The Vice Chancellor’s Undergraduate Excellence Award 2025/26

30 June 2025

Open for applications

UG

25% tuition fee waiver.

Fee waiver will be applied to each year of study for a maximum of three years for a full time course and for four years for integrated foundation programmes and integrated Masters programmes.

Our Vice-Chancellor's Excellence Award offers 25 fee waivers worth 25% of the undergraduate tuition fee, per year for self-funded international students enrolling in our undergraduate courses starting September 2025.

The scholarship aims to reward exceptional students with excellent academic records and a passion for creating positive change in their communities.

Who is eligible?

To be considered, here's what you will need:

  • Have an offer to study one of our undergraduate courses starting in September 2025.
  • Submit a scholarship application by 30th June 2025.
  • Pay your £5,000 course deposit by 30th August 2025.
  • Achieve a minimum of 3 A Levels with grades ABB and above equivalent internationally recognised qualification.

How to apply?

Applicants should apply for the scholarship by completing the application form by 30th June 2025. We will not be able to consider incomplete applications.

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria to be considered for the Vice Chancellor’s UG Excellence award. The Scholarship Allocation Panel will then shortlist applicants based on the application and supporting evidence.

To be awarded a Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Award you will need to meet all conditions by 30th August 2025.

Deadline : 30 June 2025 at 12am
Open for applications
Undergraduate
25% tuition fee waiver.
Fee waiver will be applied to each year of study for a maximum of three years for a full time course and for four years for integrated foundation programmes and integrated Masters programmes.
Fee waiver will be applied to each year of study for a maximum of three years for a full time course and for four years for integrated foundation programmes and integrated Masters programmes.

Award details

How many: 25

Value: A tuition fee waiver of 25% will be applied to each year of study for a maximum of three years for a full time course and for four years for integrated foundation programmes and integrated Masters programmes.

Application process: Applicants should apply for the scholarship by completing the application form by midnight on 30th June 2025. Brunel will consider all applicants as long as they submit an application and meet the eligibility criteria detailed below.

The fee reduction will be confirmed in September 2025 of the 2025/26 academic year, subject to meeting all conditions stated in the offer email.

Brunel will assess each application for suitability against these terms and conditions.

Award holders may be required to represent Brunel as ambassadors throughout their time at the University and to participate occasionally in various activities to help promote the University. This might include hosting tours of the campus and its facilities, providing administrative support at Open Days, participating in social media and other marketing activity as required. Scholarship winners will be contacted by the International Recruitment or Marketing team as and when participation is required.

Data pertaining to bursary/scholarship holders such as: progression rates, degree attainment, degree completion, and graduate outcomes may also be analysed in order to understand the effectiveness of bursaries and scholarships. This data may also be linked to other data already held by the University for the purpose of better understanding the impact of bursaries and scholarships on under-represented groups. To learn more about how the University uses data to support its commitment to delivering positive outcomes to students from under-represented groups please visit our webpage.

Eligibility

2.1 Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Must have an offer to study on a full-time undergraduate programme starting in September 2025 of the 2025/26 academic year.
  • Applicants must achieve a minimum of 3 A Levels with grades ABB and above or equivalent internationally recognised undergraduate qualification.
  • Must be classed as an Overseas fee paying student based on the UK government regulations and be self-funded (not sponsored). This includes applicants from the EU who are required to pay overseas fees. Applicants who are unsure of their fee status should note Brunel uses the information they have provided in their application form to assess fee status against regulations set by the UK government. For information on these regulations please visit the independent organisation UKCISA’s website.
  • All applicants must meet all conditions of their offer by the time they are due to register at Brunel.
  • Applicants must pay their £5,000 tuition fee deposit by 30th August to secure the fee reduction.
  • Applicants applying for the Graduate LLB Law Programme will be considered for the Bursary and must achieve a minimum of 2:1 or higher in an Undergraduate degree.

2.2 Those not eligible for this award

  • Applicants NOT classed as Overseas for fee purposes, based on the UK government regulations or those with an unresolved fee status.
  • Applicants who are not fully self-funded and are being sponsored by a Government or external body.
  • Applicants entering a courses at Brunel Medical School, namely the MBBS programme.
  • Applicants who will NOT commence their course in September 2025 (2025/26 academic year), this includes deferred entry month and year.
  • Applicants entering a course with Brunel Pathway College (BPC) or who are progressing to a Brunel course from a BPC course.
  • Undergraduate applicants entering a course at Level 5 (Year 2) or Level 6 (Year 3), with the exception of the Graduate LLB Law Programme.
  • Applicants holding an offer to study by Distance Learning.
  • Applicants holding offers to study on a part-time programme.
  • Applicants holding offers to study on an online learning programme.

 

Allocation

3.1 Eligibility criteria are reviewed annually.

3.2 Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria at the time of allocation will be considered for a tuition fee reduction using the information provided at the time of their application only. Applicants cannot be considered should their circumstances change during the course of their studies. Fee reductions cannot be backdated.

3.3 In order to be considered applicants must apply for the scholarship by the stated deadlines, meet the entry criteria for the course and meet the course offer, pay their course deposit and achieve a minimum of 3 A Levels with grades ABB and above or equivalent internationally recognised undergraduate qualification.

3.4 Scholarships will be formally confirmed in September following receipt of examination results, successful applicants will be contacted by email.

3.5 Any applicant that has been rejected by default (RBD) by UCAS, withdrawn in error, declined the offer or is not holding an Unconditional Firm offer will be contacted by the Admissions Scholarship Team. The scholarship award will be formally withdrawn unless the applicant can provide any outstanding information that will allow Admissions to make an unconditional offer and firmly accept that offer by 30th August.

3.6 The decision of the University is final. The University will not accept any appeals in respect of the award allocation made or for awards that have been withdrawn.

3.7 Applicants will be expected to pay the course deposit of £5,000 and for the funds to be received by Brunel in time for the closure of the scheme on 30th August 2025.

3.8 Applicants who do not pay the course deposit of £5,000 or where the funds have not been received by Brunel will forfeit the fee reduction and the fee reduction will not be applied.

3.6 The Vice Chancellor Excellence award cannot be combined with any other University scholarship, bursary, discount, or award, with the exception of the 2% prompt payment discount.

3.7 If an applicant is eligible for more than one scholarship or discount, they will be awarded the one which is most financially beneficial across the full course duration. If an award is made and eligibility is reviewed at a later date, the most financially beneficial award will be retained and all other awards will be withdrawn. If an applicant has been awarded the Brunel University of London Undergraduate International Bursary and later receives the Vice Chancellor’s award, the Brunel University of London Undergraduate International Bursary will be removed.

3.8 Fee reductions are made for the September 2025/26 academic year only and cannot be deferred to later months or years of entry. Applicants who intend to defer their studies from September 2025/26 academic year to September 2026/7 will lose any fee reduction they have been made.

Conditions of fee discount

4.1 Applicants will be responsible for paying the remainder of their tuition fees after the fee reduction is deducted from their tuition fee.

4.2 The tuition fee will be reduced by 25% per year of study.

4.3 Conditions of fee waiver: The fee waiver will only be made providing the student is fully enrolled at the University on a undergraduate programme

4.4 The award does not replace the deposit of £5,000. All applicants will need to pay the £5,000 deposit for their course in order to formally receive the award.

4.5 The fee reduction will only be applied providing the student is fully enrolled at the University on a full-time undergraduate programme of study which includes having had their qualifications and other documentation verified and checked, and then completing the University enrolment procedures. This includes holding the correct visa to study.

4.6 Applicants who have already paid the full course fees can visit the Student Centre to request a refund of any overpayment; once they have met all conditions of their offer and enrolled onto their main course in person.

Withdrawal of the discount

5.1 Misleading information: The University reserves the right to withdraw the fee reduction from anyone who is found to have misled the University about any aspect of their eligibility and to seek repayment of any monies already paid by appropriate means.

5.2 Mode of Attendance Change: If a student changes to different mode of study, their eligibility for the award will be reviewed. The fee reduction will be withdrawn if the change is from full time to part time or distance learning.

5.3 Abeyance/Temporary Withdrawal: A student who takes a period of temporary withdrawal (abeyance) and who is in receipt of a fee reduction would cease to receive payments whilst temporarily withdrawn. Fee reduction payments made prior to temporarily withdrawing will not generally be requested to be repaid and remaining payments would generally be paid once the student returns to complete that level of study.

5.4 Suspension of Study: Should a student be suspended for any reason, payments will be withdrawn and consideration of reinstatement will be dependent on the disciplinary outcome.

5.5 Repeat/Extended Study: Periods of temporary withdrawal that result in repeat or extended periods of study are not supported by additional payments. Reduction entitlement is for the maximum duration of each award and entitlement is not extended if overall course duration alters.

5.6 Withdrawal from Study: A student who withdraws from their programme prior to completion and who is in receipt of a fee reduction will not normally be requested to repay reduction payments made up to the point of withdrawal.

5.7 Fee Waiver Amendments: Fee reductions are applied at the start of the academic year as part/all of an award entitlement and will not normally be amended once the fee waiver has been processed. Any tuition fee liability remaining after fee waivers are applied would therefore be calculated in accordance with the Student Financial Policy. In the case of withdrawal or abeyance the tuition fee and the fee waiver are calculated in accordance with the Student Financial Policy.

5.8 Sponsored students: Students who have Government sponsorship, NHS Bursary funding, employer sponsorship or any other external sponsorship for part or all of the tuition fees are not eligible for this Award. If Admissions receive details of sponsorship after a Vice Chancellors award has been made, the Award will be removed.

Students who are sponsored and have been awarded, should notify scholarships@brunel.ac.uk immediately.

Visit www.brunel.ac.uk/scholarships for further information on all the international scholarships available.

Updated 21 March 2025.