The First 500 Scholarship

Overview

One scholarship worth £2,000 per annum (or pro-rata for part-time students) for the duration of the recipient's degree programme.

Deadline

29 September 2025, 23:59 BST.

Criteria

• One scholarship is available each year.

• Both full-time and part-time students are eligible to apply.

• Home and Overseas students are eligible to apply.

To be eligible to apply for the scholarship, applicants must:

• Have attained A*AA from three A Levels or a specified equivalent*.

• Be entering Stage 1 of their undergraduate degree in September 2024.

• Have made their application to the University of Kent via UCAS.

• Have made a firm acceptance to study at Kent by 31 August 2024.

Applicants not eligible to apply for the scholarship are those:

• Who have attained any qualification higher than A Level or equivalent.

• Who are in receipt of need-based financial aid.

• Who are current students at The University of Kent.

• Who are applying to Medway School of Pharmacy

• Who are applying to Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS)

The scholarship will not be paid during a Year Abroad or a Year in Industry placement.

*Qualifications and Grades required

A levels

A*AA / A*A*A / A*A*A*

International Baccalaureate

35 points or more, including a minimum of 15 points for Higher Level subjects

Access to HE Diploma

Overall Pass - must include 45 Level 3 credits at 'Distinction'

Cambridge Pre-U

D3 D3 D3 / D2 D2 D2 or higher

Scottish Highers 

AAAAA / AAAAB / AAABB

Irish Leaving Certificate

H1 H1 H1 H1

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (RQF)

Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction* (D*D*D*)

Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction (D*D*D)

Distinction*, Distinction, Distinction (D*DD)

OCR Cambridge Extended Technical Diploma

Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction* (D*D*D*)

Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction (D*D*D)

Distinction*, Distinction, Distinction (D*DD)

Two A levels + one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF)

A*, A*, Distinction* (A*A*D*)

A*, A*, Distinction (A*A*D)

A*, A, Distinction* (A*AD*)

A*, A, Distinction (A*AD)

A, A, Distinction* (AAD*)

One A level + two BTEC Subsidiary Diplomas (QCF)

A*, Distinction*, Distinction* (A*D*D*)

A*, Distinction*, Distinction (A*D*D)

A*, Distinction, Distinction (A*DD)

A, Distinction*, Distinction* (AD*D*)

A, Distinction*, Distinction (AD*D)

Two A levels + one BTEC National Extended Certificate (RQF)

A*, A*, Distinction* (A*A*D*)

A*, A*, Distinction (A*A*D)

A*, A, Distinction* (A*AD*)

A*, A, Distinction (A*AD)

A, A, Distinction* (AAD*)

One A level + Pearson BTEC National Diploma (RQF)

A*, Distinction*, Distinction* (A*D*D*)

A*, Distinction*, Distinction (A*D*D)

A*, Distinction, Distinction (A*DD)

A, Distinction*, Distinction* (AD*D*)

A, Distinction*, Distinction (AD*D)

One A level + two BTEC National Extended Certificates (RQF)

A*, Distinction*, Distinction* (A*D*D*)

A*, Distinction*, Distinction (A*D*D)

A*, Distinction, Distinction (A*DD)

A, Distinction*, Distinction* (AD*D*)

A, Distinction*, Distinction (AD*D)

One A level + two OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificates

A*, Distinction*, Distinction* (A*D*D*)

A*, Distinction*, Distinction (A*D*D)

A*, Distinction, Distinction (A*DD)

A, Distinction*, Distinction* (AD*D*)

A, Distinction*, Distinction (AD*D)

Two A levels + one OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate

A*, A*, Distinction* (A*A*D*)

A*, A*, Distinction (A*A*D)

A*, A, Distinction* (A*AD*)

A*, A, Distinction (A*AD)

A, A, Distinction* (AAD*)

One OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Diploma + One OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate

Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction* (D*D*D*)

Distinction*, Distinction, Distinction* (D*DD*)

Distinction*, Distinction, Distinction (D*DD)

Distinction, Distinction, Distinction* (DDD*)

BTEC National Qualification: Two Pearson BTEC 90 Credit Diplomas (QCF)

Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction* (D*D*D*D*)

Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction (D*D*D*D)

Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction, Distinction (D*D*DD)

Distinction*, Distinction, Distinction*, Distinction (D*DD*D)

BTEC National Qualification: One Pearson Level 3 National Diploma (RQF) + One Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF)

Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction* (D*D*D*)

Distinction*, Distinction, Distinction* (D*DD*)

Distinction*, Distinction, Distinction (D*DD)

Distinction, Distinction, Distinction* (DDD*)

BTEC National Qualification: One Pearson Level 3 National Diploma (RQF) + One Level 3 National Extended Certificate (RQF)

Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction* (D*D*D*)

Distinction*, Distinction, Distinction* (D*DD*)

Distinction*, Distinction, Distinction (D*DD)

Distinction, Distinction, Distinction* (DDD*)

BTEC National Qualification: Three Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diplomas (QCF)

Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction* (D*D*D*)

Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction (D*D*D)

Distinction*, Distinction, Distinction (D*DD)

BTEC National Qualification: Three National Extended Certificate Awards (RQF)

Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction* (D*D*D*)

Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction (D*D*D)

Distinction*, Distinction, Distinction (D*DD)

BTEC National Qualification: One Extended Diploma (QCF)

Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction* (D*D*D*)

Distinction*, Distinction*, Distinction (D*D*D)

Distinction*, Distinction, Distinction (D*DD)

One A level + one BTEC National Extended Certificate (RQF) + one OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate

A*, Distinction*, Distinction* (A*D*D*)

A*, Distinction*, Distinction (A*D*D)

A*, Distinction, Distinction* (A*DD*)

A, Distinction*, Distinction* (AD*D*)

A*, Distinction, Distinction (A*DD)

A, Distinction*, Distinction (AD*D)

A, Distinction, Distinction* (ADD*)

University of the Arts London: Extended Diploma

Distinction (D)

A Levels and Cambridge Pre-U

Any combination equivalent to A*AA or higher