will be given to criteria 1-3.

Scoring will prioritise:

• Students identified as within two or more under-represented groups.
• Black students based on the rationale that they are just 5% of new Postgraduate taught entrants in 21/22 within University of Birmingham and underrepresented in highly skilled employment. 426 new entrants in 22/23. Largest distinction attainment gap of all ethnicities of 23.4% in 20/21. Lower non-completion rate than White or Mixed individuals .
• Female students based on the rationale that they are underrepresented in the tech sector although females are still the majority of new PGT entrants within the student body at University of Birmingham.
• Disabled students based on the rationale that they are the 2nd most underrepresented group within University of Birmingham with 501 new entrants in 22/23 and underrepresented in highly skilled employment.

Please view our website for the full terms and conditions of the scholarship.

Application Deadline

31 August, 2024

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to OFFICIAL LINK & APPLYTo be considered for an award, applicants must, by the deadline, have done both of the following:

• Made an application to their intended Masters programme. Please apply through the relevant programme page on the Course finder section of the University of Birmingham website. This must include all of the relevant supporting documentation: references, transcripts if available, and English language certification if applicable.

1. MSc Bioinformatics
2. Online MSc Bioinformatics
3. MSc Computer Science
4. MSc Data Science
5. MSc Financial Technology
6. MSc Health Data Science
7. MSc Law, Regulation and AI Ethics
8. MSc AI and Sustainable Development
9. MSc AI and Government

• Completed the AI and Data Science Masters Scholarships application form

You should enter the application ID number that you were given during the application to your Masters programme.

The deadlines for applications to the scholarship for MSc Bioinformatics (Online) are:

• March 2024 Intake – 23:59 (UK time) on 19 January 2024.

For all other programmes, that commence from September 2024 onwards, the awards will be allocated in three rounds:

• The deadline for round one applications is 23:59 (UK time) on Sunday 31 March 2024.
• The deadline for round two applications is 23:59 (UK time) on Sunday 30 June 2024.
• The deadline for round three applications is 23:59 (UK time) on Saturday 31 August 2024.

If you are unsuccessful in one round, your application will automatically be carried over to the next round: you do not need to re-apply.

For more details visit: read more.