MSc Data Science & Analytics and MSc Artificial Intelligence Scholarship

Overview

1. Award details

The Department of Computer Science are proud to offer a scholarship funded by the Office for Students (OfS) for applicants registering on the MSc Data Science & Analytics, MSc Artificial Intelligence and the PG Cert Data Science (the first stage of the Staged Masters) programmes in 2022/23. The scholarship aims to provide funding for applicants who are classified by under-represented (UR) criteria.

To be eligible to apply for the scholarship, you need to:

• Have submitted an application to study on either the MSc Data Science & Analytics, the MSc Artificial Intelligence programme or the PGCert Data Science Staged Masters starting in 2022/23.

• Be able to demonstrate that you are categorised under at least two of the 9 under-represented groups, as identified by the These categories have been identified as under-represented by the OfS in relation to careers in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. These categories are subject-specific UR criteria and do not represent Brunel as a whole.

• Have achieved at least a 2.1 or equivalent in your undergraduate studies or be able to demonstrate significant industrial or equivalent experience relevant to the subject area.

Value:

• The full-time scholarship is a £10,000 cash award, for one academic year split equally between three instalments.

• The part-time scholarship is a £5,000 cash award, per year split equally between three instalments per year, with a total of 6 payments, three per year for a maximum of two academic years, subject to meeting progression criteria outlined in Section 4.

• Applicants on the Staged Masters will be awarded £3,333 for each year of the Staged masters. Staged Masters applicants must complete the three stages of the Masters programme consecutively, with no breaks to be eligible; for all three payments.

The payment will be split equally between three instalments per year, with a total of 9 payments, three per year for a maximum of three academic years, subject to meeting progression criteria outlined in Section 4.

How many: 15 scholarships are available.

Application process: Applicants must submit a scholarship application no later than 31 July 2022.

The application will comprise of a series of questions that aim to determine whether applicants meet the under-represented criteria, plus an essay of no more than 500 words explaining how studying Data Science or Artificial Intelligence at Brunel University London (BUL) will benefit the applicant and help them in their career aspirations.

Provisional awards will be made by the Allocation Panel in mid-August. Applicants will be required to provide evidence of some UR characteristics; further details will be made provided the provisional award email. Formal awards will be made in October, following publication of examination results and Registration onto the course.

The Scholarship Allocation Panel will assess each application for suitability against these scholarship terms and conditions.

Deadlines: The deadline for scholarship applications is midnight on 31 July 2022.

2. Eligibility

2.1 The scholarship/bursary will be awarded to those applicants who meet all the following eligibility criteria:

• Apply for and fulfill the entry criteria for admission to the MSc Data Science & Analytics, the MSc Artificial Intelligence or the PGCert Data Science (the first stage of the Staged Masters).

• Be in receipt of an ‘Unconditional Firm’ (UF) offer to study on one of the above courses starting in September 2022/23 (i.e. applicant must have met all offer conditions and firmly accepted the place).

• All applicants must meet all conditions of their offer by the time they are due to register at Brunel.

• Must commence the course in the upcoming academic year (applicants for deferred entry will be considered for a scholarship in the year they start their course and not in the year of their course application).

• Must achieve at least a 2.1 or equivalent in their undergraduate degree by the time of Registration or be able to demonstrate significant industrial or equivalent experience relevant to the subject area.

• Must complete a scholarship application form answering all questions and providing an essay of no more than 500 words by the stated deadline.

• Must meet at least one of the following under-represented criteria (as defined in the 'Eligibility Definitions' below):

  • Female gender or identify as female gender

  • Black

  • Disabled

  • Be resident in a ‘Low Participation Neighbourhood’. To check if you live in a low participation neighbourhood use the Office for Students (OfS) post code checker.

  • Care leaver

  • Have experienced estrangement from their parents

  • Come from a gypsy traveller background

  • Come from a Military family

  • Refugee

The number of points scored from the under-represented criteria met will be taken into consideration when awarding the scholarship in the first instance. Where the number of applicants who meet the criteria exceeds the number of scholarships available, the information provided in the application personal statement will be used to make an awarding decision (as detailed in section 3 below).

Scholarship allocation is based on under-represented criteria met, those applicants who meet two under-represented characteristics, as listed in the eligibility criteria, will be prioritised for an award, followed by applicants who meet one under-represented criteria. 

A quota of at least eight out of fifteen scholarships will only be available to students classed as Home for fees purposes based on the UK government regulations. 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. 

Scholarships will be awarded to those who meet the eligibility criteria at the time of allocation only. 

2.2 Those not eligible for these Scholarships

• Applicants who are not fully self-funded and are being sponsored by a Government or external body.

• The Scholarship is not available to any Undergraduate or Postgraduate Research applicants (i.e. PhD, MPhil). Or applicants who have not applied for the courses stated above.

• Applicants who will NOT commence their course in September 2022 - applicants holding offers for deferred entry must apply for scholarships in the year they intend to start their course and not in the year of their course application.

• Applicants entering a course at any level other than a Postgraduate Taught course (FHEQ Level 7).