Bowman Scholarship for Forced Migrants
How to apply
You do not need to wait for an offer — the scholarship application can run alongside admission.
- Complete the online application form, selecting 'Bowman Scholarship' to waive the application fee
- Apply between 1 Feb and 1 May 2026
- If invited, sit entrance tests (1-2 hrs each), 11-29 May 2026, in person at UCL or online
- Attend an interview to assess suitability (UPCH applicants also get critical-thinking tasks; a second interview with the Bowman Coordinator is possible)
- If you lack an English qualification, take the free academic English assessment (online writing/speaking tasks)
- Selection Panel decisions announced by 26 June 2026
- Submit proof of housing and financial support for 2026/27 by 24 July 2026
- Complete the confirmation form to accept the scholarship and enrol
What to prepare
- ARC (both sides) or BRP, Standard Acknowledgement Letter, or Home Office/solicitor letters
- School/university transcripts, proof of enrolment, leaving certificates
- 12 months of financial evidence: bank statements, payslips, employer letters, proof of asylum seekers' allowance, bursary/scholarship evidence
- Proof of address (utility, phone or council tax bill, rental agreement)
- Personal statement
- Reference from a teacher/education professional (template provided)
- English language qualification (IELTS/TOEFL) if held
- Proof of housing for the academic year (Sept 2026 - July 2027)
How they select
application form · personal statement · references · interview · evidence of circumstances
There is an interview here. It is a conversation about your situation and your study plans, not a subject exam: nobody tests the school syllabus or tries to catch you out. You can answer calmly, in your own words.
Dates
Ask before you apply
We do not fill in the gaps for the institution. Here is what its own page leaves unclear — these are normal questions, everyone asks them.
- What happens to the payments if I am granted refugee status mid-year?
Who to write to: clie-bowmanscholarship@ucl.ac.uk
If this scheme is not for you
- See the full list of schemes — it has a filter for your status and for whether student finance is available to you.
- Check whether you are entitled to student finance — if it is, a scholarship stops being the only road.
- Foundation year and Access to HE — routes for people who only have a school certificate.
- Education hub — where to start if you have not chosen a route yet.
About the institution
London (Bloomsbury campus); applicants must live in, or be able to live in, the Greater London area. Assessed by UCL's Centre for Languages & International Education (CLIE) and the Bowman Scholarship Selection Panel; funds the one-year Undergraduate Preparatory Certificate (UPC), a foundation route into UCL or other UK universities.
Mostly school leavers. Only 11.2% of students are over 30. If you are over 35, look at other universities on the list — there are more adults there.
In detail about University College London (UCL): all schemes, student ages, study modes →
Source
We found this scheme in the STAR Network and Displaced Student Opportunities lists, but the institution's own site was unavailable when we checked: the page returned an error or blocked automated access. The record is therefore built from an archived copy and open sources — check the terms with the institution before you apply. Checked on: 22 August 2026.
The scheme page on the institution's site →
Applicant must separately demonstrate ability to cover ~£3,000 living costs and ~£8,000 accommodation via personal funds/sponsorship — NOT a full-living-costs bursary, despite the aggregator's 'full bursary' framing. […]